Local aviators to be priced out

I am a long time tenant at Phoenix Deer Valley Municipal Airport and one of many airport tenants blindsided by the now public announcement of the airport master plan.

 The master plan definitely affects me as I am one of the tenants who will be forced off of the airport and probably out of general aviation due to the loss of a city hangar. I will be unable to maintain my airplane in the privately-developed hangars due to the certain astronomical price increases in rental fees.

 Your articles have been instrumental in alerting the majority of Deer Valley Airport tenants of the upcoming destruction of general aviation by the City of Phoenix in order to cater to potential future corporate tenants.

 I have been advised that the City of Phoenix Aviation Advisory Board did recommend adoption of the most expensive Coffman Associates Master Airport Plan in their March 2007 meeting. This recommendation involves the “relocation” of general aviation to other valley airports and the destruction of fully amortized infrastructure of hangars, covered tiedowns, and open tiedowns.

 I do not know who comprises the Aviation Advisory Board for the City of Phoenix and am greatly interested in following up on the information I have recently been made aware of.

 I was told by other Deer Valley Airport tenants that one member of the Aviation Advisory Board is a developer who has expressed his interest in the construction and operation of the proposed privately built hangars planned to replace the current City of Phoenix hangars.

 Direct involvement with a recommendation to go forward with the Coffman Associates Master Plan by a board member who stands to financially benefit is a rather egregious conflict of interest in my opinion.

Patrick Mornin
Phoenix