Signature Flight Support assists Customs effort at Bozeman airport

Gallatin Field airport is moving forward with plans to build a customs office a month after airport board members voiced concern that the effort would be too expensive.

Signature Flight Support and the Yellowstone Club have tentatively agreed to pay the entire cost of remodeling an airport building to house a customs agent at an estimated cost of $400,000, Airport Director Brian Sprenger said.

The Yellowstone Club and Signature have lobbied for the customers office, saying it would make it easier for their wealthy clients to fly directly to Bozeman rather than stop in Great Falls or elsewhere to clear customs.

"We have a number of members with us, especially from Canada, who need to stop in another Montana city before they fly to Bozeman. It will be a really nice addition to the airport," said Charlie Callander, vice president of marketing at the Yellowstone Club.

Once the office is built, the airport, club and flight service will share operational costs. While the customs office will cost $150,000 a year to operate, all but about $25,000 is expected to be covered by fees people will pay when they clear customs in Bozeman, Sprenger said. If that is the case, then the county-owned airport would be responsible for about $8,000 a year.

But while companies that cater to the ultra-rich are the driving force behind the customs office, Sprenger said there would be benefits for the rest of the community, including the ability for foreign manufacturers to come to the valley and work with local businesses.

Fees for using the office could cost as much as $1,100 per plane, based on how much the aircraft weighs. But airport board member John McKenna said the cost will be significantly lower for light aircraft.

McKenna said the board was more comfortable with the plan -- which it tabled in June -- after it got a stronger commitment from the private businesses.

"With them putting the money in the deal, they really took the risk factor away from the airport," he said.

Contracts still must be signed, but Sprenger said if everything goes according to plan, the customs office could be built as soon as December.