Some Airplane Owners Say Large FBOs Want All The Business

Owners of airplanes based at Eugene Airport (KEUG) in Eugene, OR, say they are losing the option of having the certified mechanic of their choice work on their airplanes ... at least at the airport. A rule which has been in place for many years restricts the performance of maintenance work to only mechanics who have obtained a permit from the airport administration ... or from Atlantic Aviation ... an FBO at the airport.

Several owners say that enforcement of the rule has been lax at best in recent years, but now the FBO is pressuring the airport authority to strictly enforce the rule.

The Register-Guard newspaper of Eugene reports that Plano, TX-based Atlantic Aviation is fairly new to the scene, having bought out Flightcraft, the previous FBO owner, last summer. A spokesperson for the airport, Catheryn Stephens, told the paper that they are simply enforcing long-standing policy, and if there was third-party, or "through-the-fence" mechanical work being done at the airport previously, they were not aware of it.

In a memo dated May 17 and distributed to the airport's tenants, the airport announced that all such work must stop by June 15.

Along with Atlantic Aviation, Eugene Flight Center has the necessary permit to perform mechanical work at the airport. The rule also does not apply to Experimental or homebuilt airplanes. An owner may also bring in his or her own mechanic if both of the permitted entities turn down the work.

There have reportedly been other complaints among pilots about Atlantic, including an increase in fuel and service prices since they took over the operation.

FMI: www.eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?nid=173