City approves $2,500 for air partnership

Mesa provided "intrastate twin engine, pressurized cabin planes" and now the area is scrambling to replace that service. Kickbacks or poor foresight?

"...to attract an airline willing to provide intra-state air service in New Mexico"

Uh, we already have one: New Mexico Airlines. Seems to me that I recall their goal was to operate subsidy-free after the initial couple of years...IF THE COMMUNITY WILL SUPPORT IT. Why do we need to use more taxpayer money to try to attract another airline until the one flying 9-seat planes is able to operate subsidy-free?

"Forrest said. "We are not trying to put anyone out of business. There is room for more than one airline."

Actually, Bob, you don't have any experience in the airline industry, so why should we believe anything you say? Fact is, there is NOT room for more than one airline, or we wouldn't have needed a federal subsidy to get the ones we've had, and we certainly wouldn't need a state or local subsidy to get another!

Question: If Mesa Airlines couldn't make a go of it with a subsidy and 19-seat planes, how is Island Air going to do it with 37 seat planes? Makes absolutely no sense. Small towns get small airlines: PERIOD. In our case, that means 9-seat New Mexico Airlines planes.

If there is a market case for airline service here, let the airlines come in at their own expense and prove it.

"the money will be put toward the fees of the aviation consultant"

Oh, great! So we're just paying it to someone to tell us what I just told you for free. If there is suddenly a business case for big-plane airline service to small towns in an era of $4/gal. jet fuel, I'm sure the airlines would already know it, without an expensive consultant to do a study to tell them!

"The expensive Part 139 procedure requires full-time fire fighter coverage at the airport, plus daily and nightly inspections of the airport, which requires additional staff, for passenger planes larger than nine seats landing at the airport. The airports would also be required to have TSA screeners and equipment."

So, MORE money besides the direct subsidies that TEAP is trying to get from the states and towns? A LOT more, it sounds like. Yet, with our current small-plane service, there aren't any such requirements? This just gets better and better.

"Carlsbad deserves better service than we are getting."

How many times have you flown NMA, Bob? I have flown them four times now. Each time, the flight was on time and saved me hours and hours of driving. Their service is fine.

Bob, stick to what you know and stay away from complex subjects you know nothing about...but we all know this isn't the first time you've embarrassed yourself in front of the public. And I'm sure there will be many more.

By the way: I'm in Ohio on business, so don't anyone go flaming in for being an out-of-towner.

Originally posted by JD Raaz on May 13 over at:
http://www.topix.net/forum/source/carlsbad-cu...

There are times when I believe we really should pause and take notice of what is happening in our name, and this is one of them.

Decisions based upon personalities simply have no place in public government. Sound fiscal policy is not too much to ask for. After reading this article some pretty obvious questions come to mind that I believe should be asked. They include, but are not limited to:

Has the Current Argus/County of Eddy/City of Carlsbad confirmed with Island Air that they are ready to enter into this transaction? I see no statement from an Island Air representative regarding their participation.

Will full participation in this venture jeopardize Eddy County/City of Carlsbad’s EAS funding? It was due to Roswell’s subsidizing of American Airlines that they lot their EAS service to Albuquerque. Are we in danger of losing our federal tax dollar subsidized service and creating a system where we are under Roswell’s thumb.

What extra cost is there to the City for required staffing of Fire Department Personnel at the airport due to the use of a 37 seat airplane?

What extra cost might be incurred by the City regarding security and personnel needs at the airport due to the use of a 37 seat airplane?

Has this operation model been used in other regions with similar population and air traffic loads as Eddy County/Carlsbad? Have they been successful? How long has it taken them to operate before they could do so without local tax dollar subsidy?

What will participation mean to Eddy County/City of Carlsbad regarding our present non-subsidized flights to El Paso? Ruidosa? Midland-Odessa?

Does Island Air intend to provide non-subsidized flights to these regions? Others?

Eddy County/City of Carlsbad would have to provide $400,000.00 before Island Air would agree to service Carlsbad. What is the purpose of using LOCAL tax dollars when we are already receiving service to Albuquerque through a federally funded subsidy.

Mr. Armstrong states that Island Air will be providing service from Roswell and Farmington to Albuquerque by Oct. 1. Air Service from Taos is scheduled for December. What guarantees (subsidies) are in place for this service? Can Carlsbad expect to have to compensate at the same rate?

Are the local taxpayers being asked to spend their dollars to subsidize LANL, WTS and other companies comfort so that their executives can fly on near empty planes?

When asked what benefit Eddy County/City of Carlsbad residents would receive from this service Mr. Armstrong replied:“…They also will get there faster. Some people are opposed to the twin engine plane that is not cabin pressurized." Well Mr. Armstrong, I don’t drive a Ford because I prefer my Lexus. However, I don’t ask the taxpayers of Eddy County to subsidize my preference.

Our County Commissioners and City Councilpersons may already have answers to these questions that simply have not been communicated to the citizenry yet. Perhaps there is more logic behind this than I’m seeing at this time. I’m going to take the time and forward these questions to the County Commissioners and City Councilpersons I can reach and perhaps the benefit to Carlsbad will become more clear.

Right now it looks like we are being used as an open-wallet for the benefit of Roswell but I could be wrong. If anyone here can enlighten me as to the positives I would appreciate it.

This retraction will run in the May 15th edition of the Current-Argus:
A front page story in Wednesday’s Current-Argus, headlined “City approves $2,500 for air partnership,” included a quote by Carlsbad Mayor Bob Forrest that was inaccurate. The quote, in the 11th paragraph, should have read “We are not trying to put anyone out of business,” Forrest said.“Carlsbad deserves better service than we are getting,” he added. The Current-Argus regrets the error.

Doggle:

Bob hasn't graduated to computers yet. So he will have to get your message second hand.

Hmmmm Bill Armstrong tells the County Commissioners Island Air is all set to start serving Farmington, Roswell and Taos. Even gives the months service will start.

Days later Jon Hitchcock tells the Carlsbad City Council sevral carriers are in discussion and that no one has committed to serve anything yet.

So which one of them is lying?

Seems like these guys will say anything to push this through. I love how the Current Argus doesn't call them on the conflicting quotes appearing in their own paper.

I have heard that Island Air wants $3M in the BANK before they'll consider starting service.

I am also surprised the C-A hasn't called the prez of Island Air.

Something doesn't smell right. How come so few people can smell it?