BIDDEFORD — The former operator of the Biddeford Municipal Airport said it was a mutual decision between the city and Cumberland and York Aviation for the company to cease operations at the airport.
City Airport Manager Tom Bryand told the Journal Tribune Tuesday that the city began procedures to evict the fixed base operator during the summer, stating that “they were not meeting the terms of their agreement.”
The city decided to allow the company to operate the airport until the end of the year, according to Bryand, but then decided it would take over airport operations.
John Pearsall, owner of Cumberland and York Aviation, said in a telephone interview on Wednesday afternoon that he was not aware of any plans for the city to evict his company.
There were discussions between the two parties about airport operations during the summer, he said.
However, “It was a mutual agreement (for the company) to continue to the end of this year.”
At the of the year, “we weren’t happy, they weren’t happy,” said Pearsall. That’s why, he said, his company is terminating its operation of the airport at the end of 2009.
“We regret that we have to leave,” said Pearsall. “But the bottom line is traffic is very low and it’s not enough to support a FBO (fixed base operator).
“The airport closing controversy, that’s what really hurt the business,” he said.
Pearsall was referring to the November 2008 referendum in which voters were asked whether they wanted to close the city airport. While voters ultimately allowed the airport to remain open, there was a lot of public controversy about the issue leading up to the vote.
Concern that the airport might close, Pearsall said, led to a drop in air traffic there.
“That, coupled with the fact that they won’t allow a longer runway to allow for more traffic and bigger planes” made it difficult for his company to turn a profit, he said.
Pearsall said he tried for three years to “make a go” of his operation of the airport.
“It was just unfortunate” it didn’t work out, he said.
Pearsall said he thinks that the city’s plan to scale back operations and only provide fuel and maintenance services at the airport is the best option, and is most likely all the airport can support.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
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