Frederick Approves Lease For Aviation Community center

April 10, 2014
Frederick could soon have a new amenity at its airport -- an aviation community center

April 04--Frederick could soon have a new amenity at its airport -- an aviation community center.

The Board of Aldermen approved a lease at its Thursday night meeting, allowing the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association to use the hangar at 296 Bucheimer Road.

A lawyer representing the nonprofit aviation advocates, Ron Golden, said the association would use the space for several purposes.

"We'd like to move some of the AOPA airplanes over there for storage," he said. "We're going to create an aviation community center, which will be used for educational purposes, hopefully bring people in from other areas."

The AOPA could hold its safety courses out of the hangar, and it might house a flying club, both of which would attract people to the airport and make flying more accessible, he said.

The AOPA will pay just over $109,000 annually for rent.

The initial term of the lease will be 10 years, to be followed by five-year renewal terms. Rent will increase 3 percent each term.

The AOPA is planning on making substantial improvements to the hangar, according to the lease agreement, including sealing the floors and modernizing the plumbing and lighting. The association may spend about $270,000 improving the property.

The city agreed to reduce rent on a sliding scale depending on the investment AOPA makes improving the hangar.

City approves Maryland Aviation Administration grant

Staff at Frederick Municipal Airport should have an easier time maintaining the property, after the approval of a grant from the Maryland Aviation Administration to buy equipment.

The grant of more than $137,000 will allow the airport to purchase a tractor and mowers.

The move should lead to an annual savings of $75,000, according to manager Rick Johnson, because the airport will no longer have to rent similar equipment and would no longer need to reimburse the Parks and Recreation Department $30,000 each year for its mowing services.

Frederick will need to match the MAA grant to the tune of nearly $46,000. However, the airport will take that required funding out of different airport departments, so there will be no new costs to the city.

Follow Kelsi Loos on Twitter: @KelsiFNP.

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