Mar. 28--The private company managing Macon's airports under a temporary contract would take over long-term if the city pays the cost of running the airports plus a $15,000 monthly management fee, according to its proposal to privatize the city's aviation department.
TBI Airport Management's proposal was the only one turned in by a Friday deadline set by the city. Whether Macon will accept TBI's offer and privatize the city's two airports or keep an aviation department under more direct city control remains to be seen.
It's also unclear how much it would cost to operate the airports under either plan, since recent crackdowns from federal regulators have forced the city to make changes at Middle Georgia Regional Airport to keep it open to commercial flights.
If a contract agreement is reached with TBI, it may include other payments to the company keyed to goals such as increased commercial air traffic or rental income, the proposal states.
Mayor Jack Ellis said he will assemble a committee to study TBI's proposal and make a recommendation about whether to privatize.
"Then I'll make a decision," Ellis said.
Meanwhile, TBI remains on a short-term contract expected to cost the city more than $80,000 from late February through the first week of April. Macon Chief Administrative Officer Regina McDuffie and other city officials have said that, with TBI's help, the airport should be able to comply with a Transportation Security Administration deadline Friday to bring Middle Georgia Regional up to code. Monday a TSA spokesman also expressed confidence in the city's progress.
"We're very pleased with the airport's progress over the past several weeks, and we hope that progress continues," TSA spokesman Christopher White said. "They are taking the necessary steps toward reaching full compliance."
The TSA has not released specific information about security lapses at Middle Georgia Regional Airport, and White continued to play things close to the vest Monday. But he did essentially say the airport security plan that needed redrafting is now complete. Now it needs to be implemented and a "high level of security" maintained at the airport "over the long term," he said.
The city meeting compliance with separate Federal Aviation Administration regulations has meant one new hire for the city -- an airport operations manager. That makes 13 airport employee positions -- not including the director's, which remains vacant after director George Brown was removed in December. Brown's appeal, which he requested in an effort to get his job back, has been delayed several times and is tentatively scheduled for April 20, City Attorney Pope Langstaff said Friday.
The airport's current annual operating budget is about $1.5 million, according to the city's 2006 budget. That figure includes the director's salary but not the operations manager's salary, and McDuffie said it's not yet clear just how TBI's proposal would change the annual bottom line.
"They are proposing some personnel changes," McDuffie said.
If selected, TBI would perform a "staffing review" of the aviation department's current employees. If they meet company standards, they would be offered jobs, according to the proposal.
Because TBI already is working in Macon, the company would "hit the ground running" if it took over long term, its proposal states.
The company has a track record of growth at other airports it manages. Orlando-Sanford International Airport in Florida has grown from 48,000 passengers to 1.7 million, the proposal states. The proposal did not list the time period of the increase.
Belfast International Airport in Ireland and Cardiff International Airport in Wales have seen 150 percent increases in profits over three- and four-year periods, it states. TBI has 70 years experience in airport management, has invested hundreds of millions in airport improvements and operates or provides services at 13 airports worldwide, according to the proposal.
To contact Travis Fain, call 744-4213 or e-mail [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]].
