FOLEY, Ala. - The Foley City Council unanimously voted Monday to transfer the Fixed Base Operation lease at the Foley Municipal Airport terminal facility from JLS Aviation to Osprey 8 Aviation and to issue a new five-year lease.

    Roger Watkins, owner of Osprey, plans to improve the airport terminal and hopes to attract more people to the city.

    "We can use (the airport) as a springboard to attract people to this area," Watkins said. "Once they get here, if they don't have an attractive facility out there, they might not want to come back."

    Osprey is not running the entire airport itself. Joe Bouzan is the Foley Municipal Airport manager and will continue to hold the title.

    "All I'm doing is taking over the building that people will come in to meet me and buy fuel," Watkins said. "I will just be responsible for inside of the building and what business goes on there."

    The council discussed at the work session whether to give a new five-year lease or keep the existing lease, which would end in Feb. 2012. Watkins said he would rather a long-term lease so he has assurance that when he invests funds into upgrading and improving the terminal facility, the lease will not be given to another company who would reap the benefits of the investments.

    "I've got to do some extensive renovation to make it acceptable," Watkins said.

    The existing lease has four one-year extensions, but the council agreed to give a new five-year lease with the knowledge that there is a 30-day cancelation option from either side.

    "One of the things we want to do is make the airport better but also protect the city," Councilman Ralph Hellmich said at the council meeting.

    Hellmich and the rest of the council continually mentioned the word "change" and supported the change in lease ownership, despite hearing both positive and negative opinions from residents about the idea.

    "Change is a hard thing," Hellmich said. "Hopefully that change will incorporate a lot of good things."

    "This change is coming one way or the other I think," Councilman Wayne Trawick said.

    "If he does what he says he's going to do, it'll be a great airport," Councilman Rick Blackwell said. "Some people are skeptical. Some people don't like change."

    Letter from Osprey owner

    Watkins stated in a letter to The Foley Onlooker that he is excited for the future of the airport terminal and the city and has many improvements in store for the facility.

    "Having been approval by the Foley City Council, to assume the responsibilities of managing the FBO at the Foley Airport, Osprey 8 Aviation will immediately bring a team of hard working, and highly motivated, individuals to re-vitalize the Foley FBO, and restore it to a level of community service for which we can all take pride," Watkins stated in the letter.

    The plans Watkins has for the terminal facility, as stated in the letter, include:

    • a "thorough clean up of the facility, which we feel is essential to making it a professional place in which to do business…You will begin to see an immediate improvement in appearance and customer service."

    • attract more potential tourists to fly to the city rather than drive. "Many private airplane owners enjoy flying to interesting destinations for recreational reasons, just as RV owner’s and motorcycle enthusiasts use their recreational vehicles to visit places of interest," Watkins stated. "With our successful and aggressive marketing efforts, I am confident we can attract an increase of very desirable clientele eager to fly into the Foley Airport for many of the reasons they are now attracted to Jack Edwards Airport in Gulf Shores."

    • a marketing campaign that enhances the attraction of local businesses to tourists. "For example: a pilot planning a flight to the Gulf Coast area will find a web site for the Foley FBO, listing the services we provide, and listing the comments of other visitors who advise one another of their level of customer satisfaction," Watkins stated. "That site will also contain links to the business and service providers of this community. A successful FBO will act similar to a “Vacation or Holiday planer”. If a pilot calls or emails us in advance, we can arrange transportation and reservations for him at local motels, and advise him of suitable restaurants for dining, and activities that might interest them for how ever long they might wish to visit."

    • allowing pilots to land at the airport solely for fuel while taking advantage of a "customer service loaner car" and enjoying a brief stay in the city "for lunch" while the airplane is re-fueled. "Another may wish a rental car and remain overnight or for a more extended stay," Watkins stated. "In anticipation of that, I have already begun to visit restaurants and motel facilities in the community seeking advertisements, and sample menus so we will be able to advise visitors where to dine, seek accommodations, and find desirable recreations and places of interest."