FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Plans for an aviation technical academy at the H.L. “Sonny” Callahan Airport might have to wait until the economy improves.

“It’s a matter of timing,” said Chuck Zunk, chairman of the Fairhope Airport Authority. “We might have to wait and come back (with this program) when the economy is better.”

Zunk said having a job skills training program located at the Fairhope airport near aviation “industry that we already have is a great thing.”

Charlie Bassett, an FAA member, who has helped lead an effort to bring the training academy to the airport, said, “there’s a lot of local interest” in the idea.

At the July meeting, the group’s minutes stated that official support from the local public school and college systems wanted “to have it up and running by 2010.”

Bassett explained that the economy and local school funding issues made the immediate location of the academy less likely, but that meetings would still be taking place between the FAA and local school officials regarding plans for the project.

“If there’s a way to make this happen, we will,” Zunk said.

In other business, the FAA:

Agreed to recommend Rod Platt for a recent vacancy on the authority caused by the recent resignation of Ken Knutsen, whose term expires in March 2011. State law requires that the mayor recommend the new member to the council, which will make the appointment decision, Zunk said, adding that Mayor Tim Kant asked for a recommendation from the FAA.