Chapter 222

Eric and Frank arrived a few minutes later. Marcy and I, along with the three of them went to the office for a private meeting. The big meeting table was covered with the latest drawings of the airport - our hanger and the terminal building. There were also several aerial photos of the property.

Frank and Eric went right to the print of the airport and studied it intensely.

"I see the rumors are true. You are building one heck of a private airport. You found all the loopholes and where there were none, invented a few. I am proud of you - a group of people after my own heart," Frank said.

"You knew that our facility in Delaware has been compromised by aggressive development but not that we were looking for a new place to move operations. This place - surrounded on three sides by woods and then by thousands of acres of farm land that is in the conservation program – is a perfect choice for a private airport," Frank added.

"Good runway length and width but needs to be thicker. Would you be interested in leasing the agency a few acres for a hanger and a building, for adequate compensation to make the changes we might need?" he asked. "There are a couple things that we would add, but they could be used by the tower for all flights."

"I need to call Lorrie up here; the aviation department is her baby. She needs to be a part of the decision making process," I replied. "Let me call the engineer to see what we would need to make the changes you want," I replied.

Tony and Kathy were on their way to the office to add today's productivity to the charts and graphs. While we were waiting Frank explained what he needed. He came prepared; he had a list from his people.

Then Eric spoke up, "The Island Airport investigation is coming to an end; it is going before a judge in 10 days. The county airport is going to lose the emergency assignment," then he continued.

"We need an airport in this area for emergencies - your airport, even being private; will more than meet the requirements with some changes. You would receive annual DHS grants to help maintain equipment to the standards. The fines and restitution the county will have to pay I can direct to this airport to offset the construction changes. Here is the list. You will need to be in the judge's chambers when we negotiate the final settlement."

Tony and Kathy knocked on the door and walked in.

"Tony, work up a price on changing the runways from 12 inches to 18 inches and add a duplicate of our hanger here with the addition of office space as shown on this drawing. Add a cross taxiway between the runways here, here and here," as I handed them another drawing.

"Then figure the cost and add pads at the end of this runway for an ILS system on both ends. Add the cost for a pad over there to meet this spec drawing over there. (The hand scribbled notation said Doppler radar tower.) Also price and build a tower to the specs here on the spot you designated. Finally, increase the fuel farm to 150000 gallons and price emergency generators for all buildings and the fuel farm. The gentlemen are going to pick up the tab for part or all of it," I said.

Tony looked at me, raised his eyebrows and said, "Wow, we will have to work that up tomorrow."

Frank handed me a contract proposal for the hanger lease, "Have Jenny look this over - I think you will find the terms favorable."