Recent figures from the Federal Aviation Administration show a drop-off of more than 30 percent, from 60,265 in 2011 to 40,474 in 2012.
The numbers come as construction gears up for a $1.5 million U.S. Customs office at the airport, which is operated by Oneida County.
“The numbers will fluctuate and the economy has something to do with that,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente.
The bulk of the decrease comes from general aviation flights, which are private planes used by businesses and individuals. Those plummeted more than 60 percent, from 54,331 in 2011 to 20,609 in 2012.
Picente and other county officials surmised that higher fuel prices could be part of the reason for the reduction in such flights, and said local companies with planes might be using them less in the tough economy. Still, they had not yet determined for certain what happened.
Democratic Minority Leader Frank Tallarino of Rome said Picente needs to develop better long-term plans for the airport and “just study why, why is it,” that the general aviation flights weren’t coming in.
Offsetting the slack general aviation numbers were slight increases in military flights and also in takeoffs and landings by planes likely coming in for repair and overhaul by companies based at Griffiss. Figures comparing 2011 and 2012 show:
- There were about 2,700 more military takeoffs and landings at Griffiss in 2012.
- 71 more operations involving commercial flights of 60 or fewer seats.
- 45 more operations involving planes with 60 or more seats flew into Griffiss in 2012.
- Fuel sales were up 5 percent, from 887,000 gallons to 931,405 gallons.
Those numbers are more important from an economic standpoint, said Randal Wiedemann, a Kentucky-based aviation consultant who has done work related to Griffiss in the past.
He said aviation activity in general took a hit when the economy plummeted in 2008, but has been slowly creeping back.
“Discretionary income has a lot to do with whether people go out to fly personally,” he said, referring to the general aviation flights.
Also, he said, the uptick in landings of larger planes is a good sign for the aircraft maintenance businesses at Griffiss. A look at FAA statistics going back to 2007 show those operations are up to the same levels they were at when another aircraft maintenance company, Empire Aero, was operating successfully there.
Steve Perta of the Oneida County Aviation Association said he isn’t sure why the general aviation numbers went down so precipitously, but he said Griffiss’ fuel prices were slightly higher than at other airports in the region.
“They can be as much as 50 cents a gallon more elsewhere,” he said.
Picente said the new Customs Office should help increase the number of military flights using Griffiss, as well as facilitate arrivals of planes coming in for maintenance at MidAir USA and Premier Aviation.
Meanwhile, operators of two small businesses based at Griffiss said they are doing fine.
Luigi Bottini of Galaxy Aviation flight school said he was doing “very well.”
“We had problems when we first went into the recession,” he said. “But the last couple of years it’s picked up.”
Michael Ezzo, owner of Air Charter Express private charter company said he is “happy with business the way it is.”
“Our business is driven by people who have to go places for specific reasons,” he said. “A lot of general aviation is recreational fliers. I can see where they might have reason to cut back.”
Story and Reaction/Comments: http://www.uticaod.com
No comments:
Post a Comment