“We chose to locate our second campus at North Texas Regional Airport because as a former Air Force base, it has first-class facilities and two of the longest and widest runways in the region,” said Dee Pinkston, president of ASFA.  “We’re excited about doing business in Texas, being part of the Grayson County community and expanding our training programs.”

 

The agreement which brings ASFA to the North Texas Regional Airport is a five-part contract with Grayson County, the cities of Sherman, Denison and Pottsboro and Grayson County College.  The college will provide dormitory facilities for the flight training students at Jenson Hall, which is on site at NTRA. In addition, ASFA and GCC plan to enter into academic agreements in the future, according to Pinkston.

 

“This is a historic agreement for North Texas Regional Airport and Grayson County,” said Bill Retz, marketing director for the airport.

“Thanks to the cooperation and collaboration of all the cities, college and county, we were able to bring a premier training academy to North Texas in a short amount of time.”

 

ASFA, which provides the training for students to receive the certificates and ratings needed for commercial pilots, will operate out of a 25,000 square-foot hanger at the south end of the airport and will initially employ 30 people.  The academy will bring a fleet of 30 of the most technically advanced aircraft for training.  The company will continue to offer training and administer programs from its Glendale headquarters.

 

“This is a targeted business that we focused on to bring to the airport,” explained Mike Shahan, NTRA director. “By bringing this operation to the airport, we will spur on more businesses to come here.”

 

According to Shahan, the flight school will be a great addition to the recently introduced L-3 Air Traffic Control School, also at the airport.

 

“This is big for us,” he said. “We are excited about it.”

 

Pinkston, who is originally from Tarrant County, said he always wanted to bring his operation ‘back to Texas.’ He has been in the flight training business for 19 years.

 

“It’s a dream come true for me,” said Pinkston. “This is by far the best location in the United States.”

 

According to Pinkston, one specifically noticeable aspect of the NTRA is the speed at which things get done; he praised Shahan as well.

 

“Mike gets it done!” smiled Pinkston. “In Arizona, a deal like this would move so slowly.”

 

Shahan smiled and agreed, “We don’t say ‘Can’t’ around here.”

According to Pinkston, the location, facilities and support are the items that sold him.

 

“Take the instrument approaches they have on this field,” he said. “I have never seen it before. And the ramp is ten times bigger than a normal airport’s.”

 

Pinkston estimated that the movement of equipment would happen the first week of October and the 30 aircraft would all fly in together. It will be quite a sight, he added.

 

“It will be a giant cross country event,” said Pinkston.

 

ASFA has its own maintenance department to go along with the instruction and aircraft.

 

Hangar 111 at the airport will include a dispatch/lobby area; administrative offices, classrooms, simulators and hangar space. Pinkston noted that the simulators were one-of-a-kind equipment.

 

“We are the first flight school to have our own training devices,” he explained. “We have five ‘surround visuals’ units. They are almost full range.”

 

They can be used for primary, advanced, single and multi-engine training, he added.

 

Actually, the NTRA location will be the fourth of Pinkston’s locations of three different flight training operations. He opened WestOne in 1993 after graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington. It was also in Arizona and the largest in U.S. at the time. In 1999, Pinkston began the WestOne School of Flight; he started ASFA in 2003.

 

As he introduced Grayson County Judge Drue Bynum, Retz thanked everyone who worked on the project.

 

“It’s took a lot of work from a lot of people,” said Retz. “But Drue Bynum had the vision to see it through.”

 

“This airport is a passion of mine,” said Bynum. “I’ve always said it is a ‘diamond in the rough.’ We are excited about ASFA coming here.”

 

 

Bynum said county leaders took ‘bold new steps’ to bring the new business to town and to utilize the airport for what it should be……’an engine to drive our economy.’

 

“This deal has gotten the attention of people across the U.S. and the world,” said Bynum. “For it was done in one of the most difficult economic times in U.S. history.”

 

Pinkston agreed and praised the county team for its work and its cooperation.

 

“You brought it together and kept it together,” said Pinkston. “You worked for the common good. I’ve wanted to find one spot to do it all and I finally did. This airport is a very big ‘diamond in the rough’.”

 

The 60 or so people who were present for the announcement also learned that ASFA has the highest clearance the FFA gives and that a private pilot license cost about $7-10,000. ASFA also will contribute to air transport training as well as being active in the community, according to Pinkston.

 

Several leaders also noted that ancillary support functions would benefit from the ASFA presence including engine repair and overhaul, aircraft painting and interior work. 

 

“It’s a win for all of us,” said Bynum.

 

                    About Air Safety Flight Academy

 

Air Safety Flight Academy is an FAA approved Part 141 flight school; for both private and commercial flight instruction. Campus locations include Glendale, Arizona and now Grayson County, Texas.  The school is engaged in training international and domestic commercial airline pilots.  Air Safety operates a fleet of 35 aircraft, has a student population of 116 students and has a staff of 40 employees. For more information, visit www.airsafetyacademy.com.