SAFFORD — During Wednesday’s Graham Economic Partnership Breakfast Forum on health-care in the Gila Valley, a panelist expressed dissatisfaction with a municipal partner.
Dr. Rex Bryce, owner of Ponderosa Aviation at the Safford Regional Airport, and Ponderosa Metal Works at the Airport Industrial Park, said recently “policy shifts and changes in leadership” have turned sour the working relationship between the city and businesses at the airport.
“We are concerned that with the proposed system of new fees, requirements and administrative processes that this will discourage growth, honestly, and innovation,” Bryce said, adding, “These types of operational challenges appear to be contributing to the city’s desire to extract money from the few businesses that are profitable at the airport, and offset city losses.”
Bryce said these issues are why he has decided not to renew the agreement for Ponderosa to offer public fueling and other fixed based operator services at the airport.
Ponderosa Aviation operates 27 aircraft, performing fire surveillance and suppression, air charter, aircraft maintenance, and air and ground ambulance. Bryce said he has 85-90 employees, including Ponderosa Metal Works.
When asked about the statements made by Bryce, city officials said in an e-mail to Gila Valley Central, “At this time, the City of Safford does not have a comment regarding the matter discussed during the recent Graham Economic Partnership forum.”
In February, the City Council agreed to spend $116,000 for design of a new terminal building at the airport, and $88,600 for an Airport Strategic Business Plan. In March, the Council agreed to spend $77,591 and $14,813 to complete construction of four T-hangers.
And in a post to social media on Wednesday, Safford Airport officials said the number of passengers taking commercial flights from Safford to Phoenix has been growing since the service started in January. According to the posting, the airline load factor was 25 percent in January, 29 percent in February and 31 percent in March.
