AIR EVAC OFFERS FBO PROPOSAL

Air Evac Lifeteam Corp. is in the process of purchasing the assets of Cape Central Airways to become the next fixed base operator at Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport.

William R. Chritton Jr., Air Evc chairman of the board; James E. Lentz, president of the company; and Sherman Watson, director of operations; met with the Cape Girardeau City Council and the airport board of directors at the airport Wednesday to make a proposal.

"We want to make it very clear that we're only interested in purchasing the assets of Cape Central Airways," said Chritton. "We will not be buying the name of the company or the operation. We would be making improvements on the facility."

Chritton said the purchase of Cape Central Airways would dissolve if the city council did not approve Air Evac becoming the next fixed base operator. The Air Evac chairman said quality service and a high regard for safety would receive top priority.

If the council approves Air Evac's proposal, future plans include a wider base of operation and possible talks with Southeast Missouri State University for a flight school.

Air Evac, which is based in West Plains,owns the emergency helicopter St. Francis Medical Center has used to transport patients since 1988. Air Evac has been in business since July 1985. This would be the first FBO for the company.

City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said Air Evac must draft a written proposal for the city council to consider before a public hearing at a council meeting.

Prestige Air Services, which is also bidding to become the next FBO, must also provide the city with a detailed written proposal. Prestige Air Services had talks with Cape Central Airways to purchase the company, but those talks ended before Duane Beussink, owner of the company, announced last week that he intended to own the next FBO at the airport.

Fischer said competition over the right to become the next FBO is complicated since Cape Central Airways is engaged in a lawsuit with the city over an eviction notice.

City Attorney Warren Wells said even if Air Evac would get the green light from the council, discussions would have to begin with Cape Central Airways to determine if the suit filed against the city would be dropped.

"One would expect that if all assets were sold the lawsuit might be dropped, but you really don't know at this point what is going to happen," said Wells.

If the council approves Air Evac as the FBO, Chritton said the company would be able to begin operations immediately.

Beussink said he plans to be a fixed base operator at the airport regardless of what happens with Air Evac's bid. Beussink said he could begin operation three to five months after he received approval from the council.

"We already have our license with the FAA, so there would be no time lost trying to get approved," said Watson. Since Air Evac would be moving into an existing operation that is already licensed as a FBO, the administrative procedures would be less complicated.

Bill Walker, chairman of the Cape Girardeau airport advisory board, said he contacted the FAA to determine what the agency knew about Air Evac. "Without giving the name of the person I talked to, I can say that this company was given overwhelming approval by the FAA spokesman," said Walker. "No stones were left unturned."

Chritton said he sees room for only one FBO at the airport. However, he said Leopold Corp.'s bid to launch an executive fixed base operation would work well with his plans.

William Florich, an aviation consultant who is helping organize a proposal by Leopold, has already had conversations with Air Evac. Leopold has six months to exercise an option for 7.6 acres of land that surrounds the main hangar at the airport. Florich was unavailable for comment on Wednesday.