NationStates Jolt Archive

So, I've been thinking about submitting a proposal for a private airport (that's open to the public) on how it can improve the airport. I've been researching cost it'd take to do some of the projects I have thought up of, which includes repaving the runway, building new hangers, repaying the taxiway, and replacing the fuel pump. So far, I have the cost anaylist of such projects, as well as the benefits of implanting these projects.

Let's look at repaving the runway, if it's repaved, then that will cut down on the likely hood that potholes will form (which is bad for a runway), and it'll cut down on wear and tear of the tires of the aircraft, and make it less likely that derbies will fly up and chip vital parts of the aircraft, like the brake hose etc.

Anyways, I was wondering if business (even small business, which this airport is), looks favorably on someone submitting proposals on how they can improve their business?

No I am not employed by this airport, I just like to do things like this in my spare time.

Totally depends on the airport. Are they federally funded? How do they feel about accepting federal grants? Is there community support for such a project? How do the other pilots feel? ect, ect

Talk to the airport manager. Call and set up a meeting. First see how he/she feels about such a project and lay out the broad picture. Don't bore the person to death with details if this just isn't something they're interested in. Find out what specific objections they have (if any) and do some reasearch about those objections.

Totally depends on the airport. Are they federally funded? How do they feel about accepting federal grants? Is there community support for such a project? How do the other pilots feel? ect, ect

Talk to the airport manager. Call and set up a meeting. First see how he/she feels about such a project and lay out the broad picture. Don't bore the person to death with details if this just isn't something they're interested in. Find out what specific objections they have (if any) and do some reasearch about those objections.

I know the guy, I used to fly out of the airport myself, so it should be easy to sit down with him and talk it over. :)

I tell ya, I love it when I get myself involved in something like this, I am passionate about aviation, and I just love it when I come up with ideas like this!

Yes, I am actually happy. Airplanes, make me happy.

you could consider

a) trying to get yourself hired as a consultant
b) setting up a community interest group to submit the proposals, rather than it coming from just one individual - talk to like mided people and see if they might support it
c) talk to other businesses in the area and see if they think a larger or improved airport would benefit their businesses. put their comments and/or values in your report
d) use (c) to talk to your local government people to see if they might support it for that reason
e) obviously, talk to the manager before d
f) if you were feeling mean, write into your local papers complaining about how bad the airport is, and how its lack of investment is damaging local business. cause a big fuss, and then do (a): try to get yourself hired as a consultant to the airport to oversee this project
g) google feasibility study and follow some of the advice for writing that kind of document

its good that airplanes make you happy :)

you could consider

a) trying to get yourself hired as a consultant

Hmm, that's a good idea. :)

b) setting up a community interest group to submit the proposals, rather than it coming from just one individual - talk to like mided people and see if they might support it.

The airport has a small but tight nit pilot community, so I'm sure if I can get them behind this, then the airport manager/owner will consider it. He's a pilot himself, so I should be able to talk his language.

c) talk to other businesses in the area and see if they think a larger or improved airport would benefit their businesses. put their comments and/or values in your report

Great idea! The airport is situated near the Charlotte Metro area, Charlotte/Douglas Int. Airport is too expensive for small business, but if they knew of this airport and how much cheaper it'd be for them to fly out of it, that'll create some extra revenues.


d) use (c) to talk to your local government people to see if they might support it for that reason.

There are federal grants for projects like this. It's backed by AOPA and EAA, because the organizations believe in protecting and helping our smaller airports.


e) obviously, talk to the manager before d

Duh hehe.

f) if you were feeling mean, write into your local papers complaining about how bad the airport is, and how its lack of investment is damaging local business. cause a big fuss, and then do (a): try to get yourself hired as a consultant to the airport to oversee this project.

Nah, I couldn't do that to the airport manager/owner. He's a good guy.

g) google feasibility study and follow some of the advice for writing that kind of document

its good that airplanes make you happy :)

I plan to research other airports who've had projects like this done as well.

Thanks for the tips. :)

The first thing you have to ask yourself is: Do you think that perhaps something like "repave the runway" might not have already occurred to him?

Forgive my bluntness, but essentially you've suggested basic maintenance as your business plan. It's about like someone walking up to me in traffic while I feather the gas to keep the van alive and saying, "You know what you should do-fix your car!" Thanks, dude. You're a gem. Don't know what I'd do without ya.

There is more to a business plan than, "You know what ya oughta do..." and things like maintenance aren't exactly ground breaking business decisions. If it was new services, ways to restructure services that they offer, ways to open up the airport in some way to a market that it does not already have access to-that'd be something. But, "Hey, why don't you fix some of this shit around here..." not really a business plan. Especially if you haven't figured out where that money is coming from for him-and don't say "loans." You don't know his credit status or whether he's in a position to add more debt (even if your 'cost analysis' says it will pay off, he still has to have the capital to pay it off).

What you've proposed is something for the suggestion box.

What ctoan said. Since you're friends with the manager, maybe you could bring it up over beers sometime.
"So man, how's shit at the airport"
"Blah blah blah 6 fucking tonnes of flax blah blah"
"Yeah? Well I was thinking about some stuff you might want to do. You know how I get with these things"
"Yeah, remember that time [anecdote]?"
"Oh man, it took 3 doctors to get that pineapple out!"
"Good times. But yeah, that's a/an [adjective] idea"
etc