Airport Evaluation Committee selects 8 Flags Aviation as City partner

July 13, 2015 1:00 a.m.

On Wednesday, July 8, four members of an Airport Evaluation Committee gathered in the city commission chambers to hear presentations from McGill Aviation and 8 Flags Aviation in response to a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the City of Fernandina Beach. The purpose of the RFP was “to solicit a Fixed Based Operator (FBO) to occupy space in the north area and partner with the City in the development of the new complex.”

On a 3 - 1 vote, the evaluation committee selected 8 Flags Aviation to partner with the City in the Fernandina Beach Airport Welcome Center project. On August 4, the commission will be asked to approve the evaluation committee’s recommendation and request the city manager begin contract negotiations with 8 Flags Aviation. Although the FAA and FDOT will supply most of the Welcome Center funding according to the RFP  a financial commitment from the chosen FBO is required.

Airport Manager Joe Gerrity (L), and Andrew Holesko of Passero & Associates (R) - File Photos

The evaluation committee members were selected by City Manager Joe Gerrity who also serves as airport manager, and Andrew Holesko with Passero & Associates.  Those selected were Ronald Price, an airport and aviation consultant with 42 years of experience; Paul Booton, retired military officer and owner of an information system consulting business whose clients include city and county governments;  Chip Seymour experienced in airfield development; and David Byers who worked with Passero & Associates on the Fernandina Municipal Airport Master Plan (See previous article).  Byers was the only member to vote for McGill Aviation.

8 Flags Aviation, President Brian Echard is former executive, entrepreneur, and an experienced pilot. Michael Hodges, president and CEO of an aviation consulting firm ABS Aviation, will serve as president of operations for 8 Flags Aviation. Echard’s presentation before the committee identified four key goals:

Introduce a first-class FBO facility and operation to Fernandina Municipal Airport visitors, as well as to based tenants.

Regain fuel sales that have been lost in recent years.

Increase fuel revenues to both the City and the FBO.

Work with the City to incorporate a formal marketing plan into FBO operations to increase potential business and development opportunities for the Airport and the City.

McGill Aviation  has served as FBO at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport since 1998.   Sean McGill gave the presentation and listed the following reasons to select his company:

Knowledgeable

Small, local business in it for the long-haul

Experienced

Stable

Known quantity - Do what we say, say what we do.

History of investing in airport infrastructure

Part of community

On March 18, 2014, the city commission unanimously approved 8 Flags Aviation as a second FBO after almost two years of "exchanges between the parties and complaints to the Federal Aviation Authority regarding what appeared to be the city’s reluctance to accede to 8FA’s choice  of location." Click here for previous article.

According to Echard, "There is still a lot that needs to be negotiated as far as details with the facility and how the financing piece will work."  Once the commission grants approval and negotiations with the City are completed and approved, Echard will explore the logistics of opening his FBO prior to the completion of the Welcome Center.  The targeted date for Welcome Center completion is early 2018.