Nakhon Ratchasima airport appears to be the best location for the Transport Ministry's planned so-called aircraft industrial estate and aircraft maintenance centre, said Woradech Hanprasert, deputy permanent secretary for transport on Thursday.
Mr Woradech now serves as the chairman of the ministry's steering committee which is responsible for implementing the ministry's plan to set up the aircraft industrial estate and the aircraft maintenance centre.
The committee is still in the process of selecting the best location for the project, taking into consideration studies by three relevant panels, he said.
According to a source at the ministry, the first sub-committee has studied the business plan of the maintenance centre. The sub-committee is overseen by Thai Airways International Plc.
The second sub-committee focuses on working out a plan to attract better qualified staff to the aviation industry and improving the training of its staff. The Civil Aviation Training Centre is in charge of the panel.
The third sub-committee, run by the Board of Investment of Thailand, is responsible for drafting a plan for developing the project's core benefits.
"Although we have to be very careful when choosing the location, we will try to come up with a conclusion as soon as possible," said Mr Woracdech.
So far, the Nakhon Ratchasima airport appears to be the most viable option as the studies found it can be developed into the estate and centre straight away, if chosen.
The Nakhon Ratchasima airport can be reached by train, can be linked to other major cities by building motorways, and is not currently used for commercial purpose. It has plenty of empty space and is equipped with a runway for large aircraft such as a Boeing 747, said Mr Woradech.
Only some facilities, such as hangars, and the refuelling equipment are needed if the ministry actually decides to choose the airport, he said.
U-tapao airport in Chon Buri is supposedly not an option because the government has other plans for it.