The Lufkin Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) is investing one million dollars to construct a new airport hangar at Angelina County Airport in Texas, marking a strategic expansion in the region’s aviation sector. The facility will be leased to Casey Aviation for 15 years, addressing the company’s urgent need for additional space amid growing demand for aircraft maintenance services. Kenneth Hale, director of mechanics at Casey Aviation, noted that the business currently manages nine planes with only nine mechanics, operating at full capacity with limited room for growth.
This initiative is part of the Lufkin Innovative and Aviation Complex, a broader economic development strategy aimed at fostering new industries and job creation in the area. Bob Samford, LEDC’s Economic Development Director, emphasized that the project emerged from recognizing a gap in local infrastructure and workforce development. The new hangar will not only expand operational capacity but also support workforce training through a partnership with Angelina College. Students in aviation programs will gain hands-on experience, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world technical skills.
Hale highlighted that the aviation sector brings significant economic benefits beyond maintenance jobs. Aircraft owners contribute to the local economy by purchasing fuel, staying in hotels, and buying parts, creating a ripple effect across multiple industries. Samford stressed that the goal is to provide long-term, sustainable employment opportunities for residents, ensuring that economic gains remain within the community. By combining infrastructure investment with education and industry collaboration, Lufkin is positioning itself as a regional hub for aviation services.
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Lufkin Economic Development Corp. partners with aviation company for new hangar
LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) – It’s a problem that’s seen across the U.S. n n“I have currently four aircraft that need to be started yesterday if you will and I don’t have the people to start them today,” said Kenneth Hale, the director of mechanics at Casey Aviation. n nAs the aviation industry grows there aren’t enough mechanics to meet the demand. It’s an issue that Lufkin Economic Development Corporation noticed. n n“It’s like with Lufkin Forward, we saw a need, we reacted, and we brought it to fruition,” said Bob Samford, Lufkin’s Economic Development Director. n nLEDC is building a one-million-dollar airport hangar at the Angelina County Airport. It will sit across from the existing hangar, which will house HCH Aviation. Last year, Samford announced the partnership between the Nacogdoches based business. n nThe new hangar will be leased to Casey Aviation for the next 15 years. Samford said this is part of the Lufkin Innovative and Aviation Complex. n n“We’re creating a new industry this was not here 3 years ago,” Samford said. n nCasey Aviation started their maintenance service more than a year ago. Hale said the demand grew quickly and they needed more space. n nAs of Wednesday, they are servicing nine planes with limited space and with nine mechanics. He said the ratio is two mechanics per plane. n n“Manpower and hangar size has always been the constraint.” n nThat is why they are moving into the new hangar. Hale said there is an upside to this growing industry. He said their airborne clients are economic drivers for Lufkin and Angelina County as they pay for fuel, stay in hotels and buy plane parts. n n“There’s an entire revenue stream with every airplane that’s here in the hangar,” Hale said. n nThe new partnership, like with HCH Aviation, will help create a curriculum for Angelina College students who are looking to join the field. n n“This will be a good synergy between on job training, need to hire people, and a new industry in Lufkin TX, Samford said. n n“You can learn a lot from the book, and you can learn a lot from instruction and manuals, but you can’t get the physical aspect of it until you’ve done the job,” Hale said. n nBoth Hale and Samford said they are looking to create jobs for people living in the area. n n“We’re going to capture that and give them good long term generational jobs that they can go to work for with a solid living at the Angelina County Airport,” Samford said.