| Five representatives of the Neosho Pilots Committee addressed concerns over their city's possible carte blanche acceptance of a proposal originally made by CD Aviation, Inc. 1 1/2 years ago to provide fixed based operator (FBO) services at Neosho's Hugh Robinson Airport. At the last meeting of the city council on October 2, 2007, Jack Bowyer, a spokesperson for the group cited the company's lack of service with piston engines and the "inexperienced way" they handle their own current operations as major reasons for considering further solicitations for an FBO. The representatives who also included Les Bond, John Walker, Al Smith and Dan Shea claim that at least 15 pilots are in agreement with them.
In a private interview with the Joplin Independent members of the pilot's group called it a "railroaded deal," that an FBO by definition should provide a "charter service," and that John Brown, who operates Mizzou Aviation in Joplin, "knows what FBO service does." Bond called the airport a "lonely place now...there's no maintenance. Nobody even checks tires."
The group, accusing the city of past irregularities, said that any disagreement by the airport board with city officials got the board disbanded. They think that the new terminal that had a price tag of $568,000 is "poorly laid out." They spoke of Larry Neff, current member and secretary of the Missouri Development Finance Board as being the catalyst for the airport's renovation. The MDFB later provided the funding for the project.
Councilman RoseMarie Carnes attempted to scrap consideration of CD Aviation's proposal arguing that too much time had elapsed since it was made. But Carnes was voted down 4-1.
What Bowyer proposed was that the city go ahead and run the airport as is until proper criteria could be laid out that an FBO could meet. Among the parameters suggested were the ability to service a fuel line--both turbine and piston-powered at cost-effective prices, service terminal facilities that are open to pilots on a 24-hour basis, provide a flight school and rental aircraft, keep grounds properly maintained and use company-owned equipment, not the city's. Bowyer also thinks that the cost of services should be controlled by the city and profit them.
Bowyer reported that Neosho's mayor, Howard Birdsong, seemed to be fairly receptive to the idea of studying the proposal more thoroughly and look at what's really needed. The council, he said, indicated that they would encourage "hard negotiations," but Bowyer's opinion is that they will "back out and politics will take over." "Pat Earl [CD Aviation's owner] and Birdsong are golfing buddies," Bowyer said.
Specializing in servicing Honeywell auxiliary power units, CD Aviation Services has locations in the US at 1380 Terry Johnson Memorial Dr., Neosho and 990 McTavish Road N.E., Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They claim they provide "superior engine and APU support...close to home."
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