HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-04-14 Minutesr -IL
Fayetteville Executive Airport Board Minutes
April 14, 2011 .
Board Members Present: Bob Nickle, Otto Loewer, Janice Stanesic, Tim McCarley, Rick Bailey, Josh
Mahony, and Mike Gibbs attending by Skype from China
Staff Present: Ray Boudreaux, James Nicholson, Louise Powers
Others Present: Wayne Jones -McClelland Engineering; Joel Walsh -Northwest Arkansas Times
ITEM #1: Welcome. Chairman Bob Nickle. Explained one Airport Board Member, Mike Gibbs, was
attending today by Skype from China, and thanked him for his dedication. The time in China is 2:30 a.m.
He welcomed the newest Board Member, Josh Mahony.
ITEM #2: Approval of the Airport Board Minutes of the March 10, 2011 meeting.
A motion to approve the minutes was made by Janice Stanesic and seconded by Josh
Mahony. The motion carried.
ITEM #3: Receiving of Reports.
A. Director Boudreaux. Told of Million Air canceling the lease on one of their corporate hangars. The
rent was $3,000.00 a month. The hangar is heated and has electric, and we need a tenant. This will affect
our budget. We are working on an ad to put in the Business Journal. Reported the FAA is not funding
the Obstruction Removal project. We need to list the obstructions differently to fit the FAA guidelines.
One option is to light the largest obstruction. The repairs on the fuel farm for overflow spills have been
completed. Million Air hired the company making the repairs to put in a new pump, so there are no leaks.
• The representative from the wildlife assessment company was not able to make the meeting today. The
Airport's Emergency Plan is almost completed, it has to go to the Police and Fire Departments and to the
Washington County Emergency Management Office, coordinating 115 pages of text and attachments,
then forward the document on to the FAA for approval. We will have an RSAT (Runway Safety Action
Team) Meeting next week with tower personnel and Airport Administration staff, and anyone is welcome
to attend the meeting.
B. Financial Coordinator James Nicholson, Budget Report. Stated that March numbers had
improved and Million Air had played a role in that, but our numbers for the year are still lower than
previous years. The FAA has forecast that the corporate flying will be the fastest recovery in general
aviation. Million Air's military fuel contract has drawn in more military flights. The Forest Service
operated out of Drake for several days and bought fuel while here. Million Air now has Phillips 66 fuel,
and the fuel price has seemed to have gone up. Director Boudreaux stated the Airport's self serve AVGas
is about $1.00 less than truck service. The Airport has a formula to calculate the selling price of the self
serve. Self serve fuel is not a money making experience. We have had promotions in the past and sold
the fuel at cost and lower, but it didn't increase the fuel sales. James related that in 2010 the Airport spent
$2,000 on fuel farm repairs, and also had to buy two new computers for the pumps. It was suggested the
Airport needs to get more transient visitors and to not get rid of any margin in the formula for the selling
price of the fuel. Million Air does offer some discounts on their fuel sales. Reporting on the Airport
finances, said the Airport will still have to pay on the loan from the City for the hangar and we will be
losing about $21,000 in revenue. We have received a small amount in tax rebate and our operating
expenses are okay. Director Boudreaux stated the City had lowered the interest rate on the hangar Million
Air is vacating and we were able to reduce the rent.
C. Senior Secretary Louise Powers, T -Hangar Report. We just rented a hangar for storage and now
• we have three small hangars available.
D. Wayne Jones, McClelland Engineers, Construction Report. One concrete curb has been replaced
at the contractor's cost, the gate for the T -Hangars has been installed, and some seeding has been done.
Director Boudreaux explained that those using garage door clickers/openers for the gate, they will still
work. Wayne they are still working on some punch list items, ditches, standing water, seeding. The
completed work revised drawing for the project will be reviewed next week. Stated he had brought the
ALP (Airport Layout Plan) today and he and Ray will review to remove some of the obstruction from the
layout. Our plans are to be able to submit to the State Aeronautics for payment in May. The Right -of -
Way plans will be submitted to the Arkansas Highway Department in May, making their changes, and set
the Right -of -Way monuments, then the City can deed the highway to the State and then the County will
release the old highway to the City. Director Boudreaux said the City Council will be making a tour of
the Airport's new project on May 2nd.
E. Museum Report -Josh Mahoney. Warren was unable to make the meeting. He said the Young
Eagles event will be this Saturday at 9:00, with a pancake breakfast and fly -in at 7:30. The Aviators' Ball
will be in May, tickets are $50.00 per person, includes a catered meal, and there will be a band for
dancing.
ITEM #4: Old Business.
A. Update: Airport Security Project. The Application for a Grant from the Arkansas Aeronautics for
the security project is on the City Council's consent agenda for Tuesday night. If it is approved it will be
presented to the State Aeronautics at their May meeting in Berryville.
B. Update: C -130's training at Drake Field. Discussion followed regarding the Airport's additional
military flights and possible ways to increase military flights and general aviation pilots using Drake
Field, scheduling fly -ins with breakfast or lunch, or schedule fly -ins when C-1 30's can be on the ramp for
tours, maybe schedule the C-130 tour every six months.
ITEM #5: New Business.
A. Discussion: Corporate Hangar. Previously discussed.
B. Discussion: Hay Lease. The person leasing now has decided he doesn't want to continue at the same
rate, as part of his harvest land was taken in the re-routing of the highway. We would like to put the lease
out for bids again. The lease contains a complete plan on how to farm the land, in flood plains there are
some restrictions. If anyone is interested they should contact the Airport Administration.
ITEM #6: Other Business.
A. Items from the Public. None.
B. Items from the Airport Board. Josh Mahony asked if there would be a ramp fee for the fly -ins.
Director Boudreaux said they would check on that.
Director Boudreaux suggested having a Strategic Planning Meeting to discuss ways to capture business
and ways for the Airport to continue to grow and suggested a few items to discuss.
• Where do we want the airport to be, in terms of assets and customer accommodation, in the next
five years?
• What projects do we need to concentrate on other than the FAA/AIP projects already in the five
year plan?
• How can we get more traffic and more based aircraft at Drake?
• Is there anything we can do to attract more business for our based businesses?
• What can we do to increase revenues?
• How do we make Drake more pilot friendly?
He stated he would send out an email survey to the Board. He would like to have it as part of the Airport
Board Meeting. Janice Stanesic stated she would not be at the meeting. Mike Gibbs said he would be
back for that meeting and is looking forward to the Strategic Planning Meeting.
MEETING jWJOURNED AT 2:30 p.m.
15-17--7�V(,
Otto LoeirVr,'3'ecretary \ Date