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Letter to Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam in Opposition of Government Competition with Private Business
Dear Governor Haslam: I am writing to bring to your attention a national issue affecting our transportation infrastructure that has, in recent months, become centered in the state of Tennessee. This issue concerns airport owners, which are usually arms of state and local government, creating an unlevel playing field for the private companies that do business at their airport. . . (www.nata.aero) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Being an Airport/FBO Manager that is owned & operated by a small local municipality in the State of Tennessee, I can see that these is a time and a place for this sort of thing to happen, but there should be absolutely no reason for it to happen at an airport the size of KCHA. In my particular case, the local city sees the advantage of having a professional looking (and run!) operation at their local airfield. People weren't exactly beating down the door to privately run it anymore, which is the case at MANY of the airports around the country which used to be supported by mom & pop operations. Because of this, the city started granting operating costs as part of their yearly budget, and the airport I run today is but a shadow of its former self...for the good I might add. We have worldwide manufacturing facilities within 5 miles of the airfield that regularly utilize the airfield and employee thousands in our community. It's a good payback for the average citizen, even if they don't realize it. However, that being said, when you already have privately run FBOs at an airfield, why on Earth would you think that this is acceptable?!? I can't see how this utilization of taxpayer money created an added benefit at KCHA. Especially since a brand new airport is almost completed nearby that will support more of the GA traffic visiting Chattanooga and the surrounding areas. Can I see both sides of this argument? Yes. But I can't agree with what the airport authority has done here. I'm honestly surprised that it was approved for grant money by the State considering its intended purpose. Tennessee is a Block Grant state, and the Department of Aeronautice & TDOT apportion both state and federal grant money. I may have to check into this further...I'll report back if I discover any inside info...
This is almost exactly what I was thinking. There is a time and a place for a municipally-run FBO; for that matter I think there is a time and a place for a government-run FBO to 'compete' with private enterprise. I'm certain this isn't it.
For the record I did all my training at KTYS where TAC Air operates as FBO, which I assume is much like KCHA, and I just can't see another FBO, even one built with grant money, being necessary nor being able to properly sustain itself. It seems more like both FBOs would end up going broke. Especially when you consider that the MKAA operates as FBO at KDKX, the nearest GA field and the differences in fuel prices there vs. KTYS are almost negligible, certainly not the $1.00 a gallon referenced by the CMAA president in the piece Loren Lintner links to.
For the record I did all my training at KTYS where TAC Air operates as FBO, which I assume is much like KCHA, and I just can't see another FBO, even one built with grant money, being necessary nor being able to properly sustain itself. It seems more like both FBOs would end up going broke. Especially when you consider that the MKAA operates as FBO at KDKX, the nearest GA field and the differences in fuel prices there vs. KTYS are almost negligible, certainly not the $1.00 a gallon referenced by the CMAA president in the piece Loren Lintner links to.
Governments job is to govern. It provides, via regulations, tax incentives etc, the right enviroment for private enterprise to flourish. This is the case wether it is in aviation or any other business. History has shown that governments are lousy at running any kind of business. They become bloated with civil servants. And, to keep those sinecures intact, further regulations are inacted. In that enviroment benefits become rights and job security is paramount over the day to day operating of the business. That's why there is no profit in a government enterprise.
Taxes used to run an enterprise competing with private companies is inherantly unfair.
Taxes used to run an enterprise competing with private companies is inherantly unfair.
Agreed! We have that in Baltimore, where the city decided to go in the hotel business, raised lodging taxes on all other hotels and still losing money!
Found this opposing view.
http://wilsonair.com/news/flying-high-facility-improving-operations-airport/
Still not sure I have enough information to form an opinion. This argument, however, indicates the incumbent FBO was built in a similar fashion, not paid for by the business itself.
http://wilsonair.com/news/flying-high-facility-improving-operations-airport/
Still not sure I have enough information to form an opinion. This argument, however, indicates the incumbent FBO was built in a similar fashion, not paid for by the business itself.
Here is a link to another study done.
http://chattanoogansforfairaviation.com/pdf/Chattanooga%20Executive%20Summary.pdf
http://chattanoogansforfairaviation.com/pdf/Chattanooga%20Executive%20Summary.pdf
Thanks. Just our of curiosity who are the Chattanoogans for Fair Aviation? Like the two battling parties, they don't appear to be an independent, third party that would keep their own bias out of a report.