And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: From: "brixey" Tule River Economic Plans Take Flight by Trudy Hibler Porterville Online News Director, and Wire Reports October 29, 1999 Not content to put all their economic development eggs in one basket, tribal leaders of the Tule River Indians have announced plans to start production of airplanes. Tribal leaders say profits from Eagle Mountain Casino are making it possible to create the new business. The tribe plans to operate the airplane manufacturing business at a site near the Porterville airport in partnership with Riley Super Skyrocket, a business based in Southern California. Riley converts Cessna-337 airplanes into two other models known as the Skyrocket and Super Skyrocket. Riley will continue operating its engineering and marketing departments from Carlsbad, California. Manufacturing and repair would be conducted at the Porterville site. The Tule River Indian tribe is negotiating with the City of Porterville on a lease of land located near the runway at the Porterville Airport. Once the lease is approved by both parties, a 16,000-square-foot hangar will be built as the manufacturing site. More than 100 jobs are expected to be created by this new business venture. No word on what the jobs will pay, only that wages will be higher than minimum wage. Jobs will be open to members of the general population as well as tribal members. The plant is expected to begin operations in the spring of 2000. No word on the cost of starting up operations.
