But The FBO FAA Says Was Favored Claims It Is Actually The Victim

In a recent ruling in a discrimination case involving two FBOs at Peter Prince Field (2R4) in Milton, FL found that the county was guilty of giving preferential treatment to Peter Prince Aviation Center (PPAC) over Aircraft Management Services (AMS), and ordered the county develop a corrective action plan as a condition of maintaining its eligibility for federal grants. 

The formal complaint was filed by AMS in 2012, according to the Pensacola News Journal, and after reviewing the complaint, the county's responses, and its request to dismiss the complaint, the FAA determined that PPAC had been given a more favorable lease. 

But PPAC has a different view of the situation, and says that it is actually the aggrieved party. It plans to file a formal complaint with the FAA of its own if a "fair agreement" is not reached, according to company officials.

AMS was the first FBO to be located at the airport, and the county held in its response to the FAA that they are "differently situated", meaning they do not have to be treated equally by the county. 

But the FAA said that argument was "without merit," finding that both offer similar services, and the terms of their lease agreements should be the same.

But PPAC claims that the FAA did not look at the whole picture when making its determination. As an example, the county pointed out that while PPAC does not pay "flowage fees" for fuel, it says that's because AMS uses the county fuel farm while PPAC paid to build their own fuel facility. 

A corrective action plan was due to the FAA's Orlando Airports District Office June 26th, but the county has requested a 60 day extension in order to resolve the issues.

FMI: www.santarosa.fl.gov/airport