Myth of the Week - “Florida Aviation Trust Fund”
Airport advocates have again stated that the new airport is being funded by a “State Aviation Trust Fund”. No
such fund exists. The FDOT funds spent so far (over $20 Million)
have come from targeted special appropriations controlled by
legislative leadership. Without this unusual political funding, the project would be […]
The Airport Referendum: 55-45 No, but to What Effect?
We finally had our non-binding referendum, and in spite of the
presidential primaries being already decided, over 20% turned out to
express themselves on the new airport.
The results are a resounding vote of “no confidence” in the
present approach. It is time for local elected and […]
Southwest to be Featured on A&E in 2004
From the Southwest web site:
It's a Bird. It's a Plane. It's Southwest Airlines in a New A&E Network Documentary Series
Southwest has partnered with A&E Network for an all-new, real-life adventure series - a behind the scenes look at the drama surrounding commercial airline travel. The ten half-hour […]
AirTran Solicits Vote on Next Service Point
Airtran asks here for customers to choose the next AirTran city from 36 suggested markets. Neither Bay County nor Huntsville (our current darling) is listed, although write-ins are invited. Citizens in Huntsville are organizing a write-in Campaign. Our “Partners in Progress” are silent, while still bleating about “doing nothing”.
News Herald “Flying High” Airport Traffic Story - More Numbers
The story on Bay County airport traffic deserves a bit more analysis. Dividing the total passengers by the total flights shows the usual 30 passengers per flight. An 8% gain over 2002 looks good, but 2002 was a very depressed year. The bigger story is that the […]
AirTran Reduces Capacity in Tallahassee, Exits Subsidy
The regional jet continues to re-shape service to small markets (anybody listening in Bay County?) AirTran was able to drop its subsidy request in Tallahassee after reducing its service to all regional jets effective in November. An AirTran spokesman said “We have at last matched our capacity to demand […]
Our Beautiful Bay
Had an opportunity Friday to go sailing with a friend on St. Andrew Bay. A gorgeous day, great conversation, and a few hours of consummate leisure/sport, sailing. Sailing is like poetry, totally unnecessary in the modern age, but so satisfying at a primal level. Thanks, friend, for a great day!
My Guest Appearance at the Airport Options Forum
Thanks to everybody who attended my talk at Gulf Coast College on October 16 - I think we all learned something, and I hope we had a little fun too. The airport debate has been far too acrimonious of late. I was disappointed that neither the airport board […]