AIRPORT ADDS TWO NEW FBOs

Air Evac Aviation Inc., Prestige Air and Trans World Express are three reasons Cape Girardeau Regional Airport Manager Greg Chenoweth feels good about hitting the magic boarding number of 10,000 this year.

"If we can get 10,000 boardings, we will be eligible for a federal entitlement of $400,000," Chenoweth said. "Last year we had around 8,000 total enplanements and that was mostly Trans World Express (TWE) boardings."

Trans World Express, the commuter airline for Trans World Airlines, enjoyed a record year with 6,330 people flying in 1994. "Trans World Express had 27.8 percent more boardings than last year," Chenoweth said. "I can see those numbers getting even better in 1995 because Randy Holdman, Andy Perry and Sandy Bloom have done such a good job marketing this airport."

Holdman was the airport manager before leaving last July to take a job with Drury Southwest. Perry took over as interim airport manager until Chenoweth was hired in December. Bloom remains at the airport as administrative secretary.

"All three did a great job getting out and meeting travel agents to bring more business to the airport," Chenoweth said. "I plan on doing the same thing."

Chenoweth said Air Evac is establishing itself as a solid fixed-base operator and he expects Prestige Air to maintain the same reputation.

"They will both provide charter services as well as sell fuel and offer aircraft maintenance," Chenoweth said. "I see no problem with two fixed-base operators. The airport I was at in Hutchinson, Kan., had two FBOs. The way it worked is that each FBO found its own niche."

Sharon Dunn, general manager for Prestige Air, said she expects to begin operation as early as June, barring weather or construction problems.

"The lease agreement has been made with the city and now we're just waiting for the engineering plans to be finalized," Dunn said. Dunn, who started a similar operation in Carlsbad, Calif., said Prestige will offer charter flights, flight training and aircraft maintenance.

"We believe there is enough business to go around for two FBOs," Dunn said. "There is a market out there that is not being tapped. To be successful, it really depends on how you market yourself. We've done our homework and feel we'll do well once we get going."

Chenoweth said the number of charter flights by both Air Evac and Prestige Air will help him achieve the magic boardings number this year.

The new airport manager is, however, concerned about the rumor that the Air Traffic Control Tower might be closed by the Federal Aviation Administration if a benefit-cost ratio isn't met.

"The FAA has come up with a benefit-cost ratio formula, but I don't know what the criteria is," Chenoweth said. The FAA has told Chenoweth the Cape Regional Airport Tower will be evaluated again in October. A determination will be made then whether to keep the tower open.

"What they seem to be concerned with is how many operations there are at the airport," Chenoweth said. An operation is any type of landing or takeoff. "It could be something as simple as a pilot practicing touch-and-go or working on an instrument approach," Chenoweth said. "Touching the runway and taking off is considered two operations, so it all adds up if there is enough activity here."

Chenoweth believes it is important to keep the tower running. "It's important that we keep the tower in order to maintain the excellent safety record we have here," Chenoweth said. "We're in a part of the country where we experience our share of fog and changes in weather. That makes the tower an important instrument to maintain safety."

Yet another facet of the airport will be the development of the Leopold Group, an executive fixed-base operator led by William Florich. "This group is very much in the picture for the future," Chenoweth said. "They will be doing inspection and engineering details to existing aircraft and will handle fighter aircraft, multinational aircraft and 727s."