FIRST AVIONICS SHOP MOVES TO CRESTVIEW INDUSTRIAL AIRPORT

The next step of many takes shape to make the Crestview Industrial Airport a centerpiece of the aerospace industry. Yes, the 7th Special Forces is here and with more of them to come, but I must continue to inform you. The State of Florida has given this Airport millions of dollars for improvements, which has placed it on radar screen for a large number of businesses. I would say thanks that the 7th Special Forces are here and will be growing for years, but with the F-35 Training Program, which has just completed their close to a half of billion dollar facility, and brings 9 NATO countries to the area with it. This is not the only thing, which will bring aerospace jobs, you have the unmanned drone programs, aircraft rehab, and much, much, more. I say look out. There is more coming, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise. FOOT NOTE: Senator Gaetz, our sitting Senator in NW Florida, has been selected as the President of the Senate. His top agenda, JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, and MILITARY, MILITARY, MILITARY. Do I say more?

Okaloosa’s first avionics shop moving to Crestview
Capital Avionics will expand operations at Bob Sikes Airport
By BRIAN HUGHES
Florida Freedom Newspapers
CRESTVIEW — Capital Avionics’ aircraft services operation already is working in a rented hangar space next door to Emerald Coast Aviation at Bob Sikes Airport. By Nov. 1, the airport’s newest tenant expects to have its component repair division moved to Crestview’s airport from Tallahassee Regional Airport, said Peter Mohylsky, company’s manager of business operations. “It is going to be a great opportunity,” said Mike Stenson, Okaloosa County’s airports business development manager and acting manager at Bob Sikes. “For the first time, we’re going to have an avionics shop in Okaloosa County. It’s a very desirable service that eventually all airplanes need, and we’re very happy we’re going to offer it out of our airport. It’s a very specialized industry.” Founded in Tallahassee in 1978, Capital Avionics became increasingly frustrated with the business environment at Tallahassee Regional. Company owners began talking with Okaloosa County officials about moving to Crestview after meeting at a trade show last year. After the Tallahassee airport was privatized, a group of businessmen forced out most companies except his, Capital Avionics President Al Ingle told the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce’s Airport Committee. Ingle said he has been impressed by the reception his company has received locally. “This is such a different environment than Tallahassee,” said Ingle, who founded the company at age 24. “It is so nice to be wanted.” “Tallahassee is not an aviation town,” said Donna Ingle, Capital Avionics’ comptroller. “It’s a government town.” In preparation for the component repair operation moving to Crestview, the company hired a local technician, Dan Smith, who is training at the Tallahassee location. Mohylsky said 14 employees with the division will move to Crestview, and six to 10 people will be hired when the division is operational. Before Capital Avionics’ test equipment manufacturing division can move to Crestview, more space will be needed, Donna Ingle said. That division now is in a 10,000-square-foot hangar, and no comparably sized facility is available near the airport. Stenson said the test equipment manufacturing facility might be located off airport property.