June 01--PLATTSBURGH -- Clinton County legislators have chosen a new company to handle ground duties at Plattsburgh International Airport.
The move will save the county $375,000 over three years.
"If we can save $125,000 a year for three years, then it is the right thing to do," Legislator Mark Dame (R-Area 8, City and Town of Plattsburgh) said at a recent meeting.
The county selected Volo Aviation of Connecticut to handle the fixed-base-operator duties at the airport.
Volo will take over for Sheltair, which has provided the FBO duties since the airport opened in 2007.
Volo's bid of $75,000 per year for three years to provide the service was $125,000 per year lower than Sheltair's bid.
ADDED SERVICES
Sheltair was chosen as the fixed base operator in 2007 at the last minute when a previous company backed out. The chosen firm typically provides fuel for aircraft, de-icing, hangar space and ground handling.
But when Sheltair took over at Plattsburgh International in 2007, many other services were added.
County Deputy Administrator Rodney Brown explained that Sheltair got involved in ticket purchasing, bag checking and passenger boarding of aircraft, which fixed-base operators normally don't do.
Providing those extra services required more training, Brown said, thus the higher cost to the county.
"Sheltair's cost was more of a startup price, but now that those services have been established, Volo's bid of $75,000 is more in line with what FBO services at airports our size across the country cost," Brown said.
REVENUE FOR COUNTY
While Volo will be paid $75,000 per year from the county to provide all of the existing services, any expenses will be borne by the county.
The county will also keep any revenue generated. Volo will be required to submit a monthly budget of expenses and revenue to the county for approval.
"They are like our manager," Brown said.
EXPANSION EYED
Volo Chief Operating Officer Kyle Slover said the company is excited to start working at an airport that has great potential.
"That is a completely underutilized airport, and there is a lot of that airport that can be used to do a lot more," Slover said.
The county has done well since the airport opened, Slover said, despite the challenges of being located in the remote North Country.
"But it has a lot going for it such as the proximity to Montreal, which the county has taken advantage of, and it has great access to highways and rail," he said.
The company has plans to attract overseas flights for passenger or cargo aircraft to stop in Plattsburgh for refueling services.
"If a plane from Wichita is going overseas, they usually have to stop for fuel in Bangor (Maine) or someplace else in the East, and we don't see why Plattsburgh can't be that stop," Slover said.
JOBS RETAINED
Volo, which will take over July 1, will offer jobs at the same rate of pay to the 35 employees working for Sheltair.
"They do a great job, and why re-invent the wheel if it is already working?" Slover said.
The Plattsburgh venture will be Volo's first at a commercial airport, but Slover said both he and Brian Ciambra, the company's senior vice president, have extensive experience providing services at major commercial airports.
Their other operations in Stratford, Conn.; Sebring, Fla.; and Harrisburg, Pa., are all general aviation operations.
"Plus, the workers have been doing the job, and they know how to do it so we should be able to handle this no problem," Slover said.
'GOOD JOB'
Legislator Robert Heins (R-Area 10, City of Plattsburgh) who chairs the county's Airport Committee, said Sheltair did a good job but the county could not pass up the savings.
"This not necessarily anything against Sheltair," Heins said.
"They helped us out and for six years did a great job."
Email Joe LoTemplio:[email protected]
Copyright 2013 - The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
