HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-17-1982 Regular Meeting179
Airport Board of the City of Fairhope met May 17, 1982 at
5:00 p.m. at the City Administration Building, 387 Fairhope
Avenue, Fairhope, Alabama
Present: Chairman Donald Coogan; members Gilbert
Wesley, Jim Gaston, C.O. McCawley, and Buzz Colling
Jim Reid, City Attorney and Phil Bass, FBO at Airport
Mr. Coogan went over for Mr. Bass the background leading up
to this meeting, and the fact that the Airport Board was
hunting for a revenue producing idea for out at the Airport
and that T-hangars might be a source. He mentioned that
Mr. Wesley had brought to the Board's attention his inability
to get hangar space to store his airplane, and Mr. Bass's
lease requirement to provide 10,000 ft just for this purpose.
He questioned Mr. Bass as to whether this standard was too
broad, narrow for him to adhere to. Mr. Bass remarked that
the maintenance hangar was large enough to house 10 single,
5 multi engine aircraft. Mr. Coogan asked since there were
3 hangars there, what could be the problem? Mr. Bass said
he was willing to abide by the Board's wishes, and he would
be glad to put Mr. Wesley's plane and even Mr. Gaston's if
he wished to put it in there. He remarked that they would
have to move the aircraft in/out for individuals, but that
would not present problems. He remarked that this space
would be available for 45 days, approximately, but after
this his business would be picking up and he would be needing
the large hangar space for this proposed work. He went over
with the Board what his proposed plans were for the next five
years. He told them that the hurricane almost closed him down
completely, that his whole operation almost went under. That
he has been negotiating with the military over a contract that
would allow bim to overhaul 5 aircraft a month indefinitely,
and the onl�lding him up now is that it has to clear appro-
priations in Washington. That he has also been negotiating
to redo a 727 for Kenny Rogers and if he gets that job, it
will be out there for four months. That he has been using
the hangars for his business, but the name of the game is
making money, and it is a matter of tying up the space for
planes or using it for profit making in his business. He
thought the T-hangar idea was a good one. The question of
who purchases these and rents them out was discussed, also
the cost of rental vs. cost of purchase. The new apron area
was discussed as a place to put these T-hangars. Gilbert
mentioned that he had a representative come to the Airport
and he said that they could put five Port-O-Ports ideally on
the new apron. Jim Gaston asked Phil Bass if he thought his
operation was pre-empting general aviation at the airport.
He replied no, that he wanted to live up to his lease agreement
100% that he provided 24 hour service and for an airport this
size he felt that he was providing a great deal of services
to the general public.The question was asked, could Phil build
T-hangars and get return on his money, did he want the City to
furnish them, or the individual. Gilbert said he thought the
individual might want to provide the hangars.
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The Board asked Phil to go to the bank and get some figures
on financing for the T-hangars, that then we could get with
the City Council to see what we can work out together to
mutual satisfaction. Phil said this would be fine as he
would like to get this resolved.
Phil also asked about the possibility of being a part of
the Board, and Jim Reid advised him that ethically this could
not be, but if he wanted to come to the meetings, or a representa-
tive, that there would be no problem with that. The Board also
said they would welcome someone that we needed to work on commun-
ication.
Phil said he would get a letter back to the Board on what he
finds out and we can then get with the Council to talk further
There being no further business, meeting was duly adjourned.