NORTH NORWICH – It’s the end of an era. The economic downturn coupled with losing Procter & Gamble’s long-standing corporate jet traffic ends a 20-year effort of having a fixed-base operator at Chenango County’s Lt. Warren Eaton Airport.

Just one aircraft is scheduled to fly in on a touch and go this week, according to Airport Administrator Donald MacIntosh.

Members of the Chenango County Airport Steering Committee are planning to recommend to supervisors this month that Gama Aviation’s contract not be renewed. The contract is due to expire in November.

Although the committee’s decision isn’t official, both its president and MacIntosh said they were disappointed not to receive offers from any other potential operators for the job.

Gama’s proposal was for $30,000 per month.

“We can’t put that charge to the taxpayers at this point in time,” said Steering Committee President Rodney Schultes.

The Connecticut-based firm has been operating the airport, initially as PrivatAir, since 1989. The county’s relationship with its fixed-base operator was initially based on an even swap: the firm conducted maintenance while the county offered a place to do business. In 2003, however, lawmakers reluctantly agreed to tap the airport’s trust fund and pay about $5,500 a month for services. The fixed base operator, in turn, generated revenues by selling fuel, repairing aircraft and chartering jet flights. It also received a percentage fees obtained from renting out T-hangars.