Scottsdale, AZ — Arizona Republic –After a recent $1.8 million judgment and now federal funding potentially at risk, Glendale Municipal Airport has selected Scottsdale-based Executive Aircraft Maintenance to help foster some much-needed growth.
By July 1, EAM will be the West Valley airport’s new fixed-based operator, or FBO – a federally authorized facility to provide maintenance, fuel, pilot lounge and business attraction to the area on airport property. Jim Nordstrom, president and owner of EAM, said he’ll also run the facility, to be called Glendale Aero Services.
Glendale is shaking up its airport operations as the result of a scathing Federal Aviation Administration investigation into airport practices.
The city has hired a new airport manager and will step up hangar inspections starting this month.
The efforts aim to appease the FAA, which has threatened to cut off federal funding to the general-aviation airport and declare it non-compliant with federal airport rules.
Glendale corrective plan | Inside Glendale Municipal Airport
The FAA released findings in May that the city violated safety rules by allowing hangar owners to store items such as classic cars, a motor home and rolls of carpet instead of aircraft. The FAA also said Glendale had discriminated against a separate hangar owner, George Van Houten at Valley Aviation Services, by prohibiting similar storage at his hangars and mandating his lease rates.
Van Houten won $1.8 million in damages from Glendale in a recent lawsuit. The city spent another $900,000 to pay law firms and consultants to fight the lawsuit and could pay about $500,000 for Van Houten's legal bills.
The FAA sanctions, if imposed, could end federal funding to the airport on Glendale Avenue west of 99th Avenue. Hundreds of pilots and students use Glendale Municipal Airport for flights, fueling and aircraft storage each month, and the city depends on millions each year in federal grants to keep up the airport.
But Glendale officials say they are confident the FAA will accept their plan to fix problems and will waive punishment.
"We don't expect any issue," said Jamsheed Mehta, Glendale transportation director.
"As our corrective action plan was being drafted, we were working in consultation with the FAA folks. They haven't officially put a seal on it, but they've certainly accepted this as a good approach for the city."
Interim airport manager Walter Fix replaced former airport administrator Judy Skeen, who was reassigned to the city's finance department.
Mehta said Fix was well-known for his work at Phoenix's Deer Valley Airport, Sky Harbor Airport and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
He said the city needed a new manager to bring in "an outside view" of airport operations.
Fix's contract, calling for him to work three days a week through December, is estimated to cost $28,000.
His contract may be renewed after that, or the city may hire a permanent airport manager.
One of Fix's first tasks will be to coordinate inspections of all hangars by Sept. 30.
Hangar owners have received letters asking them to set up appointments.
The city then plans to schedule inspections once a year and inspect an unannounced sampling of hangars each quarter.
Hangar owners found to be storing non-aviation items will have until Dec. 1 to remove the material, according to the city's plan.
- Cairo Durham Csd
sally sharkey. Experience: Assistant Superintendent Intern, Catskill Central School District; Summer School Principal/District Intern, Cairo Durham; Director of Music ...
- Mesa Airlines Dba America Mar Flight Time Arrival Departure
We Are honored to invite you, on the board of the one of the most Courteous,friendly, and safest transportation company to & from San Diego airport.
- Coach Class Airfares Low Cost Airline Tickets Paris
Free worksheets and Games for K-7 - http://www.softschools.com/ SoftSchools.com provides free math worksheets, free math games and free phonics and handwriting worksheets ...
- Hair Color Combinations
Daring Color Combination Style flambé, get sizzling with a new do. The effect of this new creation lies in the slightly irregular shape of the round and tapered cut and ...
- Hairbrush Sets
Find Bath Accessories - Bath Belt & Gloves, Bath Set, Hairbrush, Cosmetic Accessories, Packing, Head Band, Car Brush, Shampoo Cape, Exposure Suit, Cutting Cape, Kitchen ...