Skip to main content

FlightSafety Intl. to Build State-of-the-Art Facility at Houston Spaceport

Published Oct 28, 2019 by Melissa Fox

Flightsafety ellington

Aviation training company FlightSafety International (FSI), announced this month it will build a state-of-the-art learning center at the Houston Spaceport at Ellington Airport. The 30-year land lease will make New York-based FSI the anchor tenant in the spaceport’s first phase of construction.

The center will be equipped with 12 flight simulators for a variety of aircraft. These simulators, along with other remote, unmanned systems training courses, will provide training for pilots, flight attendants and maintenance technicians. 

“This is a big win for the Houston Spaceport,” Ellington Airport and Spaceport General Manager Arturo Machuca said. “This reaffirms our vision of the Houston Spaceport becoming a center for aviation and aerospace training. The future is here, and Houston is leading the way.” 

The lease also includes potential expansion for four additional flight simulators and parking.

FSI will begin construction on the $16 million, 90,000-square-foot facility in the spring of 2020, with completion expected by the summer of 2021. The new facility will replace FSI’s existing Houston Learning Center at William P. Hobby Airport. FlightSafety told the Houston Business Journal an estimated 140 to 200 employees will work at the new center.

“Welcoming a great tenant like FlightSafety International is a key step forward as Houston works to develop one of the nation’s leading spaceports,” said Susan Davenport, senior vice president of economic development at the Greater Houston Partnership. “Houston has long been a ground-breaking hub of aerospace training, and this project continues that tradition. This new facility, and the Spaceport more broadly, will help propel the next generation of aviation and aerospace professionals.”

Houston Spaceport celebrated the groundbreaking of Phase 1 at a ceremony on June 28. The estimated $18.8 million project will focus on streets, electrical power, maintenance lines, as well as distribution, fiber optics and communications facilities. The project will also include 53,000-square-feet of lab and office space.

The Houston Spaceport became the nation’s 10th commercial spaceport when the Federal Aviation Administration granted its license in 2015.

Register to attend the State of Airports event on December 10 and learn more about where Houston's world-renowned airport system is heading.

Learn more about innovation in Houston here.

Related News

Economic Development

Abbott Names Water Infrastructure, Workforce Development Among Priorities in State of the State Address

2/3/25
Governor Greg Abbott named two of the Greater Houston Partnership’s Executive Priorities as emergency items for the Texas Legislature during his State of the State address Sunday. The governor said he wants lawmakers to immediately begin working on solutions to strengthen the workforce, improve the resilience of vital infrastructure, and make a Texas-sized investment in water security. The Partnership supports significant state investments in water infrastructure to ensure reliable supply, upgrade aging systems, and sustain economic growth amid rising demand. Workforce development is another key priority, advocating for stronger collaboration between education institutions and industry to create clear pathways to high-quality jobs. In a sweeping speech covering everything from the border to breaking ground on a Texas stock market, Gov. Abbott said lawmakers should deliver policy solutions that expand the "Texas Miracle." Education, water, and resiliency are key components of that vision. After the speech, Gov. Abbott released more details about the emergency items. To reach the goal of a "Texas-sized investment" for water, lawmakers must develop a solution to invest $1 billion every year for 10 years to address water supplies and repairs to existing infrastructure. By naming these issues as emergency items, lawmakers in the Texas House can debate legislation on the House Floor before the 60-day bill-filing rule. However, policy issues not designated as emergencies cannot be considered by members of the Texas House until after March 14. Last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick outlined the first batch of priority bills expected to be filed in the coming days. Highlights from that list coincide with Abbott’s emergency items, including: $2.5 billion for water investment Improving the resiliency of vital infrastructure, specifically water and power Strengthening accountability measures in public education The Texas Senate is already reviewing at least one of the governor’s emergency items. Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee is making steady progress in hearing testimony from various state agencies about funding requests for the 2026-27 biennium.  Later this month, the Texas Education Agency is scheduled to testify in the Senate Finance Committee. That hearing will likely reveal more about funding for the governor’s emergency item related to “life-changing career training” in public schools. Sen. Charles Schwertner and Rep. Gary Gates, both representing districts within the Partnership’s footprint, are set to introduce legislation authorizing funding for programs related to welding, health care, and other industries where high school graduates can directly enter the workforce.  One final highlight from the State of the State address is the governor’s declaration to create a Texas Cyber Command. The governor stated this new agency will strengthen the state’s resilience against cyberattacks. This command will train and recruit to protect infrastructure from digital warfare and criminal actors.   Click here to read the governor’s complete State of the State address.
Read More
Workforce Development

Houston Back on Track Proves an Effective Model to Serve Jobseekers

12/19/24
While the original focus of the Houston Back on Track initiative was to help put people back to work following pandemic-era job displacement, it has evolved into a collective effort to serve and support low-wage workers in Houston looking for something better. Our progress has been meteoric, morphing from a pitch deck to a recognized brand and advocate for so many workers in Houston. At the heart of our efforts is the work we do to connect jobseekers to career coaches at our community partners. In the past 18 months alone, Houston Back on Track connected over 10,400 jobseekers to our community partners. Many of these people enrolled in programs, received coaching, improved their skills and were hired by companies representing a variety of industries. The trajectory of these people's lives improved along with the talent levels of the employers bringing them aboard. For all parties involved, this work has been win-win. 2024 saw results from the Houston Back on Track survey, asking those who signed up if they got the support they needed. The survey went out to thousands of jobseekers, in English and Spanish, offering possible incentives for their participation. These are some of our learnings: 84% of those who responded are still pursuing new job opportunities The most desired career paths are in customer service and medical fields Most respondents interviewed with employers that are not partners of Houston Back on Track Nearly all respondents recalled being contacted by a career coach The most popular support services were resume writing and job interview coaching A significant component in our strategy going forward is to stay in communication with the people we’ve already connected with on some level, nurturing their career aspirations and providing them with the tools they need to thrive. With continued engagement, Houston Back on Track will motivate clients, provide guidance and open educational opportunities through Grow With Google scholarships to improve jobseekers' skills.  “At Wesley Community Center, we deeply value the dedication Houston Back on Track has shown in empowering our clients through modern resources like LinkedIn Learning and Grow With Google,” said Amy Corran, President and CEO, Wesley Community Center. “Their commitment to genuinely advocating for our clients with employers is commendable. We eagerly anticipate continuing our partnership to provide impactful upskilling opportunities that leverage data and innovative tools, enhancing our collective efforts to improve the mobility and foster success of our residents.” Houston Back on Track partners with United Way of Greater Houston’s THRIVE network. Between April 2023 and March 2024, Back on Track referred 5,424 individuals to 13 THRIVE community partners who worked with 23 employers and 15 education partners. 550 of those clients were actively pursuing skills development programs. 578 of those clients were interviewed for open job opportunities and 495 were hired. Houston Back on Track also supported 155 career coaches with professional development opportunities to strengthen their coaching skills. Learn how you can get involved in Houston Back on Track. Download the Partnership's 2024 Impact Report.
Read More

Related Events

Executive Partners