September 05, 2006

DOT Small Community Air Service Update

I mailed copies of the three qtrly reports that I had received to our airport liaison and asked him to mail me whichever ones that I was missinig. Today I received one in the mail, here is an update as to how monies have been spent:

  • IMG 49,125.51
  • Advertising 44,989,37
  • Events 12,276.82
  • Radio 1,500.00
  • Docent Services 1,260.00
  • Printing 1,001.15
  • Fliers 920.00
  • Posters 740.0

Total 111,812.90

We submit these qtrly reports to the DOT and they reimburse us (assume all expenses are appoved) at a 72.73% level or $81,321.49. Here is my question, the total Small Community Air Service Grant was $442,615.00. If all the expenses from the 4 reports are submitted and the DOT mails us $81,321.49, we still have $361,293.50 left unused in the grant that expires 9/10/2007.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks like a great airport for small planes. Monthly tiedown rates look reasonable. Don't know what Worcester airport charges.
Flight school,restaurant. My only thought would be self serve fuel. I would think At Worcester Airport you get quality service and fuel inspected regularly by trained professionals . Worth the extra price for safety.
Otherwise looks like a great place for the "piston" pilots. Hope Worcester doesn't lose too much business to smaller airports.

Every source of revenue is vital, now

Anonymous said...

Stow is a great little airport which i have flown into myself many times, never had a problem there at all. I can understand though Swissports wanting to cater to jets. There is a lot more money in taking care of and servicing a Gulfstream thats gonna be spending the night or two than the sunday flyer in a 172 that wants his tanks topped off. Im not making excusess for them though, the whole deal with Amity, who is probably one of their biggest customers, is rediculous. And there is no justifiable reason for the fuel prices being the way that they are.

Bill Randell said...

Steve:

I believe there is some flexibility, but the monies need to be spent on Small Community Air Service. My question is if we had the monies, did we try to offer it to Allegiant to keep them here until their numbers get better. What if we do not get another airline to spend the remainding grant monies by Sept/07, do we lose the money????

Bill

Anonymous said...

Bill,

I didn't know where to post this so I chose the most recent.

Festival Airlines along with United and Allegiant are to announce their new destinations next week according to the Rockford Register.

I spoke with a columnist at the Register and he said Festival should be announcing their intial destinations along with a launch date. United will be announcing a third (Sunday) flight to Denver and Allegiant is talking about a flight to Florida, nothing concrete at this time.

http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060906/BUSINESS04/109060017&SearchID=73256070533406

Bill Randell said...

Anonymous:

How much do you want to bet ORH is not on Festival's lineup?? Seriously I hope that I am wrong and Festival steps right in. Lets hope??

Bill

Anonymous said...

If ORH steps up with the incentives, and I mean more than just offering free parking, I wouldn't doubt they'd take a good hard look. (Reduced lease agreements, marketing subsidies...etc.)

My understanding is that they have secured significant incentives from each of the airports they will serve. I'm not sure where these airports are(Mesa, AZ, Rockford, Pensacola)they will be given some serious incentives.

Worcester has to decide, and right quick, whether they want to consider themselves a secondary airport or a major player in the next decade. I have flown several flight commercially out of ORH, and I have been impressed, but that is not to say I couldn't do without.

Look at this past weekend with Festival sponsoring a concert stage, they have a city bus doing promotions and are willing to go the extra mile in marketing. If they could find an airport willing to meet them half way, I'm sure they'd take a good hard look. Use Rockford as the bar for now, and see where they stand 12 months from now!

Bill Randell said...

I calculate the we have over $300,000 in a DOT Grant, lets hope we are showing it to Festival

Anonymous said...

Bill, it there a drop dead date that we must spend that grant money on?

Did I see Sept 07 mentioned somewhere here?


Also, think of how Alleg. woulld feel if we possibly did not offer any or enough incentives to them and then we turn around offer another carrier more incentives just to keep ORH on the comm airline map. Of course Alleg. at this point prob couldnt think any less of Worc after we basically told them dont let the dorr hit ya in the derriere'

My gut still tells me Alleg. approached the City for a subsidy and was turned down.

Bill Randell said...

Jahn:

I do not know how much the DOT ties you down to the Sept. 2007 deadline...

Bill