Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport

Fort Lauderdale
Executive Airport
National Air Transportation Association
FBO Managers Workshop
Clara Bennett
Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport
FXE Today
West Prospect Road Field
- Built 1941 During WWII One of the Pilots
stationed in Fort
Lauderdale was
George Herbert
Walker Bush. He
was the youngest
commissioned US
Navy Pilot in WWII
and was shot
down over the
Pacific. Later he
became the 41st
President of the
United States
West Prospect Served as a satellite airfield to train US & Royal
Canadian Aviators to fly Grumman TBF, Torpedo Bombers, based at
Fort Lauderdale Naval Air Station
Fort Lauderdale Municipal
Early History
 Operated at a loss –
supported by local taxes
 Land sold to fund airfield
improvements
 Land leased to promote
economic development &
jobs creation
 Encroachment by nearby
residential areas
 1959 Name Change to Fort
Lauderdale Executive Airport
1970s: Key Decisions
 1974 lease-only policy
 Focus on providing facilities and
services required by businesses
and their aircraft
 Selected business leaders for
service on Aviation Advisory
Board
 Diversified Revenue Sources
 FAA ATCT –
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Commissioned 1973
US Customs facility –
Commissioned 1976
ARFF – 1974
FXE Mission
To attract businesses to this area,
help those businesses prosper,
and benefit the community.
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Core Values
Be fiscally responsible
Be a good neighbor
Optimize safety and security
Increase economic development
Grow responsibly
Attracting Businesses
 24-Hour FAA Air Traffic Control
Tower
 All Weather Instrument Landing
System
 5 Fixed Base Operators
 U.S. Customs and Immigration for
International Flights
 24-Hour Aircraft Rescue and Fire
Fighting
 Fort Lauderdale Police and
Contract Security
 Access Controls and Perimeter
Fences and Gates
 Coordination with local economic
development agencies
Notable Accomplishments
 One of the Busiest GA Airports in
the Country, Reliever Status,
150,000 – 200,000 operations/yr,
Primarily a business jet market
 Home to over 600 aircraft
 150 aviation tenants and 447
hangars
 19 Aviation Leases
 23 Non-Aviation Leases
 200-Acre Industrial Airpark, 2 Million
sq. ft. Office, Warehouse & Light
Manufacturing
 Employment Center Providing 5,000
jobs; Collectively the 2nd largest Ad
Valorem Tax Payer in the City
Business Prosperity
 Low to Zero vacancies
 Healthy competitive
environment
 Aviation/Non-Aviation
Synergies
 Low Tenant Turn-over
 All aviation parcels leased
 $18 million in tenant funded
redevelopment in last 5 years
 $23 committed next five
years
 10 tenant lease extensions
Tenant Investment
Benefiting the Community
 Minimize/Eliminate Public
Subsidy
 Minimize Negative
Operational Impacts
 Maintaining Revenue
surpluses
 Coordinate with local
business and civic
groups
 Promote Airport’s
economic impact
 Maintain goodwill with
surrounding community
Programs & Policies
 Regular Minimum
Standards Updates
 Rules & Regs Update
 Interactive Security
Training
 Pilot Safety Workshops &
Briefings
 Runway Safety Program
 Continuous Noise
Program Enhancements
 Security Program
 Coordination with FAA
Flight Standards
 Continuous facility
reinvestments
 Achievements in
Community Excellence
(ACE) Awards
 Driver Safety Awards
 Industry Participation to
promote tenants
 NBAA
 HAI
 NATA
 AOPA
 Annual Tenant Directory
Advertisements in
national aviation
publications
 Wayfinding Program
New ARFF – Station 53
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Continuous Training
Aircraft Recognition
Quarterly Drills
ARFF Recertification
Wayfinding Program
New Air Traffic Control Tower
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102’ Cab Height
Meets New Security Standards
Improved Airfield Sightlines
Improved Location
New Customs Facility
Maintenance Building
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8300 Sq. ft.
LEED Certified – Gold
Adjacent to Existing
Administrative Complex
Challenges
• Achieving Tenant
Compliance
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Registration Process
Minimum Standards
Rules & Regulations
Code Issues
• Getting Tenants
Involved
– Special Events
– Special Workshops/
Meetings
– ACE Awards
– AOA Driver Training
Awards
• Safety Concerns
– Aircraft Accidents
– Surface Incidents/
Runway Incursions
• Noise Issues
– Community
Perception of
General Aviation
– Unrealistic
Expectations
Discussion