Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport Welcome Center-FBO: A second opinion

Submitted by Louis Goldman

October 19, 2015 9:30 a.m.

The following is about City Resolution 2015-139 concerning a second FBO/Welcome Center at the local airport and the articles that have been written in both the Fernandina Observer and the News Leader.

First of all, as a former member of the Airport Advisory Committee (AAC), let me state that my opinion is - the City should not have any part in building a Welcome Center at the airport. If you have ever been into a Fixed Based Operation (FBO) you will find that all of the FBOs have their own Welcome Centers plus areas for pilots to check the weather, do their flight planning and file their flight plans. The size of the Welcome Center will depend on the size of the FBO and the volume of traffic at the airport where the FBO is located. Typically, Cities will only get involved with Welcome Centers when they, the City or an Airport Authority, is the operator of the FBO. Fernandina Beach, since it does not operate the FBO, should stay out of the Welcome Center business and forego their dream of a public/private partnership at the airport

Several years ago there was discussion by the AAC for a structure that would house both a fire station and a terminal (Welcome Center) building but it was turned down because there was a question about funding the equipment and personnel for the fire station and also no one liked the connotation of the word "Terminal". Call it whatever you want - we didn't need a terminal building back then and we don't need or have any use for a Welcome Center now. The FBOs on the field will provide all of the Welcome Center services that are needed for our airport and at their own expense.

Here's what the airport does need - two FBOs, side by side on the north ramp. Each FBO will have their own ramp space for airplanes, their own parking lot for cars, their own fuel farm, whatever office and hanger space they feel that they need and whatever size "Welcome Center" that they want to build. That puts the FBOs on a level playing field and the competition for business will be good for both the local pilots and transient aircraft.

So, in my opinion, the steps to a reasonable solution for peace at the airport would be -

• Get rid of Resolution 2015-139. I'm not sure if it gets voted down or cancelled but I'm sure that the City Attorney can figure how to make it go away. And

• Sign a lease with the other FBO - 8 Flags Aviation - for the balance of the north

  ramp. The balance being that part of the ramp not leased to McGill. Now both

  FBOs should be on a level playing field with 8 Flags building whatever they feel is necessary for their operation and McGill doing the same.

Now, if the City feels that they should have a building on the airport I would be in favor of an administrative building that would have offices for the airport manager, some rental offices for possibly a rental car agency and/or aviation oriented businesses and space for a small diner or cafe. It might be possible to repurpose the grant from DOT for the Welcome Center to money to build the administrative building.

PS. Of the three enterprise funds that we are most familiar with - two, the golf course and the marina have full time managers and are losing money and the airport is and has been making money for several years. Yes, the airport operates in the black but the money does not go into the general fund, it stays in the airport account. It is also my opinion there is an urgent need for the City to hire a competent, full time Airport Manager. A manager with a degree in Aviation Management and preferably a person with a few years of management experience. This will not cost the City since the manager is paid from the airport account. If fact, the proper manager should be able to develop our airport to be one of the best general aviation airports in the State.

Editor's Note:  Lou Goldman, a native Floridian,  moved to Fernandina Beach in 1996 from Daytona Beach.  He is an FAA licensed pilot and since 1959 has logged over 3,000 hours of flight time.  For 10 years he served on City of Fernandina Beach Airport Advisory Committee.