'Copter company arrives

A semi from RBR Trucking in Longmont, Colo., pulls into the McCook Roundhouse to unload equipment for the new Pawnee Aviation manufacturing company. Brian Warren of the city of McCook and drivers with RBR remove packing straps before unloading the equipment. The city of McCook loaned the company a forklift long enough to get the company's forklift off the truck.

Temperatures in the single digits made for a cold moving day for Pawnee Aviation, Friday.

Two semi tractor trailers arrived at about 11 a.m., the first step in the process of setting up a helicopter kit manufacturing company in what remains of the roundhouse in the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad yards.

Ron Willicks, owner of Pawnee Aviation, said after the equipment is unloaded, manufacturing engineers should begin arriving in a couple of weeks to set up the equipment and prepare for start up.

Willocks said the first employee the company will hire will be an experienced auto body mechanic. That person will be responsible for finishing the plug masters for the cockpit enclosure.

The company also is looking for people familiar with composites, Willocks said.

Pawnee is expected to hire 10 employees for the first year of operation. Willocks hopes to build a new facility and hire on an additional 30 employees within five years.

Anyone interested in a position with the company should contact Willocks at Pawnee Aviation, PO Box 647, McCook, NE 69001 or by email at pawneeav@earthlink.com