NORTH NORWICH – Things are looking up at the Lt. Warren Eaton Airport as Chenango County lawmakers learned recently that two small business entrepreneurs are interested in renting t-hangar space.
Part-time Chenango County Airport Administrator Donald W. MacIntosh told members of the Planning & Economic Development Committee last week that he had begun negotiations with a jet mechanic and an airplane interior upholsterer who would share the hangar.
Also, MacIntosh said progress has been made to install a self-service credit card reader at the airport. The machine would enable pilots to fuel their own planes, thereby generating income for the county as well as eliminating liability insurance that would be necessary if a county employee were to do the fueling.
MacIntosh said having a mechanic on site and the self-fueling capability “should boost interest” in the airport.
The county would pay $20,000 for the card reader with interest from the airport’s approximately $500,000 trust fund. MacIntosh said fuel sales after the first year should cover the cost after two years.
The news comes on the heels of the departure of longtime fixed-base operator Gama Aviation followed by a shot of nearly $50,000 from the trust fund in order to keep the facility in operation. The Chenango County Board of Supervisors has tentatively budgeted the amount for 2010, along with revenues anticipated from hangar rentals and fuel sales, in order to afford a full-time maintenance worker, supplies and materials and other unplanned expenses.
Gama Aviation was forced to cut staff and shut down fueling, parking and maintenance on the weekends back in April in order to counter the nation’s economic downturn. The airport has also weathered losses in jet traffic from Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, New York Central Mutual and other corporations over the last two years.
Gama officially ended its eight-year long relationship this month when lawmakers chose not to renew its contract.
Last year, the county was awarded federal aviation grants for a 10-year airport improvement plan update and more t-hangars. The site work is currently out to bid and could begin in March with the t-hangars planned to be built next summer.
City of Norwich Supervisor Linda E. Natoli, chairwoman of the Planning & Economic Development Committee, asked the county’s planning and development director to request an advertising campaign for the airport from Commerce Chenango.
“We need to see some advertising somewhere that this is one of our best kept secrets,” said Natoli.
Macintosh said Unadilla Motocross race participants fly in every year and “really like the airport,” suggesting that they could be good testimonial candidates in an ad campaign.
Town of Otselic Supervisor David J. Messineo said the airport was more popular when it offered a restaurant. The restaurant closed several years ago, and Macintosh said security precautions since 9/11 would require any new eatery to be located outside the fenced-in airport.
Members of the committee discussed the appropriate fee to charge the business prospects, whether to offer a contract annually or on a three-year basis, and the need to install a programmable thermostat reader for controlling heat in the hanger space.
Natoli stressed that the county “can no longer look at just breaking even” at the airport.
“We have to make a few bucks over what it costs us to operate, mow the lawns, etc.,” she said.
The committee agreed to purchase the card reader and asked MacIntosh to continue discussions with the possible tenants.
The Lt. Warren Eaton airport has received more than $15 million from the federal government for various improvements over the years.