Huntingburg Airport could be site of new high school aviation program

High school students in Dubois County could take part in a new experimental aircraft program in the near future.

Eric Seber of Jasper approached the Dubois County Airport Authority to ask for permission to use airport hangar space to build a kit aircraft supplied through Sonex.

His goal is to create a training program for students in grades 9-12 in which they learn the fundamentals of aviation through the construction of the kit aircraft. Students will be introduced to aircraft construction and flight mechanics that could create an interest in a career in the aviation industry.

Seber told the board aerospace manufacturers or aviation companies could become more interested in the area if they see a program like this in place in the county.

Seber, a licensed air frame and power plant mechanic, has worked in aircraft maintenance for Delta Airlines and worked for the Boeing Company. He is the co-owner of Amplified Consulting, LLC, a learning and legal consulting firm for businesses, organizations and institutions and still works in the aviation field in French Lick.

He has already garnered support from all four Dubois County school corporations and has four students from Forest Park Dubois interested in the program. He would like to start in late spring or early summer.

Brian Craig, the airport board president, stated he was in support of Seber’s proposal because it is good for the students and could appear attractive to other aerospace/aviation companies to know the area has a program like this. Currently, the Huntingburg Airport has a Shovel Ready site it is seeking to fill with some type of aerospace/aviation manufacturing company.

Glenn Weil, head of the Patoka Valley Vocational Cooperative, has become involved and assisted with presenting the program to the local schools. Weil recommended the program start as a club and then become an accredited aerospace program offered through the schools.

Seber explained a single plane could take two to three years to build if the students worked on it one day a week, but if they could work on it each day of the week, it could be completed in about a year.

Plans for the program include the sale of the completed plane to fund the program, but Seber is looking for initial donors to kick start the first class.

Attorney Phil Schneider told the board they should investigate how the airport’s liability insurance would be affected by the kids while they are on the airport property and directed Seber to line up a sponsor for the class to release the airport of any liability.

Donations to the program can be made through the Dubois County Community Foundation site at http://www.dccommunityfoundation.org/currentfunds/youth-education/aircraft-youth-build-project-fund/; or they can mail a check made payable to:

Please include “Aircraft Youth Build Project” in the memo line.

The Dubois County Airport Authority approved allowing room in Hangar Five for the project contingent on it meeting those requirements.

The Airport Authority also took the following actions.

-The trees have been removed along the western approach to Runway Niner. Two towers remain standing at this time and will come down after the ground dries enough for a crane to be brought to the site. The plan is to remove them in a way they may be reused. According to Airport Manager Travis McQueen the Jasper High School and Vincennes University Jasper Campus has shown interest in two of the towers. Those entities will be responsible for transporting the towers from the field if they do procure them. Once the project is completed the Huntingburg Airport can be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for night instrument approaches on the runway from that direction.

-Discussed how to fund the potential construction of new aircraft hangars. The cost of the hangars is estimated to be between $400,000 and $600,000. The Dubois County Airport Authority approved McQueen completing a presentation and economic impact statement regarding the proposed addition of the hangar for presentation to the Dubois County Commissioners and Council members and the City of Huntingburg to have them become investment partners in the project. McQueen credits the area having dedicated flight instructors as a key component in creating homegrown pilots who now need storage for their own planes.

-Approved an agreement to work with Sovereign Natural Resources to seek lease agreements with oil companies for the gas rights under the airport’s land. CEO/President Rusty Robinson addressed the airport authority concerning the mineral rights for oil underneath the airport-owned land. Robinson told the board his company already has 20,000 acres in Dubois County under an agreement to work with his company to sell the oil rights and he would like to include the 480 acres the airport authority controls. Robinson also told the board the property owners around the airport were holding out to see what the airport would do. Robinson told the board the airport could earn 15 percent on the net profit of the oil lease.

-Approved a payment of $14,606.99 to Wolpert Engineering for engineering and management work for the western approach project.

-Approved Wolpert Engineering to conduct site studies and design work on the t-hangar construction.