Executive, Franklin Fields Affected

Two small airport developments are on hold in Sacramento County over the loss of a team of consultants working on their master plans, according to the Sacramento Business Journal.

The county says that it will have a new consultant soon for both the Sacramento's Executive Airport (SAC) and Franklin Field (F72). A new consultant will be chosen in January when a contract will be approved by the airport system board, according to Sacramento County Airport System spokesperson Cheryl Marcell.

Key members of the staff of Parsons Brinckerhoff, the original consultant, moved on when it sold its aviation business.

Airport master plans for the airports were completed in 1979. The airports were seeking a master plan to cover development into 2025. The switch—mid-stream—will cost the project a six to ninth month delay.

Requests for proposals went out on October 29, and responses were due on November 20. Six proposals were submitted. Interviews are scheduled for December 18. 

The 540-acre Executive Airport, located close to downtown Sacramento, is home to more than 20 aviation-related businesses, with flight schools, aircraft maintenance, avionics and aerial photography. City-owned Executive is leased to the county under a 25-year renewal agreement.

Franklin Field, a non-towered VFR airport used mainly for training, is owned and operated by the county.

Businesses at the Executive Airport said they provided input for what needs to be done there.

Additional hangar space has been the most popular request.

"I'd like to see this airport continue to develop and grow," said Mike Pavao, owner of Executive Air Repair. "I'd like to see more hangar space available. I would like to see more businesses on the airport, more aviation businesses."

Pavao said if VLJs become popular, "airports like Executive are going to be worth their weight in gold." Business owners able to afford the VLJs $2 million price tag will allow them to be used for point-to-point flights, avoiding larger hub airports.

Carolyn Hitchcock, co-owner of Executive Autopilots, said 200 people already are on a waiting list to try to get a hangar at Executive Airport. One of the proposals would be to close one of Executive’s runways and use the space for new hangars.

"We're just the ideal airport, 10 minutes from downtown," she said.

Additional hangars mean that more lawmakers and business executive could use the airport for doing business in California’s capitol.

Hitchcock said she was pleased with the progress of the master plan, but is now concerned that the whole process may have to be repeated, or start all over.
The previous consultant created four draft alternative-development plans for Executive and three for Franklin Field.

Airport spokeswoman Karen Doron said work done by the previous consultant will be reviewed and updated by the new consultant.

The airports' master plans are set to be wrapped up sometime in 2008.

FMI: www.airports.co.sacramento.ca.us/exec/, www.airports.co.sacramento.ca.us/franklin/