Middletown extends contract with company to run the airport while looking for permanent option

Safe Skies Aviation will oversee airport for no more than 4 additional months.
Middletown City Council approved a month-by-month contract Tuesday night with Safe Skies Aviation to provide Fixed Base Operator services at Middletown Regional Airport for no more than four months. FILE PHOTO

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Middletown City Council approved a month-by-month contract Tuesday night with Safe Skies Aviation to provide Fixed Base Operator services at Middletown Regional Airport for no more than four months. FILE PHOTO

City council approved a contract extension with a company to operate Middletown Regional Airport on a month-to-month basis until another company is hired.

Council voted 3-0 Tuesday night to approve a contract with Safe Skies Aviation to provide Fixed Base Operator services at the airport for $17,124 per month for an extension period of not more than four additional months.

Mayor Nicole Condrey, who is affiliated with Start Aviation that operates out of the airport, abstained from voting on the consent agenda and Vice Mayor Joe Mulligan was absent from the meeting.

City Manager Jim Palenick said city staff is reviewing proposals from four companies interested in operating the airport and he hopes to have a contract for council to consider at its July 6 meeting. He said Safe Skies is not one of the four finalists since it did not submit for the Request for Qualifications.

He said FBO service “sets the standard for visitors” since that company is the “first to welcome” anyone flying into the airport to the city.

Late last year, after nearly one year of running the airport, city officials decided to contract out services. The city signed a six-month contract with Safe Skies to provide FBO services and snow removal. The contract was approved for $85,620 for the FBO services and $13,000 for snow removal.

The contract with Safe Skies ran from Dec. 1 through May 31, 2021, Palenick said.

Palenick said those FBO services will include managing aircraft traffic and city equipment; managing the aircraft fueling services; providing service truck, crew car, and tie-down services; cleaning and maintaining vacant “T” hangars; providing multiple duties related to “community” hangars; and managing the FBO office and pilot lounge among multiple contractually-detailed requirements.

Two years ago, the city notified the former operator, Start Aviation, that it would not renew its contract when it expired on Dec. 31, 2019, and the city would take over the FBO services. Start Aviation is affiliated with Start Skydiving, one of the airport’s tenants, and was the airport’s operator for more than 10 years.

In other news:

City council will host a special work session/town hall meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the Oakland District. The location of the meeting hasn’t been determined.

At recent meetings, people affiliated with the project expressed concern and confusion to council members.

Council member Ami Vitori hopes to “reengage” with residents and business leaders after COVID-19 “took the wind out” of the project.

Then at noon June 10, council will meet in executive session to get updates on the riverfront project that may bring a convention center, hotels and entertainment options near the Great Miami River.

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