Wed, Feb 03, 2016
Chalks Seaplane Base May Finally Become A Reality
The Miami, FL City Commission has voted 4-1 to remove a major roadblock to the construction of a new seaplane base at Government Cut proposed by Chalks airline.
The proposal has been tied up for years by litigation and zoning issues, according to a report from the Miami Herald. But on Thursday, the commission approved a rezoning on the southwest corner of Watson Island giving Chalks a green light to seek approval for its new headquarters.
Early plans for the nine-story building were revealed for the first time Thursday. They include about 50,000 square feet of commercial space and terminal. The ninth floor would be an observation deck where people could watch the airplanes take off and land.
In 2014, a new 30-year lease was announced for Chalks by the Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority (MSEA) and Chalks' new owner, Ignacio “Nacho” Vega, whose Nautilus Enterprises bought Chalks from its previous owner. But the lease did not account for a previous rezoning designating Watson Island's aviation hub as park space, which would preclude any new construction.
The dissenting vote was cast by Commissioner Frank Carollo, who has sought to close down MESA.
The commission is expected to consider legislation that would have leases with MESA go before the voters in a form of a referendum, but with this action, Carollo said that a referendum on Chalks' headquarters would come "in 30 years."
(Image from Chalks' presentation to the Miami City Commission)
More News
Improvements Stack as Brand Readies for Mass Production Samson Sky updated followers on its flying car progress, describing some of the travails of the wind tunnel as they get clos>[...]
LAHSO An acronym for “Land and Hold Short Operation.” These operations include landing and holding short of an intersecting runway, a taxiway, a predetermined point, or>[...]
Dave Juwel's Aviation Marketing Stories ITBOA BNITBOB ... what does that mean? It's not gibberish, it's a lengthy acronym for "In The Business Of Aviation ... But Not In The Busine>[...]
Aero Linx: Space Medicine Association (SMA) The Space Medicine Branch was founded in 1951 as the first constituent organization of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA). In 2006>[...]
Back-Taxi A term used by air traffic controllers to taxi an aircraft on the runway opposite to the traffic flow. The aircraft may be instructed to back-taxi to the beginning of the>[...]