US-China cargo plan offers aviation job prospects

By Catherine Deshayes on 22-Feb-2012

A plan to develop MidAmerica St Louis Airport in Missouri into a base for a major international cargo operation has been given a significant nod of approval by two local county board committees.

The St Clair County Board committees have approved the plan for the issuing of $550 million worth of general revenue "conduit" bonds to aid with the development of the plan, which would likely see the creation of a range of new trade and aviation jobs in the region. It could also see major air cargo routes opened up between the base and key locations in China.

The airport’s director, Tim Cantwell, said that it was a significant boost for the plan by Strategic Air Cargo Inc. of Chesterfield, Missouri. Cantwell said that the plan was still in its planning infancy, but had the support of a wide range of “serious business people”.

“It’s a lot of money,” said Cantwell. “There’s a lot of infrastructure planned [...] Probably warehouses, probably airplanes. Probably training. The whole gamut of air commerce.”

He was unable to go further on the job creation potential that the project would have, but said he was pleased that it was getting underway, even at this early stage.

“The bond process is a long process to begin with,” Cantwell added. “We’ll know more when they get their money.”