New flight school coming to Natchitoches Airport | Business

Folks in and around Natchitoches Parish who want to become a pilot will have a new flight school opening up close to home.

The Flight Academy of New Orleans (FANO) will open a flight school at the Natchitoches Regional Airport. A grand opening of the school is set for Thursday, August 2 from 4-6 p.m. at the airport. The school will be located in the former Northwestern State University hangar.FANO's training includes courses for both personal and business use. Elective classes will also be available to students at NSU.

The school is certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, and is one of only three schools to have that certification in Louisiana. FANO plans to provide instruction for various flight certifications and ratings including private pilot, instrument, commercial pilot, flight instructor, Multi-engine, and Air Transport Pilot.

Airport Manager Larry Cooper said, “According to an economic study done more than four years ago, the Natchitoches Regional Airport brings $13,797,000 of direct and indirect benefit to our city.  This flight school offers significant opportunities to utilize one of our most important assets and provide growth for Natchitoches aviation” 

“Everybody knows the airport is there but we sometimes forget how important it is to our community,” said former Natchitoches Mayor Wayne McCullen.

Airport Commission Chairman Stanley Salter said, “Very few communities like Natchitoches have been successful without an airport, and we have a ‘great’ airport.  FANO is the piece of the puzzle needed to fulfill the goal of providing quality, professional flight training for our City and the surrounding region at a time when a critical pilot shortage is at hand.”

Their main campus in New Orleans is also approved by the Department of Veteran Affairs to train active and inactive service members and by the FAA as a commercial air tour operator. Owners Krystal and Ankur Hukmani said it was their hope to get the same approvals for the Natchitoches campus.

For more information about Natchitoches Regional Airport, please call the Airport Manager at (318) 352-0994 or visit the City of Natchitoches’ web site at: www.natchitochesla.gov.

For more information about the Flight Academy of New Orleans, please contact Managing Director Krystal Hukmani at (504) 241-9131 or info@877flynola.com. FANO can be found online at www.877flynola.com.