Business View Magazine | December 2018

164 165 THEWATSONVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT multiple hurdles: FAA environmental, the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. And we can assure you that they are arduous, so every opportunity has to be the right fit.We want to be very particular about what we bring here.” Meanwhile, being a forward-thinking GA air- port is still the most important part of Williams’ agenda. “We’re on a five-year, $11 million capital improvement plan,” he states. “We’re in the second year of that plan. For us it’s basic blocking and tackling.We are a landing facility, so we must provide: (1) a safe and structurally sound landing surface; (2) a secure and space specific parking area; (3) sufficient quantity of quality fuel; (4) a welcoming and accommodating facility to include restrooms and a restaurant; and (5) reasonable access to automobiles and parking. Those are the five things that, as long as we are providing, we are okay, and we’re trying to improve each one of those.” “Recently, we received a $1.2 million FAA grant as part of our five-year capital plan, and that’s going to help us improve our runway in terms of strength and longevity,” he adds. “We’re making improvements to our hangars and structures.We have an 80-person wait list for T-hangars. Our policy for commercial hangars is if XYZ Compa- ny wants to come in, we’d offer a ground lease opportunity; they’d come in and build it. At the end of 20 years or 30 years, whatever we come to agreement on, the City and the Airport will own the building. On the individual side: if you have a King Air, or a Mooney, or a Bonanza, we would welcome you to sign up for the hangar wait list. Our capital plan includes a commitment to build additional hangars over the next three years. T-hangars are a substantial revenue stream for Watson- ville. Just the T-hangars, themselves, and the tie-downs brought in over a million dollars, last year. So, our belief is that by investing, we’ll be able to bring more to the field and increase our operation. “At the end of our five-year capital plan, we go into the next five years.We’re working on completing our Airport Mas- ter Plan to go out for public review, prob- ably in January of next year. The long- term plan talks about improvements to the terminal area, extending the runway, and bringing in additional hangars. Our environmental challenges restrict exactly how many we can build.” Williams is a strong believer in the importance of general aviation airports, which account for more than 1.3 million jobs in the country and represent more than one percent of its GDP. “General aviation airports are key to the infrastruc- ture of the national air space system,” he maintains. “They provide jobs and oppor- tunities for employment in the aviation field, whether that’s a mechanic, a con- troller, or a pilot.” His own airport is 100 percent self-sustaining and, since 2013, has actually turned a profit. “At the end of June, this year, our fund balance was over a million dollars,” he says, proudly. “And we strive to use every inch of our Airport for general aviation.” PREFERRED VENDOR n World Fuel Services wfscorp.com/aviation World Fuel Services Corporation is a global leader in the marketing, sale and distribution of aviation fuel products and related services. Customers value single supplier convenience, competitive pricing, trade credit, risk management, logistical support, fuel quality control and fuel procurement outsourcing—all provided by our global team of local professionals.