Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Chattanooga officials admit huge loss for taxpayers on airport project

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport officials admit their plan to use millions of taxpayer dollars to compete against a private company that services private jets is already losing money  — more than $300,000 thus far, and counting.
Tennessee Watchdog reported in 2010 that Airport Authority officials would use $4 million in Tennessee Department of Transportation grants to establish a new Fixed Base of Operations (FBO). This new FBO would compete against TAC Air, which at the time was the only FBO at the airport.
“The new FBO has lost about $317,000 since it opened (last summer) through November of last year,” said Christina Siebold, Airport Authority spokeswoman, when Tennessee Watchdog approached her about the matter (seen in this exclusive video).
According to traditional definitions, an FBO is a company that services general aviation aircraft (providing aircraft fuel, hangar storage and other facilities for airplane crews and passengers). Some FBOs operate privately, while others operate under the authority of a particular airport municipality.

Read more: http://watchdog.org/14152/chattanooga-officials-admit-huge-loss-for-taxpayers-on-airport-project/

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