Members of the local aviation community concerned about the
future of the Hollister Municipal Airport packed City Hall Monday
as council members heard the first portion of a plan aimed at
making the airport a source of revenue for the city.
Hollister – Members of the local aviation community concerned about the future of the Hollister Municipal Airport packed City Hall Monday as council members heard the first portion of a plan aimed at making the airport a source of revenue for the city.
Airport Manager Bill Gere wants to build larger hangars that can accommodate corporate jets in the hope that business people housing their aircraft in Hollister will also move their businesses here.
“If we build some larger hangars, some of the guys in San Jose will move their jets here, and hopefully move part of their business down here,” he said.
The document presented to the council Monday represented the first installment of an improvement plan that starts with a larger staff – Gere is currently the airport’s sole employee – and moves from there to a number of projects to improve airport facilities.
In August, a representative of the Federal Aviation Administration said his agency supports the direction Gere is taking Hollister’s airport.
But while Gere, the council, and the FAA want to see the airport become an economic engine, many local aviators feel that they are being left out of the process and are concerned about being pushed out of the airport as it is developed to favor larger aircraft.
“I feel he (Gere) has been very busy selling council members and FAA on all these things he wants to do. But he seems to have little regard for general aviation people,” said Deane Judd, a pilot who rents a hangar at the airport.
Gere presented the council with a list of positions he thinks are necessary for the airport to be properly maintained and developed. Included are two full-time maintenance workers, an office worker and a full-time engineer.
Developing funding will be the next phase of the work plan, which will likely be presented to the council later this month. Gere said he thinks the airport engineer position will be funded by the FAA.
According to Gere, the FAA has guaranteed a minimum of $6 million over the next five years for projects at the airport. Currently, the perimeter fence, paid for with $450,000 in FAA money, is being installed. Next year, according to Gere, the FAA will pay for the bulk of a $2 million pavement rehabilitation project.
City Council members are enthusiastic about the prospect of developing the airport.
“We have to look at the airport, which is owned and run by the city, as part of providing something for all members of the community,” Councilman Doug Emerson said. “If we bring in corporate jets, it makes it much easier to now bring in business.”
Emerson added that with a larger airport serving corporate jets businesses such as fueling services and mechanics will pop up around the airport.
“All those are subsidiary industries that can be built around an airport,” he said.
Also on Monday, council members approved plans for a new building at the airport that will replace Building 25, which was destroyed by fire about two years ago. Before a construction contract can be awarded, however, the city must settle an insurance claim, according to Gere.
Luke Roney covers local politics and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected]
