Airports Management

* A year ago the director of Ventura County airports, Rod Murphy, received 7.5% rent increases from the small aircraft owners at Oxnard and Camarillo airports. He also had approved 30% to 60% increases from the aircraft service businesses at our airports.

Now Murphy says he needs even larger rent increases this year. He wants an additional 10% increase for small aircraft owners and an additional 20% to 34% increase in office space rent, landing fees, flight line service fees, etc. In short, he just doesn’t have enough money.

Murphy and the Department of Airports have too many managers and assistants at the top. This overstaffing has played a large part in using up the $5 million reserve we once enjoyed.

Other airports of comparable size and characteristics operate with 50% to 60% fewer people on the payroll. We have a director, assistant director, two airport managers with assistants and several other managers of various functions, although these other airports seem to do quite well with only one manager at the top.

While management remains top-heavy, cuts have been made at the bottom. Thanks to these cuts we no longer have full-time security at either of our airports.

We need a complete overhaul of the Department of Airports, starting at the top. The department needs to be streamlined and brought into the 21st century, and it should not be done at the expense of security or with unnecessary rents and fees increases.

Kathy Long, chair of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors and a member of the Airport Authority, says she is going to have the county operate like a business. Let’s hope Supervisor Long and the other supervisors will require the same of the Ventura County Department of Airports.

ROBERT FOWLER

President

Camarillo Airport

Hangar Owners Assn.

Simi Valley