SAFFORD — Slightly more than one month after the fixed base operator at the Safford Regional Airport publically aired grievances with changes in airport policies and fees, airport officials announced the airport itself will take over fixed base operator duties.
On social media Wednesday morning, airport officials announced the creation of Spalsbury Aviation as the new fixed base operator at Safford Regional Airport-1Lt Duane Spalsbury Field.
“The City and Ponderosa Aviation are working together to ensure a smooth transition with no interruption in services,” airport officials wrote in the social media post.
A fixed base operator provides multiple services to airport users, including fuel and some maintenance for multiple types of aircraft, courtesy cars to pilots not based at the airport, as well a rental car services for commercial air travelers.
In April, Dr. Rex Bryce, owner of Ponderosa Aviation, the then fixed base operator at the airport, and Ponderosa Metal Works at the Airport Industrial Park, said, “policy shifts and changes in leadership” had soured Ponderosa Aviation’s working relationship with 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. 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.”
The city has committed a significant amount of money for improvements at the airport. Since January, the City Council has authorized spending $116,000 for design of a new terminal building, $88,600 for an Airport Strategic Business Plan and $92,404 to complete construction of four T-hangers.
Grants have been obtained to purchase specialized aviation firefighting equipment and to offset the costs for commercial air service between Safford and Phoenix by Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines.
Safford Regional Airport was also named Airport of the Year for Aviation Safety by the Federal Aviation Authority.
