Texas Airport Finds Federal Money At Risk | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.29.24

Airborne-NextGen-04.30.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.01.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers--05.02.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.03.24

Fri, Jun 17, 2011

Texas Airport Finds Federal Money At Risk

FAA Is Investigating Allegations Of Favoritism

The FAA is investigating allegations that Valley International Airport (KHRL) in Harlingen, TX, has shown favoritism for one FBO over another, and millions of dollars of federal grant money could be lost as a result.

FBO company Sun Valley filed a complaint with the FAA accusing the airport of favoring long-time tenant Gulf Aviation. Sun Valley had made a bid to set up shop at KHRL utilizing some of the space occupied by the 30-year tenant when its lease was about to expire in 2007. The airport board told the new company that it would build new facilities on the east side of the airport, and renewed Gulf Aviation's lease for another 10 years. But the new FBO never came out of the ground, because the city council voted against spending the money.

Television station KRVG in Rio Grande Valley, TX, reports that the FAA is now looking into whether the city and/or the airport showed favoritism towards Gulf Aviation to the economic detriment of Sun Valley. Guidelines for federal funds for airports state that no one company can be granted exclusive rights to do business at airports which receive federal funds ... and Vally International reportedly receives several million dollars in grants.

The FAA has sent a warning letter to the airport board, and Aviation Director Michael Browning said that the airport is still in negotiations with Sun Valley. The agency has also requested additional information from both the airport and Sun Valley concerning the lease extension with Gulf Aviation. Those documents have reportedly been sent to the FAA.

Browning said he is confident that the FAA will not pull funding for the airport, and that the city council will go along with the FAA's findings.

Meanwhile, the president of Gulf Aviation said he spent over a million dollars in the process of having his lease extended, and filed a separate complaint of "economic discrimination" with the FAA.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.flythevalley.com

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.01.24): Say Altitude

Say Altitude Used by ATC to ascertain an aircraft's specific altitude/flight level. When the aircraft is climbing or descending, the pilot should state the indicated altitude round>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.01.24)

Aero Linx: European Air Law Association (EALA) EALA was established in 1988 with the aim to promote the study of European air law and to provide an open forum for those with an int>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Korean War Hero Twice Reborn

From 2023 (YouTube Version): The Life, Death, Life, Death, and Life of a Glorious Warbird In 1981, business-owner Jim Tobul and his father purchased a Chance-Vought F4U Corsair. Mo>[...]

Airborne 04.29.24: EAA B-25 Rides, Textron 2024, G700 Deliveries

Also: USCG Retires MH-65 Dolphins, Irish Aviation Authority, NATCA Warns FAA, Diamond DA42 AD This summer, history enthusiasts will have a unique opportunity to experience World Wa>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 05.02.24: Bobby Bailey, SPRG Report Cards, Skydive!

Also: WACO Kitchen Bails, French SportPlane Mfr to FL, Dynon-Advance Flight Systems, Innovation Preview Bobby Bailey, a bit of a fixture in sport aviation circles for his work with>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC