"Report paints rosy picture of possible Livermore airport expansion"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Report paints rosy picture of possible Livermore airport expansion
The Oakland (CA) Tribune


Expansion plans at the Livermore Municipal Airport will place the small,
city-owned airport in a position to better serve the growing corporate jet
market, a Pleasanton-commissioned consultant reports. 

"It will be able to accommodate growth, it may not cause it," said Walter
Gillfillan, a Kensington-based airport planning consultant. 

"But, they're not building and putting that investment in there to lose
money. 

"The fixed based operator is targeting the business jet, because that is
where the money is." 

The new lease will most likely translate into more jets coming and going
from the general aviation airport, he said. 

Gillfillan's report and conclusions are being cited by a large, vocal group
of Livermore and Pleasanton residents who say it backs up their complaint
that more hangars and a private operator will bring more jets to the
airport. 

"The report clearly indicates that these proposed (airport) improvements
will increase and provide additional service for the increasing transient
jet population," said Pleasanton resident Purnam Sheth, a member of
Livermore Airport Citizens Group, which was formed to oppose airport
expansion. 

"The city of Livermore said it won't increase the number of jets. The report
is pretty clear and obvious," he added. 

Livermore city officials have repeatedly countered opponents, saying airport
improvement plans will not appreciably increase the number of flights. Dan
McIntyre, director of public works for Livermore has cited reports that
aircraft operation has decreased 35 percent in the past seven years, and
current activity is similar to that in the mid-1980s. 

There are currently about 175,000 takeoffs and landings at the airport each
year, down from peaks of about 240,000 in 1999 and 275,000 in 1993. 

Livermore Mayor Marshall Kamena said he had no comment on the consultant's
report. 

Gillfillan was hired by the city of Pleasanton to review the contract
approved in June by the Livermore City Council with Livermore Air Center LLC
to manage fuel sales, 65 new hangars and a proposed 25,000-foot main hangar.


Gillfillan, who has more than 40 years of experience in land use
compatibility and runs an internationally renowned aviation consulting firm,
said the number of single-engine, privately owned airplane users is
declining, while jet aircraft for the business sector is growing. 

"Travel by airline is getting to be difficult, with delays and such," he
said. "The use of private jets allows more flexibility." 

Marilyn Sullivan, marketing director for Livermore Air Center, which also
runs Million Air Monterey at Monterey Peninsula Airport, said she expects
the facilities to be similar to those in Monterey. 

"We serve anybody who is flying into the airport, any type of aircraft," she
said, adding they do not specifically target or solicit jet traffic. 

In addition to handling hangar space, aircraft maintenance and fuel sales,
Million Air Monterey also provides concierge services including travel,
lodging and golf tee times. 

The company expects fuel sales to increase by 15 percent in the first year
of operation and 5 percent annually after that. A projected revenue study
lists about 65 percent of the fuel as being jet grade. 

Gillfillan said business jet aircraft typically need more services than
smaller airplanes, requiring facilities for fuel, water, catering, lavatory,
crew waiting and conference rooms. 

He said the 35-year lease signed by Livermore Air Center provides for those
amenities. 

Gillfillan who is on contract with community roundtable groups for the San
Francisco International and Los Angeles International airports, said
Livermore and Pleasanton should create a similar forum for conflict
mediation. 

The Pleasanton City Council received a copy of Gillfillan's report before
making a decision in late December to not to file a lawsuit against its
neighboring city for approving the airport expansion. 

Pleasanton officials feared Livermore was not going to adequately consider
the effects on surrounding residents and businesses, as well as the
environment from the proposed growth plans. 

In a letter to Pleasanton Mayor Jennifer Hosterman, Kamena explained that
the terms of the lease require the private operator to complete all required
environmental reviews before the lease takes effect.


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