<p>Plans for a combined Airport Rescue and Firefighting building at Martha's Vineyard Airport have been approved, but there is a $3 million funding shortfall.
The Federal Aviation Administration has approved plans for a combined Airport Rescue and Firefighting building, which will also house snow removal equipment, at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport. But the airport is still short about $3 million in funding for the $11 million new structure.
The shortfall in funding is partly due to long delays in the project and a change in the funding rules at the FAA, commission vice-chairman Robert Rosenbaum told the airport commission at their meeting Thursday.
Airport commission is facing $3 million shortfall for long-planned rescue and firefighting building.
Airport commission is facing $3 million shortfall for long-planned rescue and firefighting building.
After scrapping previous plans for the building, which was years behind schedule, the commission recently turned to new architects and engineers to redesign the facility.
“The delay of the design of this building has cost us dearly,” Mr. Rosenbaum told the commissioners. “If this project had been done two years ago, the whole building would have been eligible.”
According to FAA funding formulas, the federal government will provide $7 million for the project. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will fund five percent, or $560,000. That leaves a shortfall of about $3 million.
Mr. Rosenbaum said the commission and its attorneys are looking at ways to fund the airport’s share of the building.
About half of the airport’s share could be eligible for future FAA grants, but Mr. Rosenbaum said the airport would have to spend the money up front, and reimbursement might not come for two years or more.
All of the funding is subject to the actual costs of design and construction, as well as changes in state and federal budget spending.
Paring down costs is complicated because the building, with strict minimum specifications, is mandated by state and federal regulations covering operation of the airport.
In other business Thursday, the commission authorized spending up to $120,000 for painting and repairs to the terminal building.
Rod Dinger, who was named as interim airport manager last week, introduced himself to the commission. A recently retired municipal executive who worked for the city of Redding in Northern California, Mr. Dinger was hired after the resignation of former manager Sean Flynn in December, and the subsequent resignation of acting airport manager Deborah Potter last month.
Mr. Dinger advised the airport commission to consider a passenger fee to fund current and future capital projects. He said there are about 450 passenger airports in the country, and 357 of them charge a fee for every passenger who boards a flight.
Under current rules, he said the Martha’s Vineyard Airport could charge a passenger fee of $4.42 per passenger.
Comments
If the fee is for airline
deshandra brown mvIf the fee is for airline passengers then Mr. Dinger's proposal is worth considering. The FAA requires certain firefighting equipment in order to certify the 'status' of the airport for the 'part 121' flights. Let them cover the shortfall by whatever means required. Part 91 and 135 aircraft operators do not require this expenditure and should not be expected subsidize this. As it now stands, the trucks are kept inside out of the weather and this is just another 'big government' mandate that won't be saving any lives . As such, 'big government' should foot the entire bill.
Of course having up-to-date
Concerned pilot MVOf course having up-to-date fire fighting equipment saves lives, just ask pilots who land with a fire on-board or needing the runway foamed because landing gear fails or crashes upon landing. Fire fighting equipment must be kept indoor and while discussing this, let's remember that the Airport's fire equipment can be used off the airport as well. This is one government mandate that makes perfect sense and contrary to the above writer, the fire equipment and firefighters save the lives of passengers on Part 91 and Part 135 flights too.
Hey do youself a favor and
Deshandra brown MvHey do youself a favor and make sure you have three in the green so you don't forget to put your gear down.. 11 million for a garage? The trucks are already indoors at the CFR building and the snow plows are in the old Hadley hangar
This has nothing to do with safety. The highly trained professional airport employees don't need an 11 million dollar Union built garage. The equipment is already kept inside .and make no mistake about it there will not be Any island contractors building this taj-mahal.
@concerned pilot above. There
maleeka washington OB@concerned pilot above. There is no mention of new equipment. Its a BUILDING. If you are really a pilot you would know that there is already a building that houses the firefighting trucks and the snow plows are kept in another building. How does a big expensive garage save lives? This has NOTHING to do with safety.
They should have given Deb
JohnsonThey should have given Deb Potter a $$$ Offer She Could Not Refuse to Stay $$$!
Actually the county should be
C. SwabActually the county should be up for review a while ago if I remember correctly. I wonder what the hold up is?
I personally could not be more disgusted with the present commissioners now than I was when the last review was held!
"Abolish County Government"!
right on the county is a drag
Bob Edgartownright on the county is a drag on the tax payer. We maybe the last county in the state to still have a county government.
What does this have to do
Noreen Flanders Vineyard HavenWhat does this have to do with the County? Other than appointing airport commissioners and owning the airport (and any deficits it might incur), the judges have noted that MGL Chapter 90, Section 51E states that the "care, custody and the management" is the job of the airport commission. We now have an airport commission that is doing that job.
So first. How about using
Nathan Durawa Edgartown.So first. How about using some real names in these comments. Anybody not involved with the airport (current or former staff) would have no idea of the "CFR" building or the Hadley hangar.
Second. The delay in the building of this garage has absolutely nothing to do with the County Commissioners,it was the past administration,Sean Flynn, and the former airport commission that wasted time and dropped the ball. Now the new commission and management will have to come up with a solution.
Actually, there's a proposal
Steve KatamaActually, there's a proposal pending in the Senate to take the PFC (passenger fare) up another $2, perhaps an email to Senators Warren and Markey might be in order. Why not make the wealthy folks who jet in and out in the Summer pay for what they use.
Unfortunately, the "wealthy
Concerned pilot MVUnfortunately, the "wealthy folks" who jet in and out of MVY do not pay PFC's. They are only assessed on tickets for Part 121 flights - commercial flights. Therefore, Cape Air passengers, along with those on seasonal commercial flights, would pay it while NetJets passengers would not. So much for soaking the rich.
Nice try with your 'soak the
one who knows usANice try with your 'soak the wealthy folks' nonsense. Try going to the airports website and you will see the large landing fees and parking fees paid by the 'wealthy folks' who 'jet in and out' of MVY. They contribute a lot more in $$$$ to the airport than 9 passengers coming off an old 402. And THEY don't require the use of the passenger terminal. And since you are ill-informed, lets not forget the huge fuel uplifts that allow the airport to make lots of money for operations. And the fuel taxes too.. but not convenient for you to make an accurate post.
Go back to the 1990's and you
Really!!! West TisburyGo back to the 1990's and you will learn the history of this PFC thing. It is an easy way to drive our year round airline away. Why does the Airport need to charge more dont they have huge money in the bank according to the meeting of a years ago.
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