sunday, 01/06/2019 pag.a08 copyright (c)2019 sun …...sunday, 01/06/2019 pag.a08 by liz hardaway...

OUR POSITION: Last week’s announcement of $1.7 million state grant to fund a planned aviationmechanics training course in Charlotte County is a win-win for a lot of people.

Dave Gammon, Charlotte County’s interim director of economic development, sure got started on the rightfoot.

Or, you could say his former boss, Lucienne Pears, left the county a nice going-away present.

Either way you look at it, the county should reap huge benefits from the planned aviation mechanics course tobe partially funded by a $1.7 million state grant.

“We’ve been working on this a long time,” said Gammon, who wrote the grant that was sent to the state.“Emily Lewis (the county’s legislative manager) kept track of the grant in Tallahassee and we got a lot of helpfrom Charlotte Technical College.”

What was approved was an aviation mechanics course to be taught at the Punta Gorda Airport. A Florida JobGrowth Grant Fund Workforce Training grant will allow the county and Charlotte Technical College to trainairframe and powerplant mechanics (A& P) — perhaps the only such program in the state. Graduates will beable to fill a great need in the airline industry and have even more opportunity to go

on to earn associates degrees at Florida SouthWestern State College in Punta Gorda or a bachelor’s degreewith Western Michigan University here in Charlotte County.

“This is a game changer for the future of aviation at PGD,” airport CEO James Parish said in a Sun story byLiz Hardaway. “We only see the demand for aircraft mechanics increasing as (the airport) continues to grow.”

The goal is to start classes in the fall of 2020. A certificate will require 2,250 hours of instruction throughCharlotte Technical College, which expects about 50 students in the first class and up to 100 or moreeventually.

“Graduates of the program will drive high-paying, highskilled jobs to the county, fueling economic growthand opportunities in skilled manufacturing and maintenance,” Ken Doherty, chairman of the Charlotte CountyCommission, said in a statement.

Classes will take place at the airport on an existing hangar that will be leased from the PGD. When the coursework is completed and the students pass they will own a license that, according to the Economic DevelopmentOffice and Hardaway’s story, is “often viewed with the same regard that surgeons

are among physicians.”

The future possibilities this training opens up are almost endless. Charlotte County is already home to theWMU pilot-training program. The airport is planning a huge expansion that includes a new terminal for airtraffic other than major commercial carriers such as Allegiant.

Add the partnership with Charlotte Technical College and Florida Southwestern and you likely have themakings of a hub for airline job training that could be the best in Florida, if not the Southeast. WesternMichigan already offers a bachelor of science degree in aviation technical operations, and FloridaSouthWestern offers an associate in science degree in aviation maintenance management.

Successes like this are rare for Charlotte County, which normally has a low profile when it comes to luringmajor state projects or grants. Perhaps that is about to change.

We can certainly count this as a coup for the Economic Development Office, the Punta Gorda Airport andCharlotte Technical College.

Copyright (c)2019 Sun Coast Media Group, Edition 1/19/2019

Airline program a huge boost for our area

OUR VIEW

Sunday, 01/06/2019 Pag.A08

By LIZ HARDAWAY

Staff Writer

The Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) saw more than 1.5 million passengers file in and out of it’s airfield lastyear. This is almost 22 percent more than 2017’s total passenger count, continuing PGD’s reported growtheach year. “This has been an outstanding year for the Punta Gorda Airport,” said Charlotte County AirportAuthority Chair Pam Seay. “Not only have we welcomed more travelers to Charlotte County, we’vecontinued strong revenue streams, increased our cash reserves and made great progress on importantairport

projects.”

PGD saw 131,423 passengers in December, a 2.36 percent increase from December 2017. The other monthsin 2018 increased from 13.21 percent, to 36.07 percent, compared to the year before. Each month had anaverage growth of 22.85 percent, higher than 2017’s average monthly growth of 15.02 percent from 2016.

“We look forward to projects that will further improve the commercial passenger experience, fromexpanding parking to making the terminal curbside safer and the roadways more efficient,” said PGD’sCEO, lames Parish.

As for 2019, the airport authority will continue working toward the rehabilitation and expansion ofrunways 15-33 and 14-22, and “will break ground on a new General Aviation Center,” PGD spokespersonKaley Miller said.

The terminal will be for private and civilian aviation, separate from the Bailey Terminal, which houses allcommercial flights with Allegiant at PGD.

The airport also increased the number of commercial aircraft spaces from seven to 10 as well as decreasedpassenger wait times by opening an additional TSA security screening area. The airport authority alsoapproved

a resolution in September to increase passenger facility charges from $2 to $4.50 per passenger.

PGD closed out this fiscal year with a positive financial picture, involving more than $10 million inreserves, $14.5 million in revenue and had $10.3 million worth of expenses.

E-mail: Lhardawayisisun-herald.com


PGD hits its highest height

Passengers fly through Punta Gorda Airport in 2018 more than ever

Thursday, 01/10/2019 Pag.A02

By BETSY CALVERT

STAFF WRITER

For those who have wondered whether the planned Sunseeker resort will happen, a preview center will opennext month at the construction site along U.S.

41.

Allegiant Travel Company President John Redmond announced the imminent opening of this temporarystructure — which has the numerical address 4949 etched on the building — and other

project updates, before an audience of 700 people Monday at the Charlotte Harbor Event and ConferenceCenter. Allegiant owns Sunseeker. Redmond was the keynote speaker for the Punta Gorda planningconference called “Journey to the

SUN PHOTO BY BETSY CALVERT

A north looking view of Sunseeker resort’s preview center under construction on US-41.

Future.”

After his presentation, a crowd gathered to shake his hand, and offer suggestions or requests, such as bringingback flights to Long Island.

Punta Gorda resident Joan Janer said she was impressed with Sunseeker’s plans, and so were others. “Whatimpressed me most was the green growing on the roof, and the water quality treatment,” she said. Redmonddescribed how the roof of the conference center will have a garden with herbs and vegetables for therestaurants. And all the water runoff will be filtered before it goes into the harbor.

Redmond was even more complimentary, saying the Punta Gorda Airport is one of his favorites of all the 120that Allegiant now serves.

“This airport here is at the top of the list,” he said. The reassuring thing, he said, is that this airport is ready toexpand from its current 1.5 million passengers with Allegiant to 2 million next year and 5 million in thefuture.

For the resort, construction has already begun on the 22-acre site west of U.S. 41 at the bridge over CharlotteHarbor. But construction so far has been on underground utilities, or on converting the county’s old one laneMain Street.

“People are saying, ‘When are you going to be started?’” Redmond said. His first answer is, “We’ve beendoing a lot of work.”

Redmond told the Sun he expects site plans for above ground construction to be submitted to the county inthe coming days or week. More information on the company’s financial status will be presented in Allegiant’snext shareholder report at the end of the month, he said.

Work on visible structures will begin this spring, he said. By summer 2020, they’ll be taking job applications,he said, for an estimated 650 jobs in hospitality.

The project is expected to cost about $420 million, the company announced this fall.

The first thing people may notice above ground, Redmond told the Sun in a later interview, is about 2,000pilings sticking out of the ground. These are the pilings for two condominium towers

and a hotel, all of which will be nine stories, starting 16 feet above ground. Sunseeker’s grand plan includesnine condominium towers, but it is starting with just two and a hotel for 500 hotel rooms and 180condominiums. It is allowed up to 1,495 units.

These first structures will be located in the southern tip of the development, he said, closest to the bridge andin the narrowest part of the property. Part of the 1,000-foot pool may go in the first phase, he said, and a largepart of the 2,150foot seawall and public harborwalk.

Construction laws today require any new building along the waterfront to be above a certain level to protectpeople from flooding. So cars will be parked under the buildings at ground level. The first floor of thesebuildings will be commercial space, including restaurants, which will all be new brands rather than chains,Redmond said.

A conference center with a ballroom holding up to 700 people will have glass walls overlooking the harbor,Redmond told the audience. The resort and the conference center should help other hotels in the area, ratherthan hurt them, he said.

Redmond shared the environmental contributions that the resort will offer. Right now, he said, constructionworkers are digging out old septic systems from properties that are now demolished. The resort will have afull sewer and water treatment system, increasing water quality standards by 733 percent, an environmentalreport stated.

“All of the water that hits the site now just runs into the harbor,” he said.

The resort will employ a central heating and cooling plant for higher efficiency, and all the lighting will beLED.

As for flood control, he said, the new sea wall will mean that the site will no longer be considered the highestflood risk.

Email: [email protected]

A rendering of the planned Sunseeker resort along Charlotte Harbor.

PROVIDED BY ALLEGIANT

The Sunseeker project footprint along Charlotte Harbor in 2018.

SUN FILE PHOTO

A view of the Sunseeker property with the U.S. 41 bridge in the distance in August, 2018.

SUN FILE PHOTO

REDMOND


You can sneak peek Sunseeker soon

Resort preview center coming next month in Charlotte Harbor

Wednesday, 01/09/2019 Pag.A01

mailto:[email protected]

By LIZ HARDAWAY

Staff Writer

The Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) saw more than 1.5 million passengers file in and out of it’s airfield lastyear. This is almost 22 percent more than 2017’s total passenger count, continuing PGD’s reported growtheach year. “This has been an outstanding year for the Punta Gorda Airport,” said Charlotte County AirportAuthority Chair Pam Seay. “Not only have we welcomed more travelers to Charlotte County, we’vecontinued strong revenue streams, increased our cash reserves and made great progress on importantairport

projects.”

PGD saw 131,423 passengers in December, a 2.36 percent increase from December 2017. The other monthsin 2018 increased from 13.21 percent, to 36.07 percent, compared to the year before. Each month had anaverage growth of 22.85 percent, higher than 2017’s average monthly growth of 15.02 percent from 2016.

“We look forward to projects that will further improve the commercial passenger experience, fromexpanding parking to making the terminal curbside safer and the roadways more efficient,” said PGD’sCEO, lames Parish.

As for 2019, the airport authority will continue working toward the rehabilitation and expansion ofrunways 15-33 and 14-22, and “will break ground on a new General Aviation Center,” PGD spokespersonKaley Miller said.

The terminal will be for private and civilian aviation, separate from the Bailey Terminal, which houses allcommercial flights with Allegiant at PGD.

The airport also increased the number of commercial aircraft spaces from seven to 10 as well as decreasedpassenger wait times by opening an additional TSA security screening area. The airport authority alsoapproved

a resolution in September to increase passenger facility charges from $2 to $4.50 per passenger.

PGD closed out this fiscal year with a positive financial picture, involving more than $10 million inreserves, $14.5 million in revenue and had $10.3 million worth of expenses.

E-mail: Lhardawayisisun-herald.com


PGD hits its highest height

Passengers fly through Punta Gorda Airport in 2018 more than ever

Thursday, 01/10/2019 Pag.A02

Full flights fuel airport growth

They just keep coming. While you may be tired of reading about a record number of passengers flying intothe Punta Gorda Airport each month/ year, you may as well get used to it. There is no end in sight for thesuccess of Allegiant Airlines’ foray into the Southwest Florida market via Punta Gorda.

Last week the Charlotte County Airport Authority announced the passenger count for 2018

set a record at 1,577,164. That is about a 22 percent increase over the 1.2 million in 2017. It was punctuatedby 131,423 passengers flying into Punta Gorda in December — an improvement of 2.36 percent overDecember 2017.

Anyone who wonders why the Airport Authority is so cozy with Allegiant needs only to embrace thosenumbers and listen to Airport Authority Board Chair Pam Seay.

“This has been an outstanding

year for the Punta Gorda Airport,” Seay said in a press release. “Not only have we welcomed moretravelers to Charlotte County, we’ve continued strong revenue streams, increased our cash reserves andmade great progress on important airport projects.”

In other words, they are swimming in cash. And Allegiant, the airport’s only commercial carrier, gets thecredit.

The airport’s success seems to have

no ceiling. If you believe Allegiant Travel Company President John Redmond, we’ll need to expand theterminal in the next couple of years.

Redmond told a crowd in Punta Gorda last week that, with the help of Allegiant’s planned SunseekerResort, the airport should be expanding from 1.5 million passengers to 2 million next year and 5 million inthe future.

We better get used to those monthly reports on ever-increasing passenger counts.


Monday, 01/14/2019 Pag.A06

By LIZ HARDAWAY

STAFF WRITER

This is the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history, but it’s not affecting region airports verymuch.

Two main concerns were Transportation Security Administration wait times and air traffic control, both ofwhich have been unaffected by the shutdown in Punta Gorda, according to Punta Gorda Airport spokespersonKayley Miller.

PGD is a part of TSA’s Screening Partnership Program, which contracts security screening services atcommercial airports to qualified private companies.

PGD contracts ISS Action Security for their security.

“It made sense for PGD to work with one of TSA’s private contractors,” said PGD manager of facilities

and security Raymond Laroche. “It provided for more flexibility in scheduling shifts for a small-hub airportlike ours.”

The airport also uses a private contractor, Robinson Aviation, Inc., for its air traffic controllers. Thiscontractor is a part of the Federal Contract Tower Air Traffic Controller network which are typically used insmaller operations, such as PGD.

The only thing that might be of concern is permitting for long-term projects to renovate the airport.

“We have long-term projects in the permitting pipeline, but we don’t predict we’ll see operational issues withthe government shutdown in the near future,” Miller said.

But none of these AP PHOTO

Travelers wait at a security checkpoint at Miami International Airport, Friday, where there are TSAemployees working without pay.

projects are being held up due to the government shutdown, PGD CEO James Parish said.

Other airports nearby also say they haven’t been affected, although some of their workers are going unpaid.

Similar to PGD, the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport uses contract screeners through the TSAScreening Partnership Program, who are currently being paid. But SRQ also has three TSA staff that overseethe screeners that are not getting paid.

The air traffic controllers at SRQ are federal employees, said SRQ chief operating officer Mark Stuckey. Theyare not being paid and are currently staffing the tower.

“We have not had any security line issues,” Stuckey said. “There has been no interruption in air trafficcontrol.”

“So far, we are seeing normal operations and normal processing times at our TSA security lanes,” TampaInternational Airport spokesperson, Emily Nipps said.

“Our FAA air traffic control tower has also been operating as usual.”

TSA reported an average wait-time of 17 minutes for standard check-in at TPA and 3 minutes for TSA Pre-Check for Jan. 18. TSA also experienced a national rate of 6.4 percent of unscheduled absences that day,compared to a 3.8 percent rate one year ago.

Many employees across the country reported that “they are not able to report to work due to financiallimitations,” according to TSA in a statement.

“We have not heard of any reduced staff or people calling in sick at either TSA, FAA or Customs,” Nippssaid. “We don’t have an answer for how long it would take until workers begin calling in absences or quitting.I can tell you we’re keeping an eye on the situation daily and we continue to have a food pantry/assistancecenter open for our workers who need it.”

Southwest Florida International Airport spokesperson Vicki Moreland said their airport is also notexperiencing any issues.


The air traffic control is not affected by the shutdown due to Punta Gorda Airport hiring privatecontractors to do air traffic control.

PHOTO PROVIDED


Shutdown’s effect minimal at our airports, so far

But there are other ways you’re impacted

Saturday, 01/19/2019 Pag.A01


By BETSY CALVERT

STAFF WRITER

Ten dollars is not enough to charge the city of Punta Gorda for 6,916 feet of water and sewer lines,Commissioner Christopher Constance told his fellow board members Tuesday.

Not when the county’s Economic Development Office secured the $800,000 grant to pay for it, he said.

“We paid sweat equity,” he said. “How is the city paying us back?

If we’re not going to get that now, we can lease

it to them for a dollar a year. When they start operations and they’re getting in revenue, they pay us backuntil we’ve received the value of that pipeline.”

Constance agreed to postpone what was an expected rubber stamp signature on the transfer of ownership ofroadway from the county to the city for $10.

The pipelines were paid for by a Florida Job Growth Infrastructure grant to promote economic developmentin the area around the Punta Gorda Airport.

A 12-inch water line runs under one side of Piper

Road from Henry Street to U.S. 17. An 8-inch sewer line runs along the other side.

The idea was to install the lines while the road was already dug up for construction.

“This was discussed for a long time,” Commissioner Joe Tiseo said, who questioned Constance’s move.

“I thought it was in concert with the overall good of the system, and to enhance the road when the ditch wasopen, so to speak.”

“We’re awaiting the future conveyance to the utility provider for future maintenance,” said Punta Gordacommunications manager Melissa Reichart.

Asked if the city had expected to pay for the pipe, she said, “We’re anticipating that this would happen inthe way that it usually does when a utility project is put in, that the ownership of that is turned over tomaintenance.”

Commission Chairman Ken Doherty advised his board to wait.

“It would be prudent to table this for two weeks,” he said.

“Let’s just refresh our memories as to what we all did, and what we thought we agreed to previously.”



Commissioner objects to a giveaway to Punta Gorda

Should city pay county for grant-funded waterline?

Saturday, 01/26/2019 Pag.A10



By LIZ HARDAWAY

STAFF WRITER

Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)

The airport has not experienced any weather-related cancellations, spokesperson Kaley Miller said.

For morning departures, travelers are encouraged to arrive two hours early.

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) All arrivals and departures were showing to be on time as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Mark Stuckey, SRQ’s senior vice president.

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) Some flights are canceled today to Chicago, Baltimore, St. Louis and Milwaukee.

Tuesday, the airport experienced flight cancellations and delays due to inclement weather.

How to check your flight status Look on your airport’s website and click “flight information.” Always check your flight status before making the trek to the airport. Email: [email protected]

Most flights cleared for takeoff, despite cold weather

Wednesday, 01/30/2019 Pag.A06


sunday, 01/06/2019 pag.a08 copyright (c)2019 sun …...sunday, 01/06/2019 pag.a08 by liz hardaway...

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