Montrose - Daily Press

MONTROSE — Montrose Regional Airport's fixed-base operator won some more time to install a high-capacity fuel tank, though the extension was nowhere near as long as it had hoped.

Jet Center Partners/Black Canyon Jet Center asked the county commissioners to give it until 2014 to install the 12,000-gallon tank. JCP was required under its FBO contract to install the tank by Dec. 31. Commissioners gave the company until June 30, 2010.

"The dynamics changed. They felt they could accomplish what they had committed to without the installation at this time," Commissioner Gary Ellis said.

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Kevin Eagan of JCP/Black Canyon said that because of the economic downturn, the company had no need at present for a large-capacity fuel tank.

"We also set up a very successful and strong supply agreement with Conoco-Phillips Aviation for a supply out of Grand Junction," he said. Through that, JCP can obtain extra fuel as needed. It does not currently have an urgent need for extra fuel onsite.

Eagan said that monthly fuel-fill numbers are provided to the county. He acknowledged the county has the right to turn down extension requests.

At the end of its lease, JCP is obligated to turn over all improvements made to the county, including the high-capacity fuel tank. Eagan said that the time remaining on the 30-year lease was more than enough time to do that.

"It shouldn't have made any difference, as a business decision, whether we put it in now, or in five years," he said. "Our request was simply to delay the installation for five years. It has no economic impact on the county whatsoever."

Comments

a_montrose_resident wrote on Dec 5, 2009 10:40 AM:

" hmmm, from a reliable source, montrose is on track to have a record year for airport traffic. the previous record was set in 2007, with more than 92,500 passengers, at the end of October the airport had more than 81,500 passengers.
a down turn in economy is not a justifiable excuse... "




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a_montrose_resident wrote on Nov 15, 2009 7:03 PM:

" i'd like to see just where all the Traffic is coming from,and what their designatiis IS. how much is fbo related,: i.e., fuel, mechanic services, pit stop, etc. lets just see where all the traffic is coming from, and traveling here for what reason. that just might show where attention should be directed. "




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Jobs wrote on Nov 14, 2009 10:15 PM:

" Fact is Montrose airport has NOT slowed down. It has actually been busier then ever. Refer back to the airport advisory board meeting in august where the airport manager spoke of this years numbers being higher then last year. Enough with the excuses for BCJC. "




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david r crawford wrote on Nov 14, 2009 4:26 PM:

" some facts==many aspects of our industry are slowing down, aviation is not an exception. BCJC has made a real time prudent business decission to save jobs and maintain quality service, not buy a tank that would go unused for the forseeable future. BOCC has simply recognized this as smart for now and has not released BCJC FROM ANYTHING. DRC 2009 "




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Bill Rights wrote on Nov 12, 2009 11:53 PM:

" The Telluride Regional Airport will complete its next phase next year for as a class 3 airport which will included EMAS (end of runway barracades), mountain radar, wider safety zones, longer runways, and a larger terminal. The Montrose airport will simply survive only on the scraps leftover by Telluride. Telluride Ski and Golf will switch monies to the Telluride airport. United and gang will send Q-400 planes to Telluride. The Black Canyon FBO will likely fail to comply even then and the county will have to take over again. "




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Confused wrote on Nov 10, 2009 8:16 AM:

" i'm more confused now than I was before; I know that a bunch of money was spent by the county on lawyers, trying to untangle this "FBO" mess, and now the supposed winner of this battle doesn't want to comply with the contract that they signed? "




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a_montrose_resident wrote on Nov 9, 2009 8:33 PM:

" now, if this article would be in regards to jetaway, there would be some serious retaliation from the general public. but since it is not, it is not much of a big deal, i guess. bcjc seems to be already falling behind their contractual obligations, even with the help of county funds. lets see how this is dealt with, and we'll see how the public reacts to this. "




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Lien wrote on Nov 9, 2009 10:10 AM:

" County Commissioners better put a Lien in black Canyon before they leave them high and dry. "




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forget the tank wrote on Nov 9, 2009 12:43 AM:

" taxpayers pay for that FBO;s fuel, remove the the tanks that are there now. "




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Stan wrote on Nov 8, 2009 4:12 PM:

" Black Canyon Management just got back from a vacation in Orlando, Florida. Seems to me, money would have been better spent on the fuel tank they owe Montrose citizens, verses a plush vacation in Orlando. "




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Title wrote on Nov 8, 2009 12:33 PM:

" should read, County grants brief extension for Defaulted Black Canyon Jet Center FBO fuel tank "




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Future Teller wrote on Nov 8, 2009 10:21 AM:

" In 30 years, the airport will be somewhere else anyway. Its current location is untenable as Montrose grows. So forget about the tank. "




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Economic Boost wrote on Nov 8, 2009 7:32 AM:

" u 2009- Lloyd Arnold reported that both enplanements and deplanements are up
month over month. Enplanements are up 3,978 for the year and deplanements
are up 1,047 for the year. Quit with the excuses Ellis and Egan. Obviously the dynamics did change and there is not an economic downturn at the airport. Quit sprinkling baby powder on Black canyon jet center and change the mess... "




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Reason wrote on Nov 8, 2009 7:21 AM:

" What happened to the very successful and strong supply agreement they had with Air BP??? It helps to pay your bills in a timely manner and fulfill the promises you have shook hands on... "




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wow wrote on Nov 8, 2009 7:14 AM:

" What is this? Get awarded a FBO contract at the airport and decide not to comply with your obligations. 10 to 1 odds between now and June, the minimum standards will be rewritten to not have to have this fuel tank. "




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