As part of the Blairsville Airport Advisory Board meeting at the W.C. Nelson Terminal Building last month, some exciting news was unveiled. Blairsville will soon receive several new additions when it comes to those looking to fly the friendly skies.
Pat Micelli and Zach Wilson, owners of Appalachian Mountain Aviation, presented a business plan overview that included a flight school and new aviation services that may become available to locals within a couple of years.
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With the runway visibility improvement project expected to cause an airport closure in early 2027, Micelli believes that would be the best time to begin construction for the sake of practicality.
That said, despite many of the plans “coming to a head” after some five months of deliberation, Micelli said the building phase may be slowed down by supply chain delays. Current estimates place construction beginning in June or July of 2027 and lasting for about nine months.
Still, Micelli is hopeful that the project will be a boon to the community, citing multiple job opportunities to help keep work local and provide more options for people looking for work. For one, the business plan includes regular aviation maintenance and an aircraft interior shop.
This will expand the Blairsville Airport’s capabilities with upgraded maintenance options, which will include both routine and advanced checks on all types of aircraft. These provide everything from annual inspections and airframe and powerplant work to troubleshooting and regular repair services.
As for the shop, it will serve as a full-service facility, able to perform carpet replacement, panel work and custom interior design as well as work on upholstery and headliners; Micelli said that there would be several job openings for aircraft repair and refurbishment specifically.
“Once we get the maintenance facility going, we’re going to be getting people from everywhere,” Micelli added. “Then, the interior work is really going to get people in here.”
To foster interest in aviation and help young would-be pilots to earn their wings early, Appalachian Mountain Aviation expressed interest in partnering up with Union County Schools and the local Experimental Aircraft Association chapter to organize aviation workshops and ground schools where students can get a safely monitored taste of flight.
On top of that, Micelli hopes that STEM programs will promote aerospace education, and for those who want to pursue careers, the airport’s new additions will offer internships, mentorships and apprenticeship opportunities to get more folks off the ground. A goal further down the road is to work with Young Harris College.
But adults are still welcome to come educate themselves, and Micelli and Wilson pushed for greater accessibility with cost-effective training programs. The help of a new, upgraded flight simulator will provide a safe environment to learn how to pilot a plane without having to travel far. This is where the new Federal Aviation Administration testing area will come in.
Spending time on the simulator will log FAA-approved hours of flight time, and even those who already earned their license can come and brush up on their skills with proficiency checks. It’s only one aspect of the highly anticipated flight school.
The training center itself will also offer programs for private, instrument, commercial and advanced pilot ratings, utilizing new aircraft for those ready to step beyond the simulator.
Until then, Wayne McGary with Croy Engineering said he was willing to sit in on regular meetings and provide input as needed, and Micelli suggested that he or Wilson join the Airport Advisory Board to have a hand in smoother organization and implementing everything discussed.
