"Private developments rising at three Florida airports"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Private developments rising at three airports
By Lou Ortiz
Miami (FL) Today


Miami International Airport is the big engine in the local economy, but
Miami-Dade County's general aviation airports aren't sitting idle, with
private development projects underway totaling $363 million.

The projects, from the construction of hangars, warehouses and ramp and
retail facilities, are a result of lease agreements with Miami-Dade and
private companies at the Kendall-Tamiami, Homestead and Opa-locka airports.

The developments and land leases are outlined in a Feb. 5 report to county
commissioners from County Manager George Burgess.

Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport is 15 minutes from the business centers of
south Miami-Dade, and its "proximity to the Florida Keys, Everglades and
Biscayne National Parks makes it perfect for eco-tourism," Mr. Burgess said
in his report.

"As a reliever to Miami International Airport, Kendall-Tamiami also features
no landing fees and quick, easy access," he said.

Last year, the county signed a 35-year development lease agreement with
Falcontrust Air LLC for 18 acres. The company is expected to investment $6.3
million constructing hangars and office buildings at the airport.

Lease agreements were also signed in 2007 with Tamiami Air Inc., which is
building a corporate aircraft hangar for $1.3 million, and LaCross Aviation
Group LLC for 12.86 acres on the north side of the airport for a fixed-base
operation at $3.2 million, the report said.

Three other companies are spending another $3 million at the airport for
hangars, a fuel farm, ramp facilities and a taxi lane.

The airport is "home to the Wings over Miami Aviation Museum, their flying
events, the annual Sunrise Community Balloon Race and the Miami-Dade College
Aviation program," the report said.

Mr. Burgess' report also updated developments at Opa-locka Executive
Airport, where agreements dating back to 1999 estimated long-term projects
totaling $349 million.

The airport, which doesn't charge landing fees and is designated as a
reliever to Miami International Airport, is home to the US Coast Guard
Air/Sea Rescue Station.

The biggest agreement at Opa-locka is a 55-year lease in 2006 with AVE LLC
to develop about 180 acres for about $187 million over 10 years.

The company is expected to construct industrial and retail facilities along
with aircraft storage hangars and "600,000 square feet of
aeronautical-related office facilities or aeronautical-related warehouse,"
the report said.

The other sizeable development involves AA Acquisitions LLC, which purchased
a county lease contract with Opa-locka Aviation Group that took effect in
1999 to develop 240 acres at the airport.

The company subsequently entered into a new 55-year lease, requiring it to
invest $162.9 million over 15 years.    

The company plans to spend the money on 1,782 parking spaces for industrial,
retail and warehouse uses, and 1,420,281 square feet of aircraft storage
hangars.

At Homestead General Aviation Airport, which also does not charge landing
fees, the county signed an agreement last year with BFFE Inc. for a fuel
facility on the west side of the airport.

The airfield is near Homestead/Miami Speedway and 25 minutes from Biscayne
National Park's coral reefs, the report said.

Homestead is "the last refueling stop before the Florida Keys and points
south," the report said. "The airport serves all aspects of the general
aviation community from business aircraft to skydiving and gliding."


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