Local flight school says espionage claims by Anderson City Council member undermine community safety
Anderson Councilmember Darin Hale has made claims on social media that IASCO Flight Training is a security risk to America due to its training of Chinese students. The school said such unfounded claims, made amid national tension over immigration enforcement, put its students at risk.
A local flight school is pushing back against vague claims of espionage made by an Anderson City Council member.
On Jan. 21, IASCO Flight Training — a flight school based out of Redding Regional Airport — posted a photo on Facebook of several cadets who are part of the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy and completed their flight training at the Redding school. Darin Hale, who has been on the Anderson council for about a year, commented on the post using the same photo of the cadets, which had been altered by overlaying the words, “China’s Peoples Liberation Army / Redding CA,” with downward facing arrows pointing at each cadet.
In response, the flight school stated in the comments that it’s proud to serve international students — who make up about 50% of its student population — and that attempts to distort the school’s celebration of education and achievement with propaganda is “inaccurate, unnecessary, and unwelcome here.”
Hale replied, denying the school’s use of the term “propaganda,” broadly claiming without evidence that Chinese students in America gather information and report it back to the Chinese military and accusing the flight school of putting “American lives at risk.”
Hale shared a video of a Newsmax story from last May about Chinese students allegedly spying on American universities, a claim that was made last year by two student journalists at Stanford. He didn’t provide any proof linking students at the Redding-based flight school with espionage, simply referencing their perceived nationality instead. The school stated in the comments that the students pictured aren’t even from China.
IASCO Flight Training Operations Manager Miranda Vorhis sent a letter later that day to the Anderson City Council, stating that Hale had mischaracterized the school and its students “in a manner that is inflammatory, factually incorrect, and has encouraged hostility that places our students, instructors, and staff at risk.” Hale posted the letter on his Facebook page.
Vorhis continued that the school is federally regulated and that it trains both domestic and international students. She explained that international students are authorized through federal processes and are subject to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Transportation Security Administration oversight, strict background checks, ongoing compliance audits and biometric collection.
She invited the city council, including Hale, to tour the school’s facilities and speak with students and staff to increase transparency. She also urged the council to reflect on the conduct of city officials.
“When rhetoric from an elected official fosters fear or hostility toward lawful residents, students, or local businesses, it undermines public trust and community safety,” Vorhis said in the letter. “We ask that the Council take this matter seriously and reconsider whether such conduct aligns with the standards expected of those serving in public office.”
Hale’s claims against IASCO Flight Training come as tensions rise nationwide about immigration, specifically the Trump administration’s use of immigration police to conduct widespread enforcement efforts that have resulted in the detention of American citizens as well as immigrants with appropriate legal paperwork and no criminal history. ICE’s actions have included stopping and detaining individuals based on their appearances and accents.
Since Hale’s initial comment on the school’s Facebook post, he has made several posts on his own page that accuse the flight school of being owned by China and training Chinese students who will become pilots for China’s military. He’s also made claims on Facebook about how Chinese students in America gain intelligence on infrastructure and other information and report it back to the Chinese government.
Hale denied a request to comment for this story.
In an interview, Vorhis said she’s not concerned about the validity of Hale’s claims about the school — which has been around since 1969 — but said that accusations such as these encourage students not to enroll because they feel less safe. Research from early 2025 documented the connection between perceived threats from China and anti-Asian hate online and follow up reporting has documented how threat narratives about China can feed hate against individual Asians.
Vorhis said Anderson’s city manager responded to her letter by stating that Hale’s claims are not shared by the council or the city. She said she followed up by requesting the city look into adopting a social media policy for elected officials to curtail such claims being made in an official capacity but has not yet received a response.
Vorhis clarified that the flight school operates in Redding because of the region’s ideal weather conditions since it’s one of the sunniest cities in the country. She added that because the school is overseen by several federal agencies, she’s sure that students who attend are solely there to receive flight training but encouraged anyone with concerns to contact the school.
“We’ve been in Redding for a long time,” she said. “We’re here to stay. We call Redding our home, and we just want to make it clear that we’re not going to go anywhere because of these claims.”
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https://www.newsweek.com/cdc-responds-claims-about-chinese-biolab-california-1844760 The “see something, say something” policy comes into play with anything or anyone from China as they are NOT viewed as a safe friend to the US, that is, unless Gavin Newsome is involved. He recently sold burned Pacific Palisades properties to China. Do the research, the PRC has “police stations” in the US as well. https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/4008817-crack-down-on-illegal-chinese-police-stations-in-the-u-s/ The old term “Ojo” make sense here. I don’t agree with captioning the picture of the flight students in such a way, but castigating a public figure raising an alarm isn’t helpful either.
Elizabeth, I’d encourage you to rethink your fear of “anything or anyone from China.” Many of our friends and neighbors in this country are from China. It’s tremendously important to differentiate between the country of China and its geopolitical goals and our friends and neighbors who may be ethnically Chinese.
Do you have information on those who are here but remain Chinese citizens? https://homeland.house.gov/2024/04/18/startling-stats-factsheet-encounters-of-chinese-nationals-surpass-all-fiscal-year-2023-at-the-southwest-border/Even now the US is confronted with alliances between China and Iran which is in the US crosshairs. Military- aged men -Chinese nationals- have been turned away at the border. I hope you will take the time to read those articles I cited, especially the first one regarding the Central California bio lab and who is behind that. That said, of course there are innocent Chinese who are here to start a new life and who have been vetted and found safe to be here just as there are those who are a legitimate concern.
The same claims were made 10 to 15 years ago. There was a big write-up in the Record Searchlight. Nothing was ever proven. I guess we are always taking a chance when non-citizens are being trained in certain areas. We need to be careful of what we write/say though. When there is no proof – harm can be done.
Hale has legitimate concerns. China has infiltrated many areas of our Country. It’s a national concern. China is not an Allie. It is estimated 1000000 communist Chinese are citizens of the USA. They were born here thru birthing schemes but were raised in China and will be able to vote by 2030. Hale has good reason to be concerned as China is not concerned about our well being.
Do you even have a single source or link to back up your claims?
…..
Please provide as we are all waiting.
But otherwise, I’ll just say that the paranoia and fear that some people live under must be pretty terrible for them. Imagine thinking that everyone is out there to get you, and there are enemies hidden everywhere.
If he has proof, he should put up or be quiet. He is opening himself and potentially Anderson taxpayers to the cost of civil litigation.
Bruce Ross, Where did you get this information?
What is there to say except that ignorance continues to thrive in Shasta county?
Loud, proud, and clueless.
I have seen these well behaved flight students at Winco, riding Raba and at the movie theater. I seriously doubt the idea that they could be gathering military espionage in these highly secret areas of Redding or Anderson.
I came here to the the same. These you people keep very much to themselves and have been more respectful in my experiences with them than most people.
It’s extremely sad that there are people who fear anyone ” different ” than themselves.
Stop stirring manure.
An elected official in Shastanistan is an ignorant, knuckle-dragging racist? This is my surprised face. Is it any wonder qualified professionals don’t want to live here?
Selah
That’s really sad. I’ve seen a rotating crop of Asian students at IASCO for at least 10 years, and never a problem that I know of. I’m sure lots of people have seen them at bus stops and many places in town, where they’re usually in groups. Then along comes an ignorant public figure who gets his “news” from Newsmax, targeting these kids and spreading racist and false stories about them. My understanding is only the best and brightest get chosen to come here for training, and they’re fully investigated beforehand. How ironic that these students aren’t even Chinese! Hale should be censured and it seems adopting a policy about making unfounded accusations is overdue. IASCO might have a legal claim against the city if Hale’s false accusations impact their business.
There is a major concern I have and that is the People’s Republic of China is considered a hostile nation. While the school is getting big bucks from the PRC having these guys here is reminiscent of 9-11.
Anderson vote Hale out. An elected official should never make unfounded statements. An elected official should never incite chaos. Obviously another very unqualified individual in a council position seeking attention.
My major concern here is what the foreign pilots do with their training. Training them for commercial airlines is one thing; Training them to be fighter pilots for foreign adversaries is quite different. That possibility wasn’t addressed in the school’s remarks.
LMAO
Training them to be fighter pilots? Wait. You mean here locally, in good old Shasta county, they provide fighter pilot training??
One of the funniest comments I’ve heard all day. Fighter pilot training…
As a general rule, I don’t expect much from Anderson—and yet, it somehow manages to consistently disappoint.
Hard to know what Hale is up to, other than seeking attention to himself. All statements about the Chinese students have been given with no facts to back the accusations up. It’s simple racism again. And dangerous talk, as stated. Sort of the thing a domestic terrorist would do.