EKU Aims to Become Fourth Partner of Madison County Airport

Dec. 29—As the Eastern Kentucky University Aviation Program continues to take flight, officials with the university hope to make their involvement in the Madison County Regional Airport more permanent.

According to EKU President David McFaddin, the program of nearly 320 students has seen "exponential growth," and expects it to grow more with the slow return of in-person instruction.

Because of this, both university officials and legislators have made a significant investment in the future of the regional airport — owned by the three governments in Madison County.

"We are extremely fortunate that the legislation made a significant investment in the state's only four year flight program," McFaddin said.

McFaddin and Ethan Witt, assistant vice president of government and community relations, went before the Madison County Fiscal Court, the Berea City Council and the Richmond City Commission virtually to explain their plans for the airport and EKU's involvement in 2021.

Both McFaddin and Witt told the government entities that recently the state invested $8 million worth of capital to the university to use on the airport and divided the money into two areas.

The first, was for the purchase of 23 airplanes they were previously leasing and will now have 100% ownership of, which he stated was "taking control of (the university's) destiny."

"We went from 100% leased to 100% ownership, and now we have 23 aircrafts that are university-owned, and that we can add to as enrollment grows," the president said.

In addition to the ownership of their aircraft fleet, the $4 million remainder of the state funding will go towards a new flight training center for students, the program and its foreseen growth.

"This would help accommodate the number of students and space needed...," he said. "...We have truly outgrown the space that is there and there is a need for investment."

But first, there's a catch.

Although the university is the regional airport's fixed-base operator (FBO) — business allowed to operate on airport grounds in order to provide services to the airport — they cannot use the funds to build an owned asset that they do not have ownership or stake in.

McFaddin said, as he and members of the university staff began to investigate a creative solution, they spoke with the county's airport board and the Federal Aviation Association ( FAA), who recommended the university become a sponsoring agency of the facility.

However, in Kentucky there is no clear way of how a university should enter into an agreement to do such.

It was further recommended that all government bodies of Madison County and EKU, with the help of State Representative Deanna Frazier, move forward in the next legislative session with a "simple but pointed" piece of legislation which would state a public agency could partner with municipalities.

Once a bill is created — and hopefully passed — McFaddin explained all bodies could then amend their interlocal agreements to allow EKU to become the fourth partner, and make the capital investment at the airport facility.

If passed, EKU would be able to also have two representative members on the county airport board creating four equal partners.

The city of Richmond and their officials expressed their support for the co-sponsorship and, over all, thought the decision to do so was a great move.

Berea City Council was also in support of the hopeful, future legislation.

Council member Steve Caudill said he did not know why there would be any opposition to the bill's passage.

"EKU has more to lose in terms of longevity of (any of the other stakeholders)," he said. "And having EKU as a fourth partner makes all the sense in the world to me....I don't see why anyone wouldn't want this to go through..."

Former Council member Emily LaDouceur said she was happy to see EKU have more of a voice and see more discussion happening with the council, overall.

Like their counterparts, the Madison County Fiscal Court thought the move was smart, and looked forward to having EKU involved as a partner.

"I couldn't be happier to have a partner like EKU out at the airport that has their flight training program based out there, and I think this is a good step and a natural step that will allow them to use funds that we aren't able to use ourselves to further the airport," Magistrate Tom Botkin said.

The bill has not yet been filed, but university officials expect it to be filed at the beginning of the new session which is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2021.

Reach Taylor Six at 624-6695 or follow her on Twitter at @TaylorSixRR.

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