GASTONIA, N.C. — The city of Gastonia has filed a lawsuit against the Academy of Aviation Gastonia, alleging the airport operator failed to pay required revenue, withheld financial records, and ignored contractual obligations tied to its management of the Gastonia Municipal Airport.
According to the suit, the Academy—contracted in 2018 and renewed in 2023—was required to pay the city a portion of fuel sales and 3% of gross revenue from its flight school.
Instead, the city claims the operator routed all tuition payments to its New York branch to avoid sharing revenue, according to the Gaston Gazette.
Gastonia also says the Academy failed to deliver required development plans for a new hangar and office complex and did not provide financial documents needed for an audit.
Attempts to negotiate a settlement reportedly went unanswered.
The Academy of Aviation could not be reached for comment, and the city declined to comment on pending litigation.
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