Airport Lessons Learned in Shelby County…by Jim Ellis

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The residents of Oldham County are currently considering constructing a general aviation (GA) airport. Shelby County twice considered an airport, in 1998 and in 2005. In 2005, I was a member of the Shelby County Fiscal Court Airport Advisory Committee that reviewed information concerning the process of building and operating a GA airport. Here are some of my personal observations and experiences from that process.

Biggest lesson learned: “Truth-Proof” all relevant claims and statements. Everything must be verified for accuracy. Here are a few examples why:

a) In the early stages of the airport discussion, the Shelby County community was told that there was plenty of money available in the federal airport improvement program and that Shelby County “should get it before someone else did.” But when we contacted the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) Memphis office that is in charge of airport planning in our area, that office said that such money was limited and discretionarily awarded, with GA airports at the bottom of the granting totem pole.

b) Claims were made that a Shelby GA airport would be self-sufficient when a certain number of aircraft were based there and we achieved a certain level of usage of the airport. The Committee received financial and operational information from 13 other Kentucky GA airports. What we found? Regardless of the number of aircraft based at the airports, regardless of the amount of aviation fuel sold and the profit on it, regardless of the number of hangars for rent and the rental amount charged, and regardless of the number of landings and departures, all the airports received supporting subsidies from outside sources. In short, we found that in every case, GA airports don’t fully pay their own way.

c) The Shelby airport was pitched as a tool to recruit new business and industry. But a Chamber of Commerce survey found that a local GA airport might enhance only 34% of surveyed businesses. A later local newspaper article reported even less support for an airport in this economic sector. Additionally, economic development was NOT a criterion for qualifying for the federal airport improvement program.

d) It was stated that airports increased property values around them. But the Committee received two statements from residents who had experienced the opposite. Meanwhile, Kentucky courts have held that an airport is not responsible for decreases in surrounding property values that were caused by the reasonable operations of the airport (Louisville & Jefferson County Air Bd. v Porter).

Another thing we found:  An airport board’s actual control of land use extends beyond its own property boundaries. The scope and power of an airport board is a major thing to consider.

At the end of the 2005 process in Shelby County, the proposed airport was deemed too costly for the county’s taxpayers and not pursued. I hope Oldham County’s deliberation of building and operating an airport will be as thorough as Shelby County’s consideration.

Thank you for your time,

Jim Ellis [signed]

737 Booker Pike

Shelbyville, KY 40065

502-647-2726

jmellis@shelbywireless.net