Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/john-wayne-airport/)
A growing backlog of state unemployment claims and concerns among local labor leaders over whether laid off workers will get their jobs back keeps a spotlight on unemployment.
The vote caps a years-long saga filled with corruption allegations and non-transparency concerns hurled at several supervisors.
Several county supervisors have been called out regarding their handling of the private jet contracts.
Sue Sommers, who has worked at Atlantic Aviation for 27 years writes that Atlantic is known for its impeccable customer service. Its not just what we do, its who we are.
Fred Fourcher, Co Founder and Board Member of Southern California Pilots Association provides a different perspective from members of the aviation and local communities who are not paid lobbyists and want to see the County make the right decisions.
As a longtime Orange County resident and business owner at John Wayne Airport (SNA), I welcome the attention our County is giving to general aviation at the airport. Since I started my business, West Coast Charters, we have been employing local residents and providing flight services to small, medium and large businesses throughout Orange County. SNA currently has two full-service Fixed Base Operations (FBOs) that house general aviation companies such as mine. FBOs act like landlords at the airport for general aviation businesses like mine. Instead of having aviation maintenance companies, flight schools, charter companies, aviation insurance agents, and other businesses scattered across the airfield, general aviation businesses operate under one-roof, a Fixed Base Operation. While the FBO structures at SNA are still functional, they are long overdue to be upgraded. Many of the existing structures date back to the 1960’s. But since the airport is owned by the County, any new construction and upgrades must be approved by the Board of Supervisors. To determine which FBO companies would be given permission to build, operate and manage the updated FBOs, the Board of Supervisors developed and released a Request for Proposals (RFP) on September 12, 2019. As part of the Board’s approval process, each of the proposals submitted was scored by an independent review panel of aviation experts chosen by the County. The scoring included: experience, background of financing and developing FBO’s, financial strength, quality of development, management experience and other important factors that will ensure the airport maintains its world-class reputation.
Orange County supervisors are moving forward with three companies to take over non-airline aviation services at John Wayne Airport.
Airport expansion foes fear that what started as a home to small planes has over the years turned into a more ambitious enterprise with increased international clientele.
Airport officials came under significant criticism from residents in the wake of Wednesday’s meeting over the total breakdown in phone conferencing.
Newport Beach City Council members on Tuesday were in agreement that OC officials need to curb any additional noise, flyovers or private jet increases.