Hernando Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has approved a lease agreement at Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport to Project TAS (Transportation Aviation Services), a company that retrofits commercial aircraft for corporate or head of state use. The lease agreement provides TAS with a 3 year payment incentive with a total value of $377,028. Funds are available through the economic improvement fund and will be paid directly to the airport.
The company plans to hire 125 full time employees over the next three years, providing an annual average wage of $45,861. Project TAS has committed to a 20 year lease and has shown interest in an option to purchase the space located at 15421 Technology Drive. They also have plans to expand on the neighboring parcel.
To cover the county’s investment, TAS agreed to provide a surety bond in the amount of $125,676 which is annually renewed. TAS is required to document job retention for a period of 5 years in addition to quarterly meetings and annual documentation of the job creation and wages.
The space was previously occupied by Dyenamic Aviation Services, Inc aka Corporate Jet Solutions. Corporate Jet Solutions signed a 10 year lease in July 2013, and was to become the airport’s second FBO (fixed base operator). Their goal was to employ 40 to 50 workers over the following three years. They provided “full service AvGas and the only self serve AvGas on the field.” Their services included, “hangar and tiedown parking, rental cars, pilots lounge/snooze room, passenger lounge, live weather, and maintenance.” A lease dispute ensued in November 2014, after the company ceased paying their rent owing $32,864.16. According to reports, Corporate Jet Solutions claimed that problems were discovered with the facilities that the county should have made them aware of such as faulty wiring and grounding, costing them $30,000 in repairs as a result of a lightning strike. They also stated that the fuel tank that was leased as part of the premises did not meet county standards in addition to a hangar entrance that was smaller than the county advertised. The county filed a lawsuit in November of 2014 to evict Corporate Jet Solutions.
Section 2.D.(Acceptance of Facility) of the lease agreement with Project TAS states, “Lessee further acknowledges it has had adequate opportunity to inspect the Facility hereunder (as also referenced in “Exhibit 1”) prior to entering into this Agreement or has made adequate provision herein. Accordingly, the taking of possession of the Facility by the Lessee shall be conclusive evidence against the Lessee that the Facility was in good and satisfactory condition when possession was so taken.”
In his presentation to the Board of County Commissioners, David Tidwell of Transportation Aviation Services Inc stated that the founders of his organization have a combined total of 85 years in aviation. Mr. Tidwell explained to the County Commission, “A lot of people don’t think about the aircraft in what they do or how they’re used. They are tools for the head of state guys as well as corporate operators. It gives them the opportunity to have their meetings. Time is of the essence… This is their office as they travel from place to place.”
In deciding where to locate their facilities Mr. Tidwell stated, “One of the things that peaked our interest was of course at the time we were talking about a new facility, building a new facility and an existing facility at the Brooksville Airport became available which was … great for us. It was an added bonus for us to be able to look at and to be able to start our work immediately.”
“There is a lot of potential for resources in this area. In the surrounding area whenever I look at the Tampa area, the availability of training, aviation area that’s in Tampa that’s easy access to us. There is a lot of opportunity at the Brooksville airport to grow the business, to build additional hangars for the larger airplanes.”
Chairman Nicholson asked Mr. Tidwell specifically why he chose Brooksville.
“One of the things that I found as I came into the Brooksville area and started talking to the people here, they were open armed people. They are very personable,” he replied.
Chairman Nicholson stated that he brought that up because Mr. Tidwell previously said he found it to be an expeditious process and staff was easy to work with.
“Most definitely,” responded Mr. Tidwell… As I’ve gone through the process, with Len, Kevin and Valerie, they’ve all been great… and very responsive to myself and the organization. I haven’t found that in other places. ”
TAS plans to partner with local suppliers and provide training for individuals looking to enter into the industry. They are planning to move into the facility by August 1st at the latest. “I have a client that is committed to an aircraft it could be here as early as a week or two weeks from now,” Mr. Tidwell explained.
Valerie Pianta explained, “They’ve committed to 12 jobs in year 1, 30 jobs in year 2, and 83 jobs in year 3… They have to maintain those jobs for year 4 and 5 and provide us with proof of job creation and maintenance.” She also explained that if the jobs are not created per the contract they will owe them back the lease.
Dave Lemon, lease holder at the airport, stated, “The current lease that you’re offering Mr. Tidwell abolishes the alternative fuel after hours self service fuel station at the Brooksville Air Center. The only alternative Fixed Base Operator is the Brooksville Air Center and they’ve abolished that as well, no FBO… Why are you not protecting the aviation users at the airport by preserving the fuel and preserving an alternative FBO option to compete with American Aviation? The fuel went down a dollar a gallon the minute Corporate Jet Solutions went in business. This whole story, all of these praises, is deja vu of the June 2008 discussion about opening the Brooksville Air Center, the 2012 discussions of Corporate Jet Solutions so it will be interesting to see if this all comes to pass.”
Project TAS will provide limited maintenance for aircraft, but is not an FBO. 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 also have a flight school and lounge facilities for pilots and passengers. They have been serving the airport for 36 years.
In her response to Mr. Lemon’s comments, Diane Rowden stated, “The way that this is being set up, the money that is being paid goes to the airport from a fund that’s at the county… it’s funding our airport to help provide more services to people like yourself Mr. Lemon.”
The motion carried 5-0 to accept the lease agreement with project TAS. TAS has agreed to create 125 jobs over three years and the county’s incentive will total over $377K. They will be located in the space formerly occupied by Corporate Jet Solutions, an FBO which had a less than amicable parting with the county.