NEW BERN, N.C.—On Wednesday (March 24), Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) toured the headquarters of D2 Government Solutions and their facilities at the aviation school Tradewind Flight Services.
The visit was to discuss the impact that D2 Government Solutions (D2GS) has had on the economy through new job creation that has employed nearly 300 people across the state of North Carolina in 2021.
“It’s great to see a local company come in and offer flight services,” Congressman Murphy said. “Something that will really be a boost for the economy in eastern North Carolina, Craven County, and really all across the east of North Carolina, and employing veterans.”
The conversation also addressed D2GS’s pursuit to attain federal funding from the FAA in order to create a pilot training program for high school students from low-income areas of Craven County.
D2GS President Darryl Centanni and Rep. Greg Murphy discussing the future of the organization
“We have a great partnership with Craven Community College and the airport,” Darryl Centanni president of D2GS said. “Creating jobs and helping young adults start flight school, and ultimately become working pilots, is part of our core mission here.”
COVID-19 has created a huge vacuum for commercial pilots. The airline industry was forced to cut back on its services through the initial wave of the pandemic. But as the world has adapted, the demand for new pilots has skyrocketed.
“It really is an exciting time for the future of young aviators,” Centanni said. “Many of the barriers that made it difficult for young people to get up and running with a career in aviation are be reevaluated.”
Tradewind Flight Services (TFS) is the flight school component of D2GS. In the last 20 years, TFS has trained over 10,000 pilots in Part 61 and Part 141 certifications. In addition to their partnership with Craven Community College, TFS is also a partnered affiliate with Liberty University. New students have the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree while learning to fly.
“Every facet of your professional and personal development is covered here at Tradewind Flight Services,” Centanni said. “Our training programs are guaranteed to put the new pilot on the runway for success.”
Rep. Murphy and Centanni survey TFS flight line