ANN is looking for a new home... a permanent one. We're currently inviting proposals for a permanent airport office facility to serve as home base for the Aero-News Network, Inc., the Aviation World's Real-Time News and Information Service.

The successful bid will require an airport friendly community and a (preferably) airport based location where we can locate both an office as well as a hangar capable of hosting at least two GA aircraft. ANN is looking for at least 1500-2000 square feet (or more... if the deal is right) of office space in a location with access to high-speed data services (T1, or High-Speed DSL/Cable) and close proximity to the aforementioned hangar. Special consideration will be given to any building that either includes a hangar or is otherwise attached to such a structure. ANN's preferred home airport will offer IFR approaches, preferably with precision approach capability, and will reside a reasonable distance from a major airline destination for those staff travel needs that require airline service (God help us). Basic fuel and maintenance services are required at our new home airport, as well, for our own aircraft as well as our visiting guests and staffers.

ANN's new digs will not house our entire staff since we are an electronic news service that allows staffers to work wherever they have a stable high-speed connection... but initial local staff needs should result in work for at least 6 local persons in the near term and possibly as many as a dozen for upcoming projects now undergoing planning and implementation. ANN is undertaking a number of exciting new projects and current growth dictates that a number of new staff slots will be created to fill these needed positions. Various economic and other incentives often offered to relocating businesses are certainly welcome, but the primary factor in our eventual decision will revolve around the suitability of the facility, and community, to our interests and business preferences.

Our current digs in Polk County, FL, were never meant to be a permanent gig, especially since we live in a county that has revealed itself to be a poor place to do business, and has proven (to us) to be horribly unfriendly to aviation (as noted, in part, by the bill sent to a Sun 'n Fun crash survivor for so-called "rescue" services, etc.). The sad fact of the matter is that we simply can not sit idly by and support (by default) a community that we believe to have ignored a number of aviation safety issues and has taken a seemingly hostile attitude to many aviation businesses and users. ANN simply refuses to expend any more of our resources (several million dollars since our inception) in such a place, and  to seek a home that not only appreciates the value of our business but places value on being a community that recognizes the importance of the aviation industry, aviation safety, and the proper pursuit of both. As a result, ANN is committed to finding a new home for our business in the coming year and to make a permanent home there for our business and staffers.

Addendum: In light of recent lawmaking by the state of New York that we consider to be highly prejudicial towards aviation interests, namely the need for all new flight students to take on the additional burden of passing a criminal background check, airports in the State of New York will NOT be considered so long as this questionable legislation is in effect. Aviation has enough problems to contend with, without such questionable legislation... and ANN will not support such narrow-minded bureaucratic thinking in any way... hence our decision to remove this state from any consideration for ANN HQ. -- Jim Campbell, ANN Editor-In-Chief.

Interested parties are invited to send proposals via the email link below...

FMI: RFP-ANN Looking For Permanent HQ