New flight service delayed

MILLINOCKET – A lack of available Federal Aviation Administration instructors has delayed, but not eliminated, plans to start an upscale “soft adventure” flying service and pilot training school at Millinocket Municipal Airport, its proponent said Monday.

The Center for Classic Aircraft Skills, which was supposed to run at MMA from late May until mid-October, has instead been referring its scenic flight tourists to West Branch Aviation, which is based at the airport, Jeff P. Russell, managing director of CCAS, said.

CCAS has been unable to post vintage aircraft and hire workers or pilot instructors at the airport per its plans because the FAA has been unable to book an instructor to test or certify Jeff Campbell, the Millinocket man who will represent CCAS on the ground, as a licensed sport aircraft instructor or flier, Russell said.

“We’re working on expanding it in Millinocket, but it [the delay] is nothing we can control,” Russell said Monday.

In announcing the plans in October, Russell said he hoped to employ five to 10 people and might eventually have a light industrial component, such as aircraft repair, restoration or the manufacture of aircraft parts, at the airport.

The business, Russell said, hinges upon the attractiveness of the Katahdin region as a draw for pilots, foliage fans, tourists and residents who want to experience flying or learn it in the nearly open cockpits of rare 1930s and 1940s replica sport aviation aircraft, full size, but small and relatively slow airplanes.

The aircraft seat two to four people, burn 3.5 gallons of aviation gasoline per hour, instead of the usual 12, and typically have engines of about 100 horsepower, Russell said.

Russell said Monday that an FAA instructor has been booked to test CCAS instructors in September and that CCAS is considering posting a vintage Piper Cub in Millinocket by the end of September for instruction and tours. His business has been successful around the country, in Hampden and in Florida and St. Louis, at developing the sports-flying market.

He said he was glad that West Branch had gotten some business from his referrals, but neither he nor West Branch workers at the airport Monday could say exactly how much, although West Branch has seen a very busy summer.

One reason for the increase in airport business has been Three Rivers skydiving and white-water rafting service having a full-time presence at the airport, workers said. Three Rivers co-owner Joe Christopher could not be reached for comment Monday.

Over the last two years, town officials have made airport revitalization a priority, buying hangars and getting a fueling system for aircraft.