The City of Brownsville held a welcome ceremony on Thursday to celebrate the official opening of the Flight Academy of South Texas (FAST), located adjacent to the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport. The new facility brings expanded access to pilot training and aviation education to the region.
FAST offers aspiring pilots of all ages the opportunity to earn their pilot’s license right here in Brownsville, eliminating the need to travel outside the area for flight instruction.
Interim City Manager Alan Guard said the arrival of FAST is a strong match with the City of Brownsville’s strategic goals and the long-term vision for our airport. At the heart of our strategy is a commitment to building Brownsville as a center of opportunity by investing in education, strengthening workforce development, and attracting high-skill industries that drive lasting economic growth. Aviation training supports every one of those priorities.
“By establishing operations at Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, FAST introduces an important new service line that enhances the airport’s role beyond traditional passenger and cargo activity. Flight training strengthens the airport as a multi-use aviation asset, supporting education, professional development, and specialized aviation services. This diversification is essential to the airport’s continued growth, resilience, and competitiveness in the region,” Guard said.
“This matters,” said Commissioner At-Large “A” Tino Villarreal Jr. during the ceremony. “It keeps opportunity local, it strengthens our workforce, and it reinforces Brownsville’s role as a hub for specialized training and high-skill industries.”
Villarreal also noted the city’s rich aviation history, sharing that Amelia Earhart earned her commercial pilot license in Brownsville in 1923. He emphasized that the arrival of FAST supports the City’s long-term economic development goals, particularly in education, workforce readiness, and attracting innovative organizations to the Brownsville airport area.
He also thanked Jorge Whitley, the academy’s owner, for choosing Brownsville.
“Thank you for believing in Brownsville and choosing our community as your home. We are excited to see your students take flight—literally and figuratively,” Villarreal added.
Whitley shared that the project began 14 months ago and was inspired by his daughter’s dream of becoming an aviator.
“This all started with Fernanda, little Fernanda, wanting to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps,” Whitley said. “The opportunity was there for me to provide this just for her, but it took on a life of its own, where I could provide this for my community.”
Interim Airport Director Faisal Khalifa said the addition of FAST reflects the airport’s continued growth, made possible through strong collaboration and a shared vision among city leadership and community partners.
With the launch of the Flight Academy of South Texas, the City of Brownsville takes another step toward growing its aviation ecosystem, strengthening workforce development, and empowering the next generation of pilots—right from the heart of Brownsville
