Projects committee authorizes Epic Flight Academy to operate at Tuscaloosa National Airport

The Tuscaloosa Projects Committee on Oct. 12 authorized a commercial aeronautical agreement allowing Epic Flight Academy to operate at Tuscaloosa National Airport under a sublease with Hawthorne Global.

The action ensures Epic meets the city's standard requirements for on-airport operators and ties the city agreement's term to Epic's sublease with Hawthorne: as long as the sublease remains active, the city agreement remains in force, the committee was told.

Jeff Powell, a city staff member who introduced the item, said the city previously permitted a similar provider, Rev Aviation, whose instructor moved on as his career progressed. Powell said Epic would effectively replace that prior service under Hawthorne's sublease. A representative for Epic, identified in the meeting as Mr. Johnson, said the company is interviewing two instructors for the Tuscaloosa operation and will expand staffing from there as demand requires. Committee members asked about capacity; staff said the city does not limit the number of flight schools but manages a level playing field. The committee noted there will be multiple providers at the airport, including Sanders Aviation and an operator at Bama Dixie.

Committee members approved the authorization by voice vote; a roll-call tally was not recorded in the meeting minutes.

The agreement approved by the committee is year-to-year and conditioned on the sublease that Epic holds with Hawthorne. The committee did not adopt additional conditions during the meeting.

A vote approving the agreement was recorded as carried by voice; no roll-call count was provided in the transcript.