Kissimmee Gateway Airport has the go ahead from the city to charge planes not based there to land there, but the decision was met with its share of opposition.
The City Commission voted unanimously at last week’s meeting to approve the new fees and begin collecting them on Nov. 1, but added a caveat to revisit them in a year to evaluate the effect and results. The vote came after nearly two hours of comments from pilots and others in the aviation industry, and questions from commissioners.
The Fixed-Wing Landing Fee will be $3 per 1,000 pounds of aircraft weight at landing, or $20 per helicopter operation. Typical general aviation craft that land at the airport weigh 2,000 to 3,000 pounds, resulting in a charge of $6-9 per landing. Only “transient aircraft”, defined as aircraft which utilizes the airport for occasional temporary purposes, would be liable. Craft that are based out of Gateway Airport, military medical and charitable or non-profit aircraft (such as Angel Flights) would not be charged these fees.
The landing fees are recognized by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) as a financial strategy, and as such would only be usable, by law, for “airport capital and operating costs,” according to the resolution. While leaders in Volusia County voted 3-2 against implementing them at DeLand’s general aviation airport, records show airports in Tallahassee, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers and Naples charge them.
City Aviation Director Shaun Germolus, who heads up airport operations, called the $3 rate “a fair rate” and said the fees would be used to replenish the facility’s reserve fund, which is used for operations overruns.
“This is a way to take advantage of the revenue of those who use our airport,” he said. He noted Tallahassee’s airport, in comparison, charges $4.54 per 1,000 pounds of landing weight.
About a dozen citizens spoke during public comment, most taking the stance that these fees are not the right way to raise these funds, and will hurt general aviation in the region and the economy in the community, as pilots will choose to land and spend money in communities where the airport doesn’t charge landing fees. Flight schools not based at Kissimmee’s airport but use it for training touch-and-goes would also go elsewhere, they said, or go be challenged to pay for each landing; at 7-10 landings per session the fee could reach $90 per day.
“Why tax those who bring revenue in?” asked Cliff Clover, a local Realtor and airport supporter. “You didn’t build (the airport), why do you charge for it?”
Stacey Heaton, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association southern regional manager, also has opposed such fees.
“Imposing new landing fees at public, not-for-profit airports seems illogical and will ultimately have safety issues for pilots, and may violate federal grant assurances,” Heaton told AIN, a aviation business and civil aviation news resource. “Moreover, there may be additional legal issues with how these fees are being set, implemented, and collected.”
At the meeting, Germolus addressed the dissenting voices, many of whom said they were happy with the way he’s running the airport, but that they oppose the idea of landing fees.
“None of those opposed to this called me to meet, to explain how we’re doing this or to go over our finances,” Germolus said. “This effort ensures the health of our airport.”
Companion items on the consent agenda to amend the rates policy for the airport and approve an agreement with Vector Airport Systems to collect and process the landing fees were removed from the agenda to be brought back at a later date.
