Officials with River Town Aviation LLC at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport held a ribbon cutting Friday to commemorate the completed renovations to Hangar 4 as the business is continuing to grow. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

WILLIAMSTOWN — The people behind River Town Aviation had the community out Friday to celebrate the completed renovations to Hangar 4 at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport.

A ribbon cutting was held to commemorate the event with a number of local and state officials as well as area business leaders and the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

The renovations to the around 11,000-square-foot hangar have been going on for the last six to seven months, said Josh Wilson, chief executive officer at River Town Aviation LLC.

“We took a rundown hangar here that was one of the worst hangars at the airport and invested a lot to make it the best hangar,” Wilson said. “We completely gutted this facility and redoing the electrical, the heating system, the flooring, redoing the walls and building an addition that has classrooms, a testing center, flight simulator room, medical examination room, offices, a parts room and more.

“A lot has really gone into the details to make this place happen. It is all state-of-the-art now. To take it from where it was to where it is now, I think it is something to be proud of.”

Planes were on display Friday during an open house Friday at River Town Aviation at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport to show off renovations done to Hangar 4. The business is growing its flight school and services to support general aviation in the area which officials hope will help bring other businesses to the area. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

He commended the work done by 3-D Properties and AB Cleaning to get things where they are at.

Wilson told those gathered that River Town Aviation began as a passion project to keep general aviation going at the airport and to continue to train new pilots.

“We started out as a group of friends here that were pilots and aircraft owners,” Wilson said. “We saw an airport that was sort of struggling and we wanted to make sure there was going to be a future for general aviation.”

It started with a single plane and it has grown to include mechanics, a mechanical shop, a flight school with instructors, flight simulators and more.

With general aviation can come opportunities for the entire community.

A gathering was held Friday to commemorate the completed renovations to Hangar 4 at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport. River Town Aviation LLC operates the hangar with a flight school, maintenance services and more. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Wilson pointed to what is happening in North Carolina with the recent devastating storms and how many rescue missions rely on available aviation.

“We wanted to ensure a future in Parkersburg for aviation,” Wilson said.

The number of students has increased where they now have around 40 full-time students on the roster and they are getting inquiries for maintenance.

“It seems to be one of those ‘if you build it, they will come’ things,” Wilson said. “At least, we hope so.”

There are over 350 people who have utilized services with River Town Aviation, including people training with them, doing flight reviews or more.

River Town Aviation LLC Chief Executive Officer Josh Wilson spoke Friday to a gathering of community and business leaders to commemorate the completion of renovations done to Hangar 4 at the airport where the business is based. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

They operate three Cessna 172 planes in their flight school along with the regular maintenance.

“As it grew, we needed to bring on more people,” Wilson said.

The business partnered with Fairmont State University’s aviation program. They have the ability to teach and instruct people to get a private pilot’s license, to get a private instrument license and a commercial license with the possibility of going all the way to the airlines.

“We are here for the aviation enthusiast and the community,” he said.

Wilson said they are looking at getting into doing jet maintenance. One of their chief mechanics has 30 years of experience. They are able to do on-call maintenance for Contour and inspections.

Planes were on display Friday during an open house Friday at River Town Aviation at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport to show off renovations done to Hangar 4 as Rivertown is continuing to build its business, which includes a flight school, aviation maintenance services and more. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

River Town is already making a name for itself as there has been a lack of general aviation maintenance shops out there.

In a prepared statement from U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., read during the event, Manchin said airports serve as hubs for economic development and allow people to be able to visit the state, resulting in a need for experienced pilots.

“This represents the future of aviation in our home state,” Manchin’s statement said. “The addition of these flight services and training will result in new educational and job opportunities for our citizens.

“It is the perfect example of how our state can meet and exceed the ever changing standard in this industry.”

In a prepared statement from U.S. Senator Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va., read during the event, Capito said this project will help continue to grow the role of aviation in West Virginia.

“The aviation industry creates incredible opportunities across our state,” Capito’s statement said. “It has the potential to be a major economic and development driver across our state.”

Del. Bob Fehrenbacher, R-Wood, commended the people who have built River Town Aviation and what they are doing at the airport.

“The State of West Virginia recognizes the economic opportunities that aviation could play in our state,” he said. “I look at this as the initial step that will transform this airport and this region.”

As far as the future is concerned, Wilson said they want to “focus and perfect” what they are doing now. However, establishing a charter service is in the long-term plans but there are a lot of requirements with the Federal Aviation Administration that have to be met first as well as a number of legal issues.

“It is something we want to work on in the future,” Wilson said. “You can come here and get your medical examination, written test, ground school test, flight training, get your maintenance done and more.

“It is a one-stop shop here. I think this can be a benefit to Parkersburg and ensure a future for this airport for everyone.”

For more information, call 681-229-7124 or go to the website at www.rivertownaviation.com.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com