Executive, Franklin Fields Affected
Two small airport developments are on hold in Sacramento County
over the loss of a team of consultants working on their master
plans, according to the Sacramento Business Journal.
The county says that it will have a new consultant soon for both
the Sacramento's Executive Airport (SAC) and Franklin Field (F72).
A new consultant will be chosen in January when a contract will be
approved by the airport system board, according to Sacramento
County Airport System spokesperson Cheryl Marcell.
Key members of the staff of Parsons Brinckerhoff, the original
consultant, moved on when it sold its aviation business.
Airport master plans for the airports were completed in 1979.
The airports were seeking a master plan to cover development into
2025. The switch—mid-stream—will cost the project a six
to ninth month delay.
Requests for proposals went out on October 29, and responses
were due on November 20. Six proposals were submitted. Interviews
are scheduled for December 18.
The 540-acre Executive Airport, located close to downtown
Sacramento, is home to more than 20 aviation-related businesses,
with flight schools, aircraft maintenance, avionics and aerial
photography. City-owned Executive is leased to the county under a
25-year renewal agreement.
Franklin Field, a non-towered VFR airport used mainly for
training, is owned and operated by the county.
Businesses at the Executive Airport said they provided input for
what needs to be done there.
Additional hangar space has been the most popular request.
"I'd like to see this airport continue to develop and grow,"
said Mike Pavao, owner of Executive Air Repair. "I'd like to see
more hangar space available. I would like to see more businesses on
the airport, more aviation businesses."
Pavao said if VLJs become popular, "airports like Executive are
going to be worth their weight in gold." Business owners able to
afford the VLJs $2 million price tag will allow them to be used for
point-to-point flights, avoiding larger hub airports.
Carolyn Hitchcock, co-owner of Executive Autopilots, said 200
people already are on a waiting list to try to get a hangar at
Executive Airport. One of the proposals would be to close one of
Executive’s runways and use the space for new hangars.
"We're just the ideal airport, 10 minutes from downtown," she
said.
Additional hangars mean that more lawmakers and business
executive could use the airport for doing business in
California’s capitol.
Hitchcock said she was pleased with the progress of the master
plan, but is now concerned that the whole process may have to be
repeated, or start all over.
The previous consultant created four draft alternative-development
plans for Executive and three for Franklin Field.
Airport spokeswoman Karen Doron said work done by the previous
consultant will be reviewed and updated by the new consultant.
The airports' master plans are set to be wrapped up sometime in
2008.
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.16.24)
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