CAA: GA News, "Albany, New York airport welcomes 2nd fixed-base operator"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thursday, February 14, 2002

Airport welcomes 2nd fixed-base operator
Colonie -- Arrival of USAirports ends monopoly on services
By MIKE FRICANO
The Albany (NY) Times Union


Ending a years-long monopoly on certain aircraft services, such as de-icing,
a Rochester-based company has become the second fixed-base operator at
Albany International Airport.

USAirports Flight Support started de-icing planes in January and by next
month plans to offer charter service, provide fuel and manage two new
T-hangars, said Anthony J. Costello, chief executive and owner.

"The benefit of having a second FBO is to the user of the airport,''
Costello said. "They have a choice and that always improves service and
quality.''

Fixed-based operators offer services to private pilots as well as commercial
airlines. In addition to fueling and de-icing, they also provide
maintenance, flight planning and avionics.

USAirports has been operating in competition with another fixed-base
operator at the Greater Rochester International Airport for about 20 years,
Costello said.

Albany International currently has just one fixed-base operator, Signature
Flight Support. A spokesman for the Orlando, Fla.-based company was
unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Airport spokesman Doug Myers said competition is exactly why the airport
looked to bring in another fixed-based operator.

"The airport authority believes in the free-enterprise system -- competition
has proven to be beneficial to customers at the airport,'' he said, pointing
to the addition of Southwest Airlines in May 2000 as the reason other
carriers cut their fares.

Myers was unable to immediately provide figures on the economic impact that
USAirports could have.

Signature's contract at the airport dates to the 1960s. The company has been
criticized in the past for fuel prices that were among the highest in the
nation.

Costello said that when USAirports begins full operations in mid-March, it
will be temporarily headquartered in a double-wide trailer. He hopes to move
into a building attached to the airport's main hangar in about 18 months.

USAirports also will operate a charter business and provide on-call
mechanics, Costello said.

   Post your opinion on this story in the CAA General Aviation Forum
http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID2

*****************************************