Business View Magazine - May 2024

have ten new T hangars in that, for the session as well. So hopefully, we can get both of those funded in the next few months.” Operated by the city of DeQuincy, Rainwater says there is an Airframe and Powerplant (A& P) mechanic based on the field to help if a situation arises. “He’s pretty booked up with clients, but he is available for emergency-type things. We can give him a call and get him out here for emergencies,” he notes. “If somebody can’t leave until something is looked at by an A & P, we do have that on the field. So that is a great benefit.” EDUCATING THE FUTURE One possibility for DeQuincy Industrial Airpark is the introduction of a flight school. Rainwater says discussions with Rock Solid Aviation are underway, as they look to expand into the area. Collaborations with organizations such as the Louisiana Airport Managers and Associates group, are helping to spearhead initiatives focused on partnering with schools across the state, particularly those with existing aviation programs, such as Maxwell, Lake Charles, and LSU Alexandria. By bringing students to the airfield and exposing them to aviation opportunities, the hope is to inspire an interest in the field, helping to address the shortage of pilots and professionals. Rainwater himself is also on the Chennault International Airshow Board of Directors, where scholarships are awarded biennially to support aspiring aviators. “I’m involved in trying to get in within the schools. I’m a pilot myself, so I see that shortage. I’m a firm believer that that shortage comes from people not getting out and showing kids that there are plenty of opportunities in aviation,” he asserts. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Home to entities such as Petroleum Services Corporation, a thermoplastic recycling company, Deep South Crane and Rigging Company, and W4, a family-owned warehouse and truss manufacturer, the airport is a major contributor to the industrial landscape of the area. Rainwater recounts, “The city