On July 20, 2023, Robert DeLaurentis completed the purchase of AJ Eisenburg Airport (KOKH) in Oak Harbor, Washington.
The transaction represented the culmination of Robert’s dream of owning an airport.
And he’s been in a six-month race to resurrect the airport ever since. He’s putting his experience as a 35-year real estate investor/developer to good use.
Since buying KOKH, Robert and his team have:
- Removed the 35-year-old below-ground fuel tanks — and found no leaks by the way
- Started replacing or repairing the building roofs
- Replaced one-third of the hangar doors
- Started repainting
- Contracted for electrical re-wiring in all hangars
- Submitted the appropriate paperwork to designate the airport as international (to be named DeLaurentis International Airport)
- Removed 70 cubic yards of trash
- Removed three junk cars and two junk airplanes
- Launched a new website
- And more, of course
“The airport has been neglected for 20 to 30 years,” Robert told me via a phone call. “Kenmore Air used to operate six flights a day and an FBO from this airport. We were the gateway to the San Juan Islands.”
He hopes that will return, along with Life Flight airplane flights. Today Life Flight only uses KOKH for helicopter operations.
At present the state of Washington’s Department of Transportation rates the runway as “poor.”
From the AirNav website, “RWY 07/25 HAS SVR WEATHERING, RUTTING, AND RAVELING OVER 20% OF THE SFC.”
As a result, Robert requires pilots sign a waiver prior to operating at the airport.
The runway is 3,265 feet x 25 feet. Robert plans to widen it to 35 feet and ultimately lengthen it. Power lines at the end of the runway required a displaced threshold. Those lines have now been buried, eliminating the need for the displaced threshold.
Robert paid $3.1 million for the airport, which is legally owned by the not-for-profit DFF, Inc. He plans to spend $350,000 a year until income from operations will cover the expenses of operating and maintaining KOKH. To help cover the costs of the airport, landing and parking fees are in place.
Above ground tanks are on order and fuel trucks will temporarily service the airport in the meantime. Landing fees will be waived with a fuel purchase of 20 gallons when avgas and Jet-A becomes available.
Once the airport is made safe and functional, Robert looks forward to getting back to flying. He’s been working on the rehab of KOKH six to seven days a week and 10 to 14 hours per day. That’s why he set a six-month goal.
Deciding the best use for the 30 undeveloped acres at the airport will follow the initial push. Hangars will likely be part of the equation, but Robert is also leaning on a team of community members for additional ideas.
He is also starting a not-for-profit flying club and is on the lookout for a good club plane.
“The ultimate goal is to create a blueprint for the other 14,000 private airports so that they are open to general aviation traffic as well,” says Robert.
Airports dot this country, so making KOKH a template for how other privately owned, public use airports can be made safe, functional, and self-funding could pay huge dividends for the nation’s airport infrastructure.
Robert’s dream is almost reality.
And that is cool.
So far this guy has been a menace and a tyrant. He’s created a minimum 20$ landing fee and is charging minimum 100$ a week for the long term tie downs.
He’s single handidly destroyed GA at this airport.
The runway is currently notam closed so you have to call him before arriving and departing. (If he decides to let you depart while still charging fees).
We used to fly into KOKH all the time. I remember my first night approach over water, and my surprise to find out the runway lights were offset 25 feet on either side of the runway. Our wheel span was 20ft. Definitely called for keeping EXACTLY on the runway center all the way down. I’ve flown in there on Harbor Air from SEA a few times as well. Not an easy airport… runway slope and a cliff on the E end. Glad to heare he is planning to widen the runway. Why not move the runway lights to the runway edge? Good luck.
I was one of the first T-Hangar owners at Hick’s Field (T67) near Ft Worth TX and one if the first to build a box Hangar at Ogle County (C55) near Mt Morris, IL. Both experiences were excellent. For the true and involve aviation enthusiasts it is an opportunity for growth and in the long term beats renting.
I wish a similar opportunity existed near the Land Between the Lakes here in Tennessee!
I was of of the first T-Hangar owners at Hick’s Field (T67) in Ft Worth TX around 1990 and built one of the first box hangars at Ogle Cty (C55) Mt Morris, IL around 2008. Both are private airports open to the public. Both were excellent experiences and prove more economical when compared to renting the to true aviation enthusiasts in the long run.
I wish there was another opportunity the Land Between the Lake area of Tennessee!
He has a LOT of work to do. I know owner/operations of small airports and none of them generate enough income to even cover maintenance. Small airports are typically passion projects willingly operated at a loss. Some small airports operated by Port Authorities run at a loss that is covered by other Port Income because of the strategic and safety benefits of having an airport available. That is the case for Jefferson County airport (0S9) in Port Townsend. The county has designated the airport as an essential public facility, and the Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management a has incorporated use of this airport into its emergency management plans. DeLaurentis may want to reach out to City and county officials to establish mutual benefit support arrangements rather than trying to implement high landing fees for pilots. Waiving landing fees when fuel is purchased might eliminate cost concerns for pilots, but only if fuel costs are reasonable. With the price for avgas ranging from $5.99 to $7.49/gallon around Puget Sound, I will continue to visit airports that offer the best possible cost/benefit options for my budget. I hope the airport that DeLaurentis is rehabbing falls onto the attractive side of that list when improvements are completed. If so, I’ll be a regular customer. If not, I have lots of other attractive options. We’re spoiled in the PNW with many fabulous airports to visit, many welcoming pilots with no landing fees, great cafes and spectacular settings for a picnic or a leisurely dog walk.
Outstanding!! If only more well-to-do pilots had this foresight and gumption GA could THRIVE. If I could I wood (financially speaking). But, I’m one of the politically incorrect ,middleclass deplorables who can barely keep fuel in my little plane, pay the taxes on it , etc.
He gets my vote.