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[tgardnerh]

Since KSGR is owned by the government of Sugar Land, wouldn't it be reasonable for them to insist multiple FBOs be allowed to operate there if it is financially viable?


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[MikeOH]

1 hour ago, tgardnerh said:

Since KSGR is owned by the government of Sugar Land, wouldn't it be reasonable for them to insist multiple FBOs be allowed to operate there if it is financially viable?


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Well, I wouldn't want them to insist.  But, if they are ONLY allowing ONE FBO, then that is the crooked government involvement/favoritism that would make me mad!

[201guy]

Depending on where you live in Houston,  there's the Eagle Lake airport just to the west of Houston.  Hangars run about $225 to $300 a month. Fuel is considerably less than in Houston. Airport was updated last year.  There's the Mooney service shop located there.  Its  Houston Tank Specialists.  They provide full service and repairs as well as striping and resealing the tanks.  Several Mooneys are based there.  One of the owners is a Mooney CFI.

[Mooney Dog]

On 12/23/2021 at 7:49 AM, JayMatt said:

Is there a houston area Mooney group?

With the number of us here (4 now that i know of) we could start a band! 

[1980Mooney]

6 hours ago, 201guy said:

Depending on where you live in Houston,  there's the Eagle Lake airport just to the west of Houston.  Hangars run about $225 to $300 a month. Fuel is considerably less than in Houston. Airport was updated last year.  There's the Mooney service shop located there.  Its  Houston Tank Specialists.  They provide full service and repairs as well as striping and resealing the tanks.  Several Mooneys are based there.  One of the owners is a Mooney CFI.

That’s a good point.  But it is about an hour drive from the west side of Houston and that’s without heavy traffic. It raises the question of how far is someone willing to drive (miles and time) to find a hangar. Time and convenience is worth something. It depends on how much one flies …And have you ever gotten to the hangar only to discover you left something important out of your flight bag? And it depends on how much you do on the plane yourself. Eagle Lake is close to nothing. The closest aircraft supply is near Hobby Airport. I suppose it works for some. 

Edited January 6, 2022 by 1980Mooney

[cliffy]

On 12/26/2021 at 9:20 PM, MikeOH said:

Well, I wouldn't want them to insist.  But, if they are ONLY allowing ONE FBO, then that is the crooked government involvement/favoritism that would make me mad!

A question to ask is-  Does the airport accept Federal money for the upkeep of the airport?

If it does they are required to "allow" any operators to operate on the airport "in conjunction with the airport rules and policies" They can not limit it to only one operator IF someone else wants to open an FBO (legally). If no one wants to open another FBO so be it. 

Who is the official "Airport Sponsor" ? That's the entity to start with with questions AND get a copy of the airport rules and read them

I used to love flying into Weiser Airport but alas the "kids" sold it after the owner died.

 

[1980Mooney]

21 hours ago, cliffy said:

A question to ask is-  Does the airport accept Federal money for the upkeep of the airport? If it does they are required to "allow" any operators to operate on the airport "in conjunction with the airport rules and policies" They can not limit it to only one operator IF someone else wants to open an FBO (legally). If no one wants to open another FBO so be it. 

Who is the official "Airport Sponsor" ? That's the entity to start with with questions AND get a copy of the airport rules and read them

I used to love flying into Weiser Airport but alas the "kids" sold it after the owner died.

Sponsor?- GA airports in Houston are privately owned with the exception of Sugar Land.

Yes KSGR gets some Federal money.  I think there is some for the control tower and grants for improvements.  Also got some CARES Act money.  The City of Sugar Land bought the airport from Dr. Hull in 1990.  Hull started the airport in 1953 when Houston's early urban sprawl consumed his favored airports at South Houston Airport and Sam Houston Airport in the early 1950s.  The KSGR finances, especially capital spending, relies heavily on federal and TexDOT grants.  I feel that the City will sell the land if they ever lose the federal/state funding.  Let's face it, the City will make a much greater return directly (sales, rents and taxes) and indirectly if they turned it into a TopGolf and residential, etc.

And yes that easiest and quickest way to settle an airport estate in Texas is just to sell to a developer.  There is no zoning and no aviation authority to deal with - just a quick sale. Over the last 20+ years, in addition to Weiser Airport, urban sprawl on the west side of Houston has consumed Andrau Airpark (700 acres) and Westheimer Air Park GA airports.  The land has been redeveloped as residential predominantly.

Airports in the West have generally just been a way to use underutilized and undervalued land until it no longer is undervalued.  I suspect in the next 10 years we will see West Houston (KIWS) and Hooks (KDWH) disappear.  The owner/founder of West Houston is in his 70's.  Land around West Houston Airport is now going for $500,000-600,000/acre.  They have about 100 acres.  Add in a nasty divorce, kids, lots of lawsuits from the ex and unhappy tenants.  Do the math - it is just a matter of time.  Hooks was sold by the Hooks family in 1989 to the Gill family.  Growth around Spring, Tomball and Klein has surrounded the once remote airport.  Land is going for $300,000-400,000/acre now.  Another 100 acres.  Just a matter of time.

 

Edited January 12, 2022 by 1980Mooney

[cliffy]

Sounds like the old song- "Its Just a Matter of Time"