Rifton Aviation Services in the News - Friday, April 14
New York’s Stewart Air****t sets private precedent
NEWBURGH, New York — With the signing April 1 of a formal lease,
Newburgh’s Stewart International Air****t (SWF) has become the first
commercial field to be privatized under the Federal Air****t
Privatization Pilot Program.
The privatization program, established under the FAA Reauthorization Act
of 1996, is designed to turn over development and operation of
handpicked air****ts to private interests.
A former Air Force base 60 miles north of New York City, Stewart
International is a vast and underutilized facility that occupies 9,600
acres. Its fortunes are seen as a key to the region’s vitality. Governor
George Pataki has been a strong sup****ter of the privatization effort,
and the FAA approved the state’s turnover plan in 1997.
“The governor feels Stewart has not reached its potential as an air****t,
and private-sector expertise will allow it to take off,” state spokesman
Mike Fleischer said. “The purpose is to enhance operation and improve
economic development in the Hudson Valley.”
The lessee, National Express Group, is a British company that operates
bus and rail systems in Europe. An air****t operator in the Philippines
and Australia, it is convinced the potential for growth justifies the
99-year, $35 million lease (plus 5% of gross revenues after 10 years, or
when emplanements reach 1.38 million passengers annually, which would be
twice the current total).
“We see a tremendous future for Stewart,” said John Williams, National
Express Group’s transition director. “This is the crossroads to the
Northeast and Canada. It’s got a 12,000-foot runway, perfect road
access, it ’s everything you would look for in an air****t.”
The cash payments and the state’s share of revenues will be used for
improvements at Stewart, as well as for operations at
Republic-Farmingdale Air****t in Long Island. Republic-Farmingdale is now
the only air****t that the state owns and operates. Stewart will remain
eligible for improvement funds from the FAA, but the grants will pay
only 40% of projected costs. Publicly owned air****ts receive 90% funding
from the FAA for approved projects.
Williams said National Express Group will spend upwards of $60 million
on improvements to the air****t, beginning with an overlay of the
12,000-foot primary runway. That project is expected to cost $8 million
to $9 million.
The runway takes a beating, in part from the Air National Guard C5-A
Galaxies that are based at the air****t. In return for free use of the
air****t, the Air National Guard will continue to provide fire and rescue
service on the field.
“If you’re going to divert anywhere with an emergency, Stewart is the
place to come,” Williams said.
The air****t will also conduct full topographical mapping to sup****t new
GPS approaches. Air****t-based businesses will make additional
investments of about $75 million on the field, according to National
Express Group.
While much of the potential for air****t growth will come from commercial
passengers and cargo services, a strong general aviation presence on the
field is also expected. Rifton Aviation Services, an FBO, is building a
100,000-square-foot hangar on the air****t to house business aircraft.
According to Williams, many cor****ations have been in contact with the
new management to inquire about basing operations at the field.
“We have them coming out of our ears,” he said. “We’re delighted.”
While enthusiastic about his new position, Williams, who previously
managed two air****ts in the United Kingdom, including a major GA
facility at Blackpool, says he’s made it a point not to learn to fly.
“I steadfastly refused because it would have broken my personal bank
account and probably become an all consuming hobby,” he said.
Source: http://archives.californiaaviation.org/ganews/msg07344.html
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Rifton Aviation website
http://www.riftonav.com/
Rifton Aviation Services
Stewart International Air****t
1032 First St. Bldg. 112
New Windsor, NY 12553-3488
Rifton Aviation contact numbers:
Toll free number: 800-731-8351
Direct contact number: 845-567-9800
E-mail address: Info@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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