Monday, November 26, 2012

Long Island Mac Arthur Airport (KISP), New York: Landing fee before Islip Town Board

 A resolution to impose a general aviation landing fee at Long Island MacArthur Airport is back in front of the Islip Town Board.

After tabling a vote in October that would have imposed a landing fee for general aviation and business aircraft, the board will pick up the issue again Tuesday. Deputy Airport Commissioner Terry Hennessey said the fee could raise $150,000 in revenue annually.

If approved, noncommercial transient aircraft -- meaning planes not based in hangars at MacArthur -- would pay $1.44 per 1,000 pounds of gross landing weight to touch down there, with a $10 minimum. Between 10 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., aircraft would pay a higher nighttime fee of $2.16 per 1,000 pounds.

Hennessey said in October that officials want to take advantage of all possible revenue streams and that Long Island MacArthur is the last Long Island airport with a control tower that doesn't charge a general aviation landing fee. Commercial carriers at MacArthur, which is in Ronkonkoma, have been paying the fee since 1991.

Hennessey has said 89 percent of the airport's landings last year were either for general aviation or air taxis.

A handful of local aviation industry representatives -- including air traffic controllers, flight school owners and aviation consultants -- criticized the resolution the last time it was on the town board's agenda. Town officials said then that they wanted to look at other landing fees across the state and might consider restructuring the fee, but didn't.

According to the resolution, the fee will be effective Dec. 1 and will increase annually by a minimum of 3 percent, not to exceed 9 percent.

The town board will also vote whether to enter into a contract with Vector Airport Systems Llc, which would provide aircraft tracking and landing fee management at MacArthur if the fee is instated, and to approve a bid for $88,728 for renovations to offices in historic Brookwood Hall.

The board will meet Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Islip Town Hall, 655 Main St.

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