Wednesday, May 23, 2012

NAPLES, FLORIDA: See where this goes -Letter ... Immokalee Regional Airport (KIMM)

Posted May 23, 2012 at 4 a.m. 

 Louis S. Moore, Naples

See where this goes


Nice article on May 14, "Our World: Still putting the pedal to the metal," but there may be one error you might check on.

It said after an inquiry by the Federal Aviation Administration, the race track rent was doubled at Immokalee Regional Airport.

I have been a pilot in the Naples area for 53 years; and I will admit I was not present, but I can assure you that the rent doubling was not the result of an FAA investigation. They would have simply investigated as to whether the operation was appropriate to the airport.

The rent doubling was done last year when the new manager took over. The racetrack people were so incensed they would have moved elsewhere had there been a place to go. The crop-dusting operation saw its rent and gasoline price go up and also looked for another location. The Glider Club moved up to LaBelle. About six hangar tenants left as their leases ended. The model airplane club was barred from the field after some years of safe operation. The owner of an aircraft museum was looking for a new location — I don't know how that turned out.

A friendly, happy airport turned into a hard-nosed business operation, hoping to improve income; but I doubt if they have replaced many of the previous tenants.

It would be interesting to see the bottom line after 12 months of management.

Source:  http://www.naplesnews.com

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