Says County Favor Other Airport Tenants, Is Blocking Construction Project

Desert Jet Center has been trying since 2015 to build a new facility at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Palm Springs, CA, but has run into multiple delays, and now believes the county is actively favoring a competing FBO in what it describes as "cronyism".

Desert Jet Center signed a 35-year lease with the Riverside County on October 6, 2015. Almost immediately, the airport manager received a complaint from the competing FBO on the field saying that Deseret Jet Center had to make an improvement on the competitor's leasehold before they could begin construction on their own facility.

That despite the competitor's lease agreement saying they are responsible for all improvements on the property they lease.

The story of what is going on at the airport is detailed in five parts on the Desert Jet Center website. It is far too intricate and involved to try to summarize here. And they only tell their side of the story. But we wanted to give you an opportunity to see their arguments.

The company says the purpose if the site is to "finally explain the reasons publicly why Desert Jet Center’s construction has not been completed.  In short, this is a story that starts with delays caused by a large, understaffed government agency consisting of good people working for a broken system, who are trying to make the wheels turn, but can’t; and of high county employee turnover resulting in recurring airport manager vacancies.

"The story we can’t tell publicly just yet is WHY the County won’t provide an opportunity for us to complete our project.  That story is about cronyism, undue influence on county officials and backroom deals – all affecting the future of Desert Jet, without us being allowed a seat at the table."

(Image from Desert Jet Center website)

FMI: www.thermalairport.com