Rio Grande Aviation, a local aviation repair and service company in Del Rio, recently moved into a newly constructed 12,000 square foot hangar facility at the Del Rio International Airport. The hangar was built over the course of a year. Rio Grande Aviation services most aircraft at the airport and was started 8 years ago by owner Thomas Mitchell, who saw a need for aircraft maintenance in Del Rio. The new hangar allows the company to service customers driving up in vehicles or arriving via the runway. Rio Grande Aviation offers services like oil changes, tire changes, and electrical repairs for planes operating in Del Rio or nearby airports.
Rio Grande Aviation, a local aviation repair and service company in Del Rio, recently moved into a newly constructed 12,000 square foot hangar facility at the Del Rio International Airport. The hangar was built over the course of a year. Rio Grande Aviation services most aircraft at the airport and was started 8 years ago by owner Thomas Mitchell, who saw a need for aircraft maintenance in Del Rio. The new hangar allows the company to service customers driving up in vehicles or arriving via the runway. Rio Grande Aviation offers services like oil changes, tire changes, and electrical repairs for planes operating in Del Rio or nearby airports.
Rio Grande Aviation, a local aviation repair and service company in Del Rio, recently moved into a newly constructed 12,000 square foot hangar facility at the Del Rio International Airport. The hangar was built over the course of a year. Rio Grande Aviation services most aircraft at the airport and was started 8 years ago by owner Thomas Mitchell, who saw a need for aircraft maintenance in Del Rio. The new hangar allows the company to service customers driving up in vehicles or arriving via the runway. Rio Grande Aviation offers services like oil changes, tire changes, and electrical repairs for planes operating in Del Rio or nearby airports.
Wednesday, December 6, 2017 An in focus page dedicated to local business
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE
Local aviation company is flying high
BY MEGAN TACKETT megan.tackett @delrionewsherald.com
A local aviation re-
pair and service compa- ny recently moved into a newly built facility after more than a year of construction. Thomas Mitchell, owner of Rio Grande Aviation, said construc- tion for his company’s hangar began in the summer of 2016 and was completed in Au- gust. The 12,000 square- foot facility services most of the Del Rio International Airport’s aircraft, he said. “We started 8 years ago with a savings account and a tool box,” Mitchell said. “I never really jumped at the idea of owning my own business until it just kind of happened.” While flying com- mercially between San Antonio and Del Rio, Mitchell said he had the idea to start his own maintenance shop when Photo by Megan Tackett he noticed the absence of Rio Grande Aviation owner Tommy Mitchell and his office manager and mechanic Lindsey Fabian stand in front of their new hangar located at one at Del Rio’s airport. 1480 Weather Station Road. “I saw a need here at the airport because summer heat, Mitchell “Where we were (be- runways and locations. market past Del Rio business at an airport. there wasn’t a full time said, and he had the fore) we couldn’t have “Think of it as taking into neighboring cities Mitchell said he em- maintenance facility concrete floors painted a customer drive up to your car to the dealer- like Uvalde, Midland ploys about six me- at the time,” Mitchell to give the hangar a the door, walk in a buy ship,” Mitchell said. and Eagle Pass. chanics out of his shop, said. “The plane broke clean look. When choos- parts,” he said. “We basically do the Rio Grande Aviation, all of who are civilian down once or twice and ing a location to build, Rio Grande Aviation, same thing for airplane Mitchell said, is a fixed- licensed mechanics. I thought there should Mitchell said he wanted Mitchell explained, owners.” base operator, which Mitchell said he is be at least one mainte- a spot that was accessi- offers oil changes, tire Since Mitchell the Federal Aviation also currently working nance shop here.” ble to both automobiles changes, electrical re- doesn’t have any Administration consid- with Southwest Texas The hangar features driving in from town pairs and annual excep- competition within a ers a commercial opera- Junior College to de- insulation to keep the and planes coming off tions for airplanes that 150-mile range, he said tion with an interest in velop an air frame and facility cool in Del Rio’s the runway. land in Del Rio or nearby he is able to extend his aviation or conducts its power plant program.