Howe council shows support for aviation program at airport

The Grayson County Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) is seeking public approval from local cities for a contract they wish to sign for flight training at the North Texas Regional Airport

Mayor Jeff Stanley told the council that the RMA is applying for a very large contract with Chickatay-US Aviation who will place an aviation training school on-site.

Chickatay is one of five companies in the United States that have the ability to bid this contract whichis over $250 million for ten years It would house between 1,500 and 1,900 students at the North Texas Regional Airport The contract would also create 110 to 160 fulltime jobs in which instructors will be paid upwards of $50 per hour and mechanics $30 per hour

"We're in a good position right now - building new homes and the things we're doing here to go out and entice them to come to us " said

Stanley

Councilwoman Debbie Lowery had concerns about who the owners of Chickatay-US Aviation were She said her research couldn't determine whether they were a US company and the fact that they will be training students from not only the US, but from overseas gave her great concern about the contract.

"All I'm trying to get to is for everyone to stop and think about - they're going to be training fighter jets out there at that facility close to our home and our children from people all over the world And we've had a lot of things in the news lately" said Lowery "So I just want people to stop and think about all of these implications "

There was no further discussion and a motion was made by Sam Haigis to approve public support from Howe and was seconded by Bill French