In the weeks before SUN ’n FUN opened, fly-in officials found themselves scrambling after the FAA told them the estimate for air traffic control services at this year’s event would be a whopping $325,000.
That’s a big difference from last year’s bill of $202,000.
“We told them we can’t survive,” recalls SUN ’n FUN President John “Lites” Leenhouts, adding he told FAA officials “you will literally put us out of business.”
And so began some negotiations.
Leenhouts, working with Gene Conrad, manager of Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport and other local officials, asked if the locals could arrange the hotel rooms for the controllers, instead of the FAA, which was paying close to $300 a night per room.
“We can get the same rooms at another hotel for $130 night,” Leenhouts said.
Then the locals offered to arrange the rental cars, which saved even more money.
Next they looked at the staffing levels and determined that full staffing wasn’t needed on the Sunday before the show.
“So we cut down the number of days needed, which cuts down the number of people,” he said. “Then we were able to manage the travel costs associated with cars and hotel rooms and that brought the price down to approximately $282,000.”
And there is the possibility — a slim possibility — that they won’t have to pay the bill.
That’s because an amendment was added to the Senate FAA reauthorization bill that would require the FAA to pay all the costs for air traffic control services at fly-ins, such as SUN ’n FUN and this summer’s AirVenture.
Leenhouts credits Experimental Aircraft Association President/CEO Jack Pelton for the amendment.
“It’s about time we put a request in for sainthood for Jack,” he said. “He does have a team, but that was Jack Pelton working as hard as any man with a passion for aviation could ever do — calling on the Senate and calling upon common sense to prevail.”
As part of his lobbying efforts, Pelton pointed out to lawmakers that the FAA is not supporting the airshows — rather the agency is responsible for safe air travel.
“We just happen to have an event that requires more air travel and it should be looked upon as they are not supporting an air show,” Leenhouts expounded. “They are not doing that at all. The government is there to support safe air travel. That’s what we have a lot of. They understand; that’s the part they get.”
Of course, no one knows if the amendment will survive the lawmaking process, but Leenhouts noted that SUN ’n FUN officials are hoping that if it does, the requirement will be made retroactive to cover this year’s show.
“That’s yet to be determined,” he said. “I’d say the odds are not high, but I will still hope.”
Absolutely the FAA should be paying for the controllers at Sun n Fun and AirVenture, but in all fairness, there are many inaccuracies in the article. The actual cost for the FAA controllers in 2015 was $282,000. The reimbursable this year started at $323,000 and we reduced it by more than $30,000 by getting the controllers set up in a different hotel and some other efforts. The rate last year for rooms was $200 per night not $300 and this year at the new hotel it was $150 per night.
In reference to the comment about using contract controllers, in my professional opinion there is no other way to run an event like Sun n Fun or AirVenture without the FAA’s involvement. These two events are very complex and as safety is of the utmost importance if it isn’t broke…
Also, the FAA brings a contingent of 62 controllers to Sun n Fun and I believe close to 90 to AirVenture. There is a true and real need for every single one of them and I know this as I have first hand knowledge of how these two events operate from an air traffic perspective. I was born in Oshkosh and my father ran Wittman Regional Airport from 1975 to 1987. This year I will be attending my 40th AirVenture and I just completed my seventh Sun n Fun as Airport Director for Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.
We look forward to seeing you all at Sun n Fun 2017!
Gene Conrad
First off it seems to me the FAA should be paying for these events. Second, why hasn’t EAA or Sun n Fun used private ATC services?
This whole thing is crazy. We are starting to look like user fee countries where General Aviation is so small, as a result of fees, that it barely exists!
This is why I fly to Blakesburg if I want to enjoy a flying event. I could jump up on stump and rant on for hours, but why bother. We brought this type of action upon ourselves by not standing up to the government goons in the first place.
I must say that sure felt good!! Nuff said.
$300 per night for a hotel room. Did they also have chauffered limos? And why an army of them as shown in the group photo?
The Government motto, ” why use 10 people when we could use a 100, we’re not paying…”
It is a treat as a controller to work the big shows.. It is really fun to work without paying close attention to the book.. If it will work, do it.. Have a ball..
I worked RFD/OSH tower for 18 years EAA week. What a great time.