Jan. 24--Fueling, plane maintenance and other basic services at Smith Field Airport could soon be provided in-house.
Smith Field Air Service, an outside company, submitted the only bid to become the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at the small airport on Ludwig Road. The air service also is the current FBO, a company hired to handle basic operations at the airport.
Now, board members of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority, which manages Smith Field and Fort Wayne International Airport, say they have an idea that might make more fiscal sense: have staff from FWA provide the service instead.
The board on Monday voted to withdraw Smith Field Air Service's bid and continue the FBO discussion.
Board president Michael Gouloff was lukewarm to the proposal. "I don't like the fact that we are going to be in the FBO business," he said.
Fort Wayne International Airport Director Tory Richardson said if the authority decides to assume responsibility of the daily management of Smith Field, it could consider hiring the air service's 15 employees to do the job.
The airport pays Smith Field Air Service a minimum $3,000 a month and maximum $5,500 a month. The contract expired this month but is being extended on a monthly basis.
Board member Tim Haffner said more companies might be interested in becoming FBOs as the airport's operations are stabilized.
"Smith Field is not an attractive location for an FBO," Haffner said.
<
