b'44 PVG GENERAL AVIATION The challenges, however, come at a price. For instance,incubator and continues to influence Foxs operating philosophy. privately owned airports have expenses for property taxes andFor instance, PVG does not run a charter operation. I do not utility infrastructure that most municipal airports do not.compete with a single tenant here, he explains.We pay about $300,000 per year in real estate taxes, FoxHis pitch to tenants and customers is that PVG is operated by shares. We are responsible for 100% of the buildings and utilities.people who understand aviation and the needs of both business We coordinated hook-up to the public sewer and electrical, fireand recreational aircraft ownersand this reinforces their hydrants and internet. The state and feds consider those ineligibleinvestment in the airport.items. However, the state has recently made broadband andAlong with the new mile of runway, there are many different three phase electric power eligible items.sizes and shapes of hangars. Moreover, because PVG is a public-use airport, Fox says heWe have not built just one type, says Fox, noting that PVG must operate 24/7. And we pay to be open, he adds. Virginiahas more than 500,000 total square feet of hangar space. If a Aviation Associates runs the FBO, which operates from 7 a.m. tobusiness outgrows its current space or wants to downsize, there 7 p.m. daily and is a Titan Aviation Fuels distributor and marketer.is likely a space to move into. Economic Incubator Throughout the years, the airport has expanded from having a Just 16 months after the partners purchased PVG, the 9/11 attackshandful of tenants to more than 25 aviation-related businesses, and associated aftermath shook up their vision for the airport.including flight schools, charter operators, aircraft management We went into What can we do for our people? mode and begancompanies, etc. (see Page 41 for others). helping those who were stranded get back, and helping those whoOne of the current tenants, Hampton Roads Charter Service, lost loved ones, Fox recalls. has been based at PVG since 2005. Dave Hynes, its president Moving forward, the mantra of What can we do for ourand co-founder, started the company with the late Andy Gibbs, people? shaped the airports business model as an economicwho later became a partner in Virginia Aviation Associates. After 1-888-AVCON-99 As your trusted partner, AVCON is committed to excellenceSee how AVCON put www.avconinc.com in airport planning and every aspect of airside,the pieces togetherlandside & facilities engineeringNovember | December 2024AirportImprovement.com'