Competition at airport sticky subject

  Andy Anderson, who owns a large air tour business at the Dare County Regional Airport, spoke to the authority at its monthly meeting Wednesday night about the small tour operators in the terminal, suggesting that the authority consider a policy limiting the number.

  His operation has considerable overhead, is open every day year round and offers a wider array of services, he said. ”I don’t know if i should get special treatment,” he added.

  George Wood suggested that the board appoint a committee to consider the issue, and this is what the authority decided to do. Jack Shea and George Henderson will make up this group.

  The airport engineer reported that the Scarborough Square/cemetery drainage project is almost finished. He said he had asked for a bid on the weir part of this project, and one contractor bid $1,400. He said he expected it to be nearer $1,000. The board authorized him to seek another bid. The board also authorized him to proceed on a required stormwater pollution prevention plan and a spill control plan. Together they will cost a total of $22,460, all of it grant eligible.

  Chairman David Harden said he would be the moderator at Wright Brothes Memorial during the flyoveer at the Dec. 17 First Flight celebration.

 He also presented a letter from the First Flight Society, which hosts the celebration, requesting the authority to provide hangar space for the three T-28 aircraft which will to fly to Manteo and perform a number of special maneuvers and passes over the memorial. The society also asked for 150 gallons of fuel for each of the aircraft. Since fuel would cost the airport about $1,000, the authority decided to provide hangar space and to sell the fuel at cost.

  Robert Benson, airport director, told the authority that there have been bird strikes at the airport, and they would have to mitigate this safety threat.

  The authority wound up the meeting with two closed sessions, one for legal issues and the other for personnel.