News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Livingston Municipal Airport has signed a lease with a commercial client to fill the old Fitzgerald Hangar.
Airport Committee Chairman Jason Duke said Peter Schiff Aero Inc. signed a trial lease, with hopes for a multi-year extension. Duke said he went canvassing for a new client and the one he found checks all the boxes.
“They should bring in aircraft that will buy jet fuel and piston fuel,” Duke said. “It should bring in people to use courtesy cars to go eat at local restaurants and other people in the area. As business grows, his employment will also grow and also as his sales base grows so will the revenue for the city and the county as well.”
Duke said the trial lease will be extended through December once it is signed next week. Duke said talks moved from a trial lease to a potential multi-year agreement because of growth with the commercial client.
He said the next big push is to make commercial development off the airport a reality with a new client.
“The additional development that we’ll have will only be available once we expand our taxiway,” Duke said. “The airport has a piece of property along Airport Road and Bill White Lane which is very favorable for commercial development. That parcel does not have access by taxiway for aircraft to be able to reach it, it has road access on two sides.”
Duke said the taxiway expansion is part of the airport’s plans over the next five years. He said this would need to be approved and 95 percent funded by the state, Overton County and Livingston would split the remaining five percent.
Duke said Peter Schiff Aero Inc does aircraft environmental systems installation. He said that provides things like air supply, thermal control and cabin pressurization for the crew and passengers.
