TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Avon Park WantsTo Boost Airport Business

KATHY WATERS/Highlands Today

Kevin Kasley checks the oil of a Beechcraft Baron during preflight inspection on Wednesday.

ADVERTISEMENT

By Douglas  Carman | Highlands Today

Published: October 11, 2007

John Barben admits the Avon Park Executive Airport is troubled. As it bled more than $3.8 million in state grants since the 2005-2006 fiscal year ending Sept. 30, it generated only about $345,000 in business revenue.

It became so unappealing, the chairman of the Airport CRA said at Monday's city council meeting that the Highlands County Economic Development Commission has encouraged businesses looking at the airport to instead head to Sebring Regional Airport and set up shop there.

Barben and the city are now placing their hopes on hiring a new airport manager who could, according to Barben, focus on getting businesses onto the limited property and the surrounding area while also getting more of them to fly their jets there.

"I look at this position as an economic development position as much as an airport position," Barben said.

Avon Park City Councilman Joe Wright thought the airport could use one as well. When he considered building a milk plant on the airport property earlier this year, the EDC even told him to consider Sebring instead.

Wright said that experience, for him, is "one of the arguments why we need an airport manager.

"Sebring has the airport authority and Avon Park doesn't have any of that," he said.

EDC Executive Director Louise England could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

According to the proposed 2008 airport budget, the airport manager would be paid $49,000 a year to try drawing in new commerce.

The manager, Barben said, would have the same function as Sebring Airport Authority Executive Director Mike Willingham. Barben credited Willingham for making Sebring's airport self-sustaining by creating the industrial park and drawing support from the EDC.

Plans

The Sebring Regional Airport has a lot more land available than Avon Park's airport, so instead, Barben and the Airport CRA are trying to get the surrounding property owners to rezone their land for industrial development to compensate.

City Manager C. B. Shirey, who has managed the airport before the position was created, said he expected the new manager to focus on drawing in new aviation businesses without trying to compete directly with the airports in Sebring and Lake Wales.

He emphasized a new building proposed along its State Road 64 boundary that would double as a store front and hangar space. Also, it is using grant money to build a new 3,800 square-foot terminal building.

George Pope, who manages airfield operations for the privately owned Florida Aircraft Services inside the airport, thought that would be difficult right now, given the economy. He predicted most businesses in a sluggish economy would first cut back on flights, which provide the "most bang for the cut."

"They have to have a reason to be here," Pope added.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT