Richmond Airport Fuel-Safety Plan Questioned

Executives at the two fueling and aviation firms serving Richmond International Airport say the airport administration is overreacting to two collisions between fuel trucks and jets this year.

Officials leveled their charges as Capital Region Airport Commission considered a set of tighter safety measures for drivers and vehicles handling aircraft fueling.

"My companies have fueled over 500,000 airline flights without an incident," wrote Jon M. Clarke, vice president of Aero Industries Inc.

Clarke and the head of Million Air, the other aviation firm, argued yesterday that they are being unfairly treated by the airport's top executive.

Clarke wrote that the airport's leadership "decided that safety at RIC was out of control" after fuel truck accidents in February and March.

He accused the airport's president and CEO, Jon Mathiasen, of waging "a relentless campaign to impose an absolutely horrible fueling agreement" on Aero Industries and Million Air, the company involved in the two collisions.

Clarke's Nov. 22 letter to an airport commissioner was released along with other correspondence after yesterday's public hearing by the commission on proposed rule changes for any business handling fuel or other combustible materials.

While other companies could be affected by the stiffer measures, Aero and Million Air are considered the main targets.

After about a 30-minute hearing, the commission decided to delay voting on the changes until its next regular meeting Dec. 12.

The sticking point, both sides agreed, is a provision that gives Mathiasen the power to suspend all operations for any airport fueler up to a year if he decides they have operated unsafely.

"I think that's something we'll need to discuss," said John V. Mazza Jr., a commissioner and pilot from Chesterfield County. He said the 14-member commission, which held a 90-minute closed session before the hearing on the proposals, may decide to make the commission itself the arbiter for final suspensions.

"I think they'll be less finger-pointing if the entire commission makes the decision," Mazza said.

Commissioner Thomas Pruitt of Henrico said the commission, which includes several business owners, is trying to treat Aero and Million Air fairly, while looking out for the public's welfare.

"We're dealing with good businesses," Pruitt said, "but our driving force is safety first."

Despite the pointed criticism, Mathiasen said later that he stands by the proposed measures.

It's important to protect the jobs of about 140 people at Aero and Million Air, the airport chief said. "But we also have 3 million customers who fly in and out of this airport, and we just want to ensure we provide safe options."

During the public hearing, a lawyer for Million Air stressed its "strong safety record" with "only 11 violations in six years," and only one traffic ticket from a state trooper.

"Our problem is with the enforcement and remedial changes," said Elaine R. Jordan, a Richmond lawyer representing Million Air. Mathiasen would be able to shut down the aviation services companies, a power that any business can not operate under, she said.

Jordan said the rule changes mark a major departure from a lease agreement that has been in place for more than a decade.

In his letter to a commissioner, Eugene McDonough, president of Million Air Richmond, said the dangers of fuel truck explosions had been overstated. "There are no recorded instances of a jet fuel truck having a collision with an aircraft and an explosion resulting. It is not a seriously dangerous situation as portrayed by staff to the commissioners."

Neither accident caused a fire or explosion.

The biggest risk of a ruptured jet-fuel tank, he wrote, "is not fire, but the environmental impact. No one is in imminent danger."

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