Airport Manager, Greg Phillips provided the board with a history of the airport’s relationship with Wenatchee Jet Center. The 30-year-old company has fallen on hard times over the past several years due to the recession and its related impact on the general aviation industry.
As the airport's fixed base operator, the company provided most of the aircraft fueling, maintenance and flight training services for commercial and small privately owned aircraft.
Hunter had fallen behind in lease payments and has been operating under an interim agreement since last year. The agreement had the airport providing the company with fuel subsidies. In the end it came down to the company’s business decision according to, Greg Phillips who presented a history of the airport’s negotiations with Hunter and failed attempts by the airport to find another FBO.
Hunter met Thursday with the Airport’s governing board which is comprised of all 6 commissioners from the Chelan and Douglas County Port Districts.
Many of Hunters longtime customers and supporters turned out trying to urge the board to work out an agreement that would keep Wenatchee Jet Center in operation. Local businessman, Bart Clennon is a private pilot who also leases a hangar at the airport. Clennon shared his anxiety over the loss of FBO services. He says that along with the pending departure of Phillips as airport manager and rumors about the future of Executive Flight Services has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the future of the airport.
After about an hour and a half of discussion the board authorized Phillips to come up with an interim solution which could include the airport taking FBO fueling services in-house.
During the discussion prior to the board’s vote a representative from Executive Flight explained that her company might be available to contract for the fueling and maintenance services that it already does as a part of its charter and medi-flight business.
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