Friday, May 10, 2013
FAYETTEVILLE — Fuel sales and flight numbers haven’t taken off in the eight weeks since the city took over fixed-base operator duties at the Fayetteville Executive Airport.
Bob Nickle, chairman of the Airport Board, said he anticipates rosier reports in the months ahead.
“All in all, I think we’re going to see a slow climb,” Nickle said.
The city, on March 15, severed ties with Million Air, the Houston-based company that provided fixed-base operator services since 2005. A fixed-base operator sells fuel, parks aircraft, provides concierge, rental car and catering services and helps pilots coordinate with future destinations. City officials cited Million Air’s frequent late payment on rent and fuel fees as reason for terminating the company’s contract.
At A Glance
Air Traffic Control Tower Still in Limbo
Ray Boudreaux, director of the Fayetteville Executive Airport, said Thursday airport administrators still have no official word from the Federal Aviation Administration on whether the FAA will pay to operate the air traffic control tower at Drake Field past June 15. Federal transportation officials were given the go-ahead to shift money around in their budgets earlier this month, but, according to Boudreaux, it’s unclear whether that money will go to continued operation at the Fayetteville tower.
Source: Staff Report
The number of planes that flew in and out of Drake Field with a city-run operator fell by 202 flights in April from 2,889 flights in March, according to a monthly operations report. Fuel sales dropped 7,606 gallons, from 35,761 gallons to 28,155 gallons, last month.
Ray Boudreaux, airport director, said fewer military flights were partially to blame. Million Air held a contract with the Defense Logistics Agency, whereby military aircraft in Arkansas and neighboring states could fly in and out of Drake Field, often stopping to refuel. It took several weeks to get the military contract transferred to a city-run operation, but Boudreaux said, as of Thursday morning, “We are good to go.”
James Nicholson, financial coordinator at Drake Field, said the airport should see more money from military fuel sales after the end of the year. As part of a termination agreement with Million Air, the city agreed to share half of the proceeds from military fuel sales with the company through December.
Boudreaux noted Thursday that flight numbers are still up 15 percent and fuel sales are up 11 percent year-to-date compared to the first four months of 2012.
“Everything seems to be moving along just as it should,” he said.
Airport administrators budgeted $98,000 in one-time expenses for transitioning to a city-run operation. The airport will also miss out on about $110,000 Million Air paid in rent and fuel fees last year. Nicholson said Thursday current estimates, without increased military flights, show the airport ending the year with $105,000 to $110,000 in revenue over expenses.