Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport is getting a new flight school that trains pilots for Chinese airlines.
Apus Air announced this week that it is constructing a flight training center at the airport. The project will create 35 jobs.
CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation Madison Silvert says the regional airport is a perfect fit for the company’s needs.
“They were looking for an airport that had the right balance of runway links and amenities and low traffic so they could provide a confident environment for new trainees,” says Silvert.
The California-based company is making an investment $1.65 million in the new facility.
Silvert says the flight training center also other benefits for the region.
“It’ll bring a number of new international visitors and residents here for upwards of sometimes a few years,” says Silvert. “This is a community that continues to see the value in diversity and having a diverse workforce.”
Silvert says the flight school will not have a negative impact on commercial flights at the airport. On the positive side, the training center will add to air traffic counts that help maintain funding for the control tower.