A significant dispute has escalated at the Allen County Regional Airport, where a long-term tenant, Black Horse Aviation, has reached a critical juncture regarding its hangar rental agreements. This growing frustration highlights underlying tensions between private businesses and local governance over operational policies at the airport.
Black Horse Aviation, a Kansas City-based firm renowned for aircraft paint refinishing and polishing, recently announced its decision to relinquish its substantial rented hangar space. This move follows a period of escalating disagreement over stringent airport lease policies, leading the company to vacate half of its six T-hangars, signaling a significant reduction in its investment at the facility.
Vince Hill, owner of Black Horse Aviation, articulated his deep-seated frustrations during a recent interview, detailing an 11-year history of investment and partnership that now faces substantial withdrawal. Hill cited a series of concerns with county leadership and their approach to managing the airport’s facilities and tenant relations, which he claims has eroded his confidence.
The discord publicly flared during a May 13 county commission meeting, where Commissioner David Lee critically questioned the established monthly rental rate of $375 for airport hangars. This public inquiry brought the existing rental policies under intense scrutiny, underscoring the differing perspectives on fair pricing and operational costs within the county’s purview.
In defense of the stated fee, an airport official, Poydack, asserted that the $375 rate was benchmarked against comparable airports within a 200-mile radius, arguing its competitive nature. He explained that while market rates in larger cities like Kansas City might command significantly higher prices, the local economic conditions justified the current structure, especially considering that tenants are responsible for utility costs.
A primary flashpoint in the ongoing disagreements centers on the assignment of a new 50×50 box hangar. Mr. Hill contends that he expressed interest in this specific space over a year ago, anticipating priority access given his tenure and his position on the official hangar waiting list, a common practice at most aviation facilities globally.
Hill emphasized the standard protocol observed at airports worldwide, where available hangars are offered sequentially to individuals on a waiting list. He was initially assured that this established order would be followed when new hangars became available, leading him to believe he would be the first to be contacted for the desired space.
Contrary to his expectations and the supposed waiting list protocol, the newly available hangar was instead offered to Scott Tholen, a local resident and owner of Home Safe Aviation LLC, a company specializing in aircraft maintenance. This decision was particularly vexing for Hill, who had previously extended support to Tholen by providing one of his own hangars to help foster another aviation business at the airport, highlighting a perceived lack of reciprocity and fairness.
The ongoing Black Horse Aviation dispute underscores a critical need for transparent and consistently applied hangar rental policies and allocation procedures at the Allen County Regional Airport. This situation serves as a significant case study on how local governance and business relations can impact investment and operational stability within regional economic hubs.
