City Announces Financing Plan for Airport Terminal Building

Tireless AOPA Airport Support Network honcho, Jack W. Tunstill (pictured below), from Albert Whitted Airport (SPG), Florida has some good news to share.

Jack tells ANN that Mayor Rick Baker held a news conference to announce the new terminal building will be built as soon as feasible at Albert Whitted Airport. Baker described how the FLDOT will be supporting the City by underwriting 80% of the estimated cost of the building. The City will be responsible for the other 20%. The estimated cost of the 10,600 square foot building with furnishings is $4 million. FLDOT will provide $3.2 million in grants and the City will have to come up with $800,000.

Tunstill adds that, "Since we would like to begin construction of the building soon and the FLDOT funds are scheduled to be made available over the next six years, Mayor Baker announced that John and Rosemary Galbraith have pledged a two part contribution to the City for use in building the terminal building. Mr. & Mrs. Galbraith will give the City a gift of $400,000 and an interest-free loan of $3.2 million. Proceeds from the FLDOT grants will be used to repay the Galbraith loan over six years."

The Galbraith's have had a long association with Albert Whitted Airport, and the City of St. Petersburg. Before he retired, John was CEO of Templeton Funds. Mr. Galbraith relocated Templeton funds to St. Petersburg in 1978. One of the primary reasons for John's relocation here was the proximity to Albert Whitted. He saw an ad in Flying magazine that offered information about living in the Bayfront Tower condos.

John and Mary were both airline professionals. While he is a former US Marine pilot who served in World War II, he was an airline pilot with Mid-Continent Airlines which later became Braniff Airlines. He met Rosemary, who was a flight attendant for Braniff. They have owned several airplanes that were based at SPG. John was co-chairman of the Airport Advisory Committee in the early 1990's.

"We are grateful for John and Rosemary's support of our airport. We would also like to thank Mayor Baker and his subordinates for their efforts to secure a funding method to build our new terminal building," Tunstill added.

In the short time since the voters affirmed their desire to keep Albert Whitted open FOREVER in the November 2003 election, Tunstill says that "we can see great changes coming. The City will be accepting grants from the FAA and FLDOT on April 27, 2005, to fund airport signage construction (signs directing airplanes around the airport), a new helipad, and the environmental assessment for the Runway 18-36 overrun enhancement. Refurbishment of Hangars 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8 will begin in June. Of course, we will see construction of the new $2 million air traffic control tower in the not too distant future."

ANN is pleased to note that Tunstill is still working tirelessly (and so successfully) to support his fellow flyers... and we sure wish we could clone him and install a copy at every GA airport in the country.

FMI: www.aopa.org