Attracting Aviation Businesses -- How?

Jay,

The situation you describe (as well as Jim) is apparently VERY common.
In fact, it would seem that mid-size municipally owned airports almost
never operate without subsidies and grants. I've been researching the
same issues, recently, as it applies to my own airport in Ocean City. Most
would never be able to do large scale improvements like runway re-paving,
etc. without being involved in the FAA's Airport Improvement Program
(AIP). I even went to a one-day conference of Maryland airport managers,
so that I could listen to the topics involved. From my research, it would
seem that most of the opinions on this newsgroup are fairly one-sided
relative to all the issues involved. You might want to do some Googling
on the following topics:

Airport Management
Airport Improvement Program
Through the Fence Operations

It would appear that it's a farely rare situation that a mid-size
municipal airport can bring in enough business to operate in the black.
Forward thinking municipalities probably consider the loss incurred
supporting the airport as an investment in the greater good of the city,
but I suspect that it's very difficult to convince a city council, or city
manager, of this.

-- Jay

__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino/ ! ! !

Checkout http://www.oc-adolfos.com/
for the best Italian food in Ocean City, MD and...
Checkout http://www.brolow.com/ for authentic Blues music on Delmarva

Jay Masino wrote:
Through the Fence Operations

Not there is a VERY delicate topic. Unless you are dealing with total
morons, you have less than a snowball' chance in Hell of getting
something like that through a municipally owned facility. Remember, they
are looking for as much money as they can get. If it isn't going to
generate revenue, you aren't likely to get it.

john smith wrote:
Jay Masino wrote:
Through the Fence Operations

Not there is a VERY delicate topic. Unless you are dealing with total
morons, you have less than a snowball' chance in Hell of getting
something like that through a municipally owned facility. Remember, they
are looking for as much money as they can get. If it isn't going to
generate revenue, you aren't likely to get it.

From what I understand, there are some municipal airports that allow it,
but they charge a fee to the Through the Fence operator. Some do it as a
monthly fee, some do it every time the operator taxies onto the airport
(using a card key and electric gate setup).

-- Jay
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino/ ! ! !

Checkout http://www.oc-adolfos.com/
for the best Italian food in Ocean City, MD and...
Checkout http://www.brolow.com/ for authentic Blues music on Delmarva

"Jay Masino" wrote in message ...


From what I understand, there are some municipal airports that allow it,
but they charge a fee to the Through the Fence operator. Some do it as a
monthly fee, some do it every time the operator taxies onto the airport
(using a card key and electric gate setup).

I know when they were getting ready to develop land uphill from the airport
at VKX, those with property immedately ajoining the field (oddly zoned for
a large "accessory structure" on the rear property line) were going to be
assesed a fee to allow you to taxi from your property out onto the field.

"Jay Masino" wrote in
In fact, it would seem that mid-size municipally owned airports almost
never operate without subsidies and grants.

Nor do the streets, nor do the ditches, nor does the municipal boat launch,
nor does the park, nor does the mosquito commission, nor do the traffic
lights, nor does the water department... In fact there is not a single
governmental service that does not require the tax payers to support it, and
usually the commissioners are beating the drum for more money to put into
these services... Only when it involves the public airport does it suddenly
become an unnecessary service...

I have publically confronted some of our county commissioners (politely) who
object to the airport and as soon as I point out the illogic in their
position I get:
"Well, ummm errr, you don't understand. The parks are a line item in the
budget and the airport is an additional expense that we have to take money
from some other service to cover."
"So, make the airport a line item in the budget!"
"Oh, we couldn't do that."