CAA: GA News, "Aviation Firms Request Waivers for Rental Fees at Arlington, Texas, Airport"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

October 31, 2001

Aviation Firms Request Waivers for Rental Fees at Arlington, Texas,
Airport
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas


ARLINGTON, Texas--Two aviation companies are asking the city to waive
their rental payments at Arlington Municipal Airport for a year to help
recuperate money lost after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Airport Properties Inc. and Airport Properties, USA contend that they
lost a substantial amount of money because of the federal airspace
restrictions that banned small aircraft from flying within 30 miles of
Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.

Ken Woods, a representative from Airport Properties, USA estimated his
company's loss at about $100,000.

"This is not like we were hit by a tornado," said Woods, whose company
employs 70 people. "We could have at least recovered our cost with
insurance."

The City Council's Mobility Committee, which oversees transportation
issues, reviewed the request Tuesday but took no action. It plans to
consider the request again next month.

Airport Properties, USA subleases to the International Aviation Travel
Academy flight school.

Airport Properties Inc. pays $3,898 and Airport Properties, USA $38,051
annually in lease payments. But Airport Manager Bob Porter, at the
advice of Texas Department of Transportation officials, said the city
would have to make the same accommodations to other aviation companies
at the airport.

Porter expects the airport to bring in about $462,069 this year in fees
for terminal office space, hangar rentals, airplane tie-down rentals and
lamp/ramp leases.

Porter informed the committee that there is pending federal legislation
in which the small business administration would provide grants or defer
loan repayments for small general aviation businesses if they qualify.

"I don't believe any of the companies will close tomorrow," Porter said.
"I think we can wait."

The federal government placed the restrictions on small aircraft within
30 miles of D/FW Airport and Dallas Love Field unless pilots are trained
to fly on instruments and file flight plans.

Committee member Robert Cluck said making a decision before the
government decides on how it will disburse aid packages would be
premature.

"There are companies everywhere that are suffering," Cluck said. "I just
don't think we should take away that revenue."

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