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8A Business

Del Rio

Wednesday, December 6, 2017 An in focus page dedicated to local business

AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE

Local aviation company is flying high


BY MEGAN TACKETT
megan.tackett
@delrionewsherald.com

A local aviation re-


pair and service compa-
ny recently moved into
a newly built facility
after more than a year
of construction.
Thomas Mitchell,
owner of Rio Grande
Aviation, said construc-
tion for his company’s
hangar began in the
summer of 2016 and
was completed in Au-
gust. The 12,000 square-
foot facility services
most of the Del Rio
International Airport’s
aircraft, he said.
“We started 8 years
ago with a savings
account and a tool box,”
Mitchell said. “I never
really jumped at the
idea of owning my own
business until it just
kind of happened.”
While flying com-
mercially between San
Antonio and Del Rio,
Mitchell said he had
the idea to start his own
maintenance shop when Photo by Megan Tackett
he noticed the absence of Rio Grande Aviation owner Tommy Mitchell and his office manager and mechanic Lindsey Fabian stand in front of their new hangar located at
one at Del Rio’s airport. 1480 Weather Station Road.
“I saw a need here
at the airport because summer heat, Mitchell “Where we were (be- runways and locations. market past Del Rio business at an airport.
there wasn’t a full time said, and he had the fore) we couldn’t have “Think of it as taking into neighboring cities Mitchell said he em-
maintenance facility concrete floors painted a customer drive up to your car to the dealer- like Uvalde, Midland ploys about six me-
at the time,” Mitchell to give the hangar a the door, walk in a buy ship,” Mitchell said. and Eagle Pass. chanics out of his shop,
said. “The plane broke clean look. When choos- parts,” he said. “We basically do the Rio Grande Aviation, all of who are civilian
down once or twice and ing a location to build, Rio Grande Aviation, same thing for airplane Mitchell said, is a fixed- licensed mechanics.
I thought there should Mitchell said he wanted Mitchell explained, owners.” base operator, which Mitchell said he is
be at least one mainte- a spot that was accessi- offers oil changes, tire Since Mitchell the Federal Aviation also currently working
nance shop here.” ble to both automobiles changes, electrical re- doesn’t have any Administration consid- with Southwest Texas
The hangar features driving in from town pairs and annual excep- competition within a ers a commercial opera- Junior College to de-
insulation to keep the and planes coming off tions for airplanes that 150-mile range, he said tion with an interest in velop an air frame and
facility cool in Del Rio’s the runway. land in Del Rio or nearby he is able to extend his aviation or conducts its power plant program.

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