The Plymouth Board of Aviation Commissioners (BOAC) held their regular meeting in July.
Plymouth Municipal Airport Manager Bill Sheley updated the BOAC on maintenance and improvements, an evicted tenant, and continued business.
The 100LL shut off valve was replaced on the Fuel Farm because the old valve had a bad seal that was leaking. Sheley is still waiting for quotes for the remainder of the work on the Fuel Farm which he anticipates will cost between $5,000 to $8,000. The Electric Gate Operator has been repaired and is cemented in to the ground.
Sheley evicted a delinquent tenant out of the hangar; the aircraft is tied down on the ramp and has been incurring late fees since the two-week grace period ended. He informed the BOAC that the tenant owes money for unpaid repair work to at least two Avionics Mechanics – a shop in Texas and a mechanic in Valparaiso, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has an interest in his activity because his log books are not compliant, the weight and balance on the aircraft is incorrect, a claim has been filed in the amount of $4,000 relating to a local residential rental issue, and the tenant still owes money for the plane and to Sheley’s knowledge was behind on at least one payment. Sheley added that the tenant has a criminal history and moving forward background checks will be conducted thoroughly before an applicant is approved to rent a hangar.
LIFT Academy, AlphaFlight, and Cleveland Helicopter Services continue to conduct business. LIFT Academy has brought in additional aircrafts as education of Culver Academies students continues to boom. AlphaFlight had a private check ride recently – a student who will be a Senior in the Aviation Program had a successful solo. An additional student who graduated from the program and is preparing to attend Purdue in the fall passed his written exam with a 95% who is getting close to his solo and is doing really well. Cleveland Helicopter Service continues to have successful check rides – two commercial and one private recently.
As previously approved, hangar rent will increase by $15 a month as of August 1, 2024. Sheley hopes to request another $10 raise after the taxiway paving project is complete to bring that monthly fee to an even $125. The board mentioned raising that amount even higher; Sheley said he could see a possible $150 a month. He noted that Rochester and Knox have vacant hangar space and are less expensive than Plymouth – though tenants from the South Bend area will not want to relocate that far. He also noted that South Bend is considerably higher in cost than Plymouth. Sheley concluded that once the taxiway paving project is complete – that amenity might make an increase worthwhile.
