HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-27 Minutes•
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED AIRPORT BOARD MEETING
March 27, 2006
MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Nickle, Otto Loewer, Dave Hellman, Dave Bowman
MEMBERS ABSENT- Vaughn DeCoster, Janice Stanesic and Richard Greene
STAFF PRESENT: Ray Boudreaux, Janes Nicholson, Louise Powers
OTHERS PRESENT: Dan Craft -Morning News, Mark Frankum and Kathy Moore -Sky Venture
Aviation, Inc.
ITEM #1: Welcome and Agenda Review—Chairman Bob Nickle.
Welcomed Board Members, staff and press.
ITEM #2 Consideration of a Lease Agreement with Sky Venture Aviation, Inc. to lease office
space in the terminal to operate an FAA Part 141 Flight School and to conduct new Cessna Aircraft
sales, pilot supplies, sales, and aircraft rental. Mr. Frankum was introduced and he thanked
everyone at the meeting, and Ray Boudreaux had gone way beyond to make them welcome. Four years
ago they had purchased an existing flight school with only eight students in Jonesboro and then expanded
two years later to Jackson, Tennessee, and would like to expand their operation here. Currently they have
approximately 65 students between the two locations. Last year they graduated 126 pilots with a low
drop out rate. Their fleet is either new or late model, their oldest is a 2001 aircraft. They have zero
accidents, no injuries. They try to provide bi-lingual employees. All their staff is full time, benefits are
provided, with the company paying one-half of the insurance premiums They will have six aircraft here,
owned by Sky Venture. Later they may introduce a lease -back program. They look forward to doing
business here, with Million Air providing fuel and hangar space, and with an aircraft maintenance and
avionics shop on site. They had looked at airports from Fort Smith all the way up to Springfield. They
made it a policy to not move into another Cessna area, and out of respect to Drake Aviation. They now
have found out Drake Aviation is out of business this is the best demographic area. NW Arkansas has
good trends, this airport has good curb appeal, good approaches, and a tower. The people here are really
great. A couple of FAA Inspectors had told them they really need to look at Fayetteville, it has a good
economic factor that is not happening across the country. To stay aware of the business, Sky Venture
goes out and looks at two flight schools every three months.
Sky Venture requested additional help with the renovations they want to make to the building and Board
discussion followed. Staff explained the lease had already been reduced from $2,000 per month to $1,000
per month for the first twenty four months as an incentive for remodeling by the Sky Venture The
Airport will pick up the utilities (that are shared by all terminal tenants).
Chairman Nickle stated the Board felt a little uncomfortable they were being asked to consider something
other than what had been presented to them in the agenda. The Board's Consensus was to vote on what
had been presented in the proposed lease.
A motion to approve the lease, as is, was made by David Holtman and seconded by Otto Loewer.
The motion carried with Dave Bowman abstaining.
Meeting Adjourned.
(D --0
Dave Bowman, cretary Date