Bishop - Proposal for operation of Bishop airport doesn’t get off the ground

The Inyo County Board of Supervisors is seeking an operator for the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport in Bishop to decrease the county’s current costs for managing the airport and to find it a revenue source. Photo by Mike Bodine

Inyo County is looking for someone to assume operations at the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport and with them, the lion’s share of the bills.
To decrease its net cost at the facility, the county has decided to accept proposals from parties interested in running the airport.
Two proposals from interested parties were received by Inyo County Public Works before the May 23, 2008 deadline and were up for review by the Board of Supervisors last week. One proposal was for “Fixed Base Operator” service including a restaurant, the other proposal was for a restaurant only.
The supervisors were asked to consider only the FBO proposal at its meeting with Public Works, which requested the county leaders reject the proposal.
Interim Public Works Director Doug Wilson explained that the entity proposing the FBO would not consider running the airport without the restaurant, so he deemed it necessary that this proposal be considered before the restaurant-only proposal.
Wilson explained that the FBO proposal had some attractive details, such as the inclusion of a restaurant, but the proposal would not be to the county’s benefit.
Wilson also recommended to the board that these proposals have been on the plate for six months and that the county should move forward with some decision. He said the county has made requests for proposals, the proposals have come in and now it’s time for the board to act.
“It has become very clear that it is necessary to conclude the evaluation of the proposal even if all aspects of it remain unclear,” Wilson explained.
In the FBO proposal, the operator would pay rent and 15 percent of hangar rental fees, as well as $0.02 per gallon on aviation fuel sold. However, the county would still be obligated to continue much of the maintenance, including runway and taxiway pavement maintenance, snow removal and weed control, except around the hangars and terminal, assistance during a disaster and maintaining firefighting apparatuses. The county would also be responsible for the costs of maintenance for items that exceed $100. The FBO would not provide pilot training or employ a full-time aircraft mechanic. These items were clear in the proposal, according to Wilson.

Wilson explained what was not clear from the proposal was who will manage the leases for FedEx, for example, and if there will be revenue sharing from items such as auto parking and tie-downs. Wilson added that those proposing the FBO will not offer after-hours fuel calls. Wilson explained that the contract for military fuel requires that-after hour services be available.
Based on financial evaluations prepared by the Public Works Department, the FBO proposal would still cost the county roughly $64,000 annually.
“I think it has to be drawn to a conclusion, but I cannot, in good conscience, enter into these operations with the increased cost to the county,” Wilson explained.
At first, Supervisor Beverly Brown said it sounded like a great idea to have a mechanic and restaurant and this could be a potentially great revenue source for the airport. However after hearing the details she said, “They want to make all the money, while we (the county) pay all the bills.”
“I do not disagree with your view,” Wilson replied.
Wilson said that the applicants proposing for operating solely a restaurant are still moving ahead as much as they can, despite the winter months not being very conducive to starting a restaurant.
These proposals would usually go to the Northern Inyo Airport Advisory Committee before going to the supervisors, but the committee is being reorganized and so no review has been done.

Due to new staffing, committees being reorganized and a weak proposal from a potential operator, Inyo County is having a hard time finding someone to run the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport. Photo by Mike Bodine