Freedom Aviation, Liberty University’s fixed base operator at Lynchburg Regional Airport, seeks City Council approval to amend its franchise agreement to allow the operator to sell fuel to commercial airlines.
In 2007, when Freedom Aviation precursor Falwell Aviation entered into a franchise agreement for the construction of a hangar and storage facility at Lynchburg Regional Airport, the agreement included language prohibiting the operator from refueling commercial planes. That clause stemmed from a previous agreement between Falwell Aviation and Virginia Aviation, the airport’s other fixed base operator.
At the time, Virginia Aviation had filed a lawsuit over the city’s awarding of the 20-year lease to Freedom Aviation. Virginia Aviation later dropped the suit after a set of compromises were made between the city and the two operators.
Dave Young, president of Freedom Aviation, in letters sent to both the airport’s director and the city manager, said the language in the agreement cements “an unequal status amongst the FBO’s with regard to fuel sales.”
The operator asks City Council to “rectify this imbalance” by amending the ordinance governing the franchise agreement to allow Freedom Aviation to sell fuel “for use in commercial and all other aircraft.”
City Council will hear the operator’s request at Tuesday's meeting. The Regional Airport Commission, composed of eight representatives from Region 2000 communities and Lynchburg’s city manager, has recommended denying the request. Stewart Hobbs, chairman of the airport commission, declined to discuss the commission’s reasons.
Virginia Aviation’s owner did not respond to a request for comment.
Source: http://www.newsadvance.com
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