At the July 11, 2017 Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, Airport Operations Manager Kevin Daugherty presented the budget resolution recognizing design funds for a self-fueling facility at the Brooksville – Tampa Bay Regional Airport.
The facility design will cost a total of $19,000, with $15,202 coming from an FDOT grant. Hernando County’s match will be $3,800.
Commissioner Steve Champion motioned for approval of the resolution, which was seconded by Commissioner Nick Nicholson. Commissioners John Allocco and Jeff Holcomb voted nay on the approval.
Commissioner Champion questioned the two commissioners who voted against the approval, “Why would you … be against competition at the airport, and providing low-cost fuel to the small businesses and individuals at the airport?” Commissioner Allocco responded, “Because I’m against the corporate welfare mode … I don’t think there is the volume necessary, and I’m very concerned that after this is up, that we’re going to see the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) that’s out there lower his prices to equal or below it, and we will have wasted this money and this time.”
American Aviation, currently the only FBO at the airport, provides hangar, maintenance, repair, upgrade and fueling services ( but does not provide self service fueling for after hours use). They have been serving the airport for 36 years.
Commissioner Holcomb explained this disagreement, “I’m all for competition, but I don’t think the government should be the competitor. It should be another private citizen or an FBO.”
The resolution passed 3-2.
In 2016, the minimum operating standards for private businesses to become an FBO at the airport were updated, creating a higher barrier to entry.
One of the stated goals in updating these standards was to protect the interests of existing airport operators. The new regulations for a fixed base operator requires 10 contiguous acres, 20,000 square feet of hangar space, 90,000 square feet of paved ramp to accommodate planes with a 79’ wingspan, 2000 square feet of office space and retail fuel sales. The minimum operating standards adopted in 2004 required a lease of at least 3 acres within the airport, erect a hangar of no less than 9000 square feet, provide for and maintain no less than 40,000 square feet of ramp area and 2000 square feet of office/floor space. Daugherty explained at the time, “We have existing tenants along with the county that have invested millions upon millions of dollars into the airport. We wanted to be a first class facility, we want safety first, yeah we do want to protect existing customers.”
The county opening a self-service fueling facility at the airport is an interesting turn of events, since it will directly compete with the existing FBO in the sale of fuel. It is not a requirement to be an FBO to supply fuel, so it is possible that a company could come to the airport to supply fuel.
Currently American Aviation is the only supplier of fuel at the airport. The self service fueling facility would provide a competing option for purchasing fuel at the airport.
There is a wide range of prices for fuel at airports throughout the state. According to AirNav.com the Brooksville Airport charges $4.79 for full service fuel. The Marion County Airport charges $3.38 for Self Service fuel. In Venice the FBO charges $5.29 for full service and $4.35 for Self Service fuel. In Zephyrhills which has a city owned FBO the price of Full Service fuel is $4.10 and self service is $3.60.
Julie B. Maglio and Rocco Maglio contributed to this report.