PSA for anyone coming to Tampa area

[Grant_Waite]

Since the Mooney Summit is approaching, I want to give everyone a heads-up about recent changes affecting all Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) run airports: KTPA, KTPF, KVDF, and KPCM.

 

The county has implemented a new rule requiring any outside mechanic or service provider to submit an application to Hillsborough County for approval before being granted access to airport facilities. This will and already has negatively impacted the tenants of Tampa Exec. 

 

At Tampa Exec in particular, there is only one on-field mechanic. I’ve relied on a trusted mobile mechanic—formerly the manager of one of the local flight school shops—for most of my maintenance. However, under the new policy, any mechanic must now carry a $1 million dollar liability insurance policy as well as specific hangar liability coverage to even be considered for access.

 

This restriction can cause significant problems. For example, tonight I noticed a Baron that had returned this Friday to the field. Unfortunately, it looks to have suffered a nose gear collapse on landing, damaging both engines and props. In that situation, the owner has no real options: he’s limited to the one on-field shop, which is already overwhelmed, and bringing in outside help has become so tedious who the hell would want to work with the FBO. 

 

This policy applies across all four HCAA airports. Two of them (KTPF and KPCM) are managed by Atlas Aviation, which although I don’t love, seems to be a bit more pro GA than Skyport, the FBO that currently runs Tampa Exec. Many tenants were hoping Atlas would take over Tampa Exec, but Skyport somehow won the contract for a second time.

 

The impact on tenants has been overwhelmingly negative. The one existing mechanic on the field opened his shop only a few years ago and is very capable, but his space is shared with the largest flight school on the airport. With limited capacity, the workload ratio is easily one mechanic to 200 tenants. The county has restricted all maintenance activity to that single hangar, preventing new shops from opening. They have built one new bulk hangar and are planning to build another. Space is not an issue, it’s them not caring or willing to put the effort forth to keep GA going. They have yet to build any new shade or enclosed hangars in over a decade. They’ve sure as hell have been doing construction non stop for the last 4 years, mainly to benefit the high dollar jets coming in. 

 

That leaves mobile mechanics, like the one I’ve used, as the only practical alternative. He currently works for a large avionics and maintenance company but started his own mobile business with hopes of eventually opening a dedicated GA shop. He’d like to open a shop for airframe and avionics work, but despite months of requests, the FBO has refused to provide him even a small space. The opportunity for growth at KVDF is obvious to everyone except the FBO and county, who continue to push policies that work against GA.

 

I’d hate for someone visiting Tampa to find themselves stranded over a minor maintenance issue, unable to get timely help. Aviation is supposed to be enjoyable, but dealing with an airport system that feels anti-GA and anti-business takes much of that enjoyment away.

 

Finally, a word of advice: avoid the $7/gal avgas at the HCAA airports. Instead, stop at KZPH, just 15 minutes from KTPF, where fuel is closer to $5/gal and the atmosphere is much more welcoming.

[Yetti]

It's all FAA stuff, but the FAA has maintained that equal access for airports that accept FAA dollars.    What's the penalty for non compliance with the policy?  It's kind of hard to penalize someone that does not have a relationship.   Not a lawyer did not stay at Holiday Inn ever.   Mostly Hilton products. 

[Paul Thomas]

7 minutes ago, Yetti said:

It's all FAA stuff, but the FAA has maintained that equal access for airports that accept FAA dollars.    What's the penalty for non compliance with the policy?  It's kind of hard to penalize someone that does not have a relationship.   Not a lawyer did not stay at Holiday Inn ever.   Mostly Hilton products. 

In FL, the airport will threaten you with trespassing. Some cops may even arrest you for it but the charges won't hold because you were invited by a tenant... so they'll kick out the tenant. My airport writes it in my lease that I'm not allowed to have non-approved contractors on the field, that even include things such as someone to wash my airplane, not just mechanics.

[Schllc]

While I believe the entire insurance industry is broken from top to bottom, I don’t see a $1,000,000 liability policy as a high bar, it cannot possibly be that expensive, and owners should demand it as well.  I would not want someone uninsured doing repairs to my plane. 
 

add on….

adding a specific certificate holder for a hangar or owner is usually provided at no charge, or for a nominal fee, it protects owners. 
the onerous nature of airports in Florida is no lost on me. The city that owns our airport property is earnestly trying to close the airport. 
a hyper vocal minority is driving the case, but no one shows up for the other side of the argument so it moves forward. 
they have put a moratorium on all development on the field and have voted to immediately cease accepting FAA grants. 
they are also proposing to eliminate base tenant fuel discounts, and to start charging landing fees. The future does not look bright for GA.

[Grant_Waite]

1 hour ago, Yetti said:

It's all FAA stuff, but the FAA has maintained that equal access for airports that accept FAA dollars.    What's the penalty for non compliance with the policy?  It's kind of hard to penalize someone that does not have a relationship.   Not a lawyer did not stay at Holiday Inn ever.   Mostly Hilton products. 

They will trespass or ban you. They did ban someone from ever entering all 4 airports but he’s the type of guy that probably shouldn’t have been there. Not the greatest mechanically. I saw him change the engine of a 140 in the middle of the night in one of the shade hangars. He’s the only one though who has ever operated in such a careless manner. After that whole debacle, they deactivated the gate key entry pads. We all had to give them every bit of information besides our ss number to get these newer lanyard type cards that open the gates. People have still supposedly reported items stolen. If they’d just have an overnight security patrol, they could easily eliminate that issue. The HCSO hangar is by me and they do patrol randomly on a utv at night when it’s slow but it not their primary priority. 

[mike_elliott]

Thank you for sharing this detailed heads-up about the recent changes at the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) airports—it's always helpful to hear perspectives from fellow pilots and tenants to stay informed. As someone involved with the Mooney Summit, I appreciate the opportunity to provide some additional context, especially since our event is approaching on September 12-13, 2025, at Peter O. Knight Airport (KTPF) and Tampa International Airport. We value the GA community and want to ensure everyone has a positive experience, so I'll address a few of the key points Grant raised in a constructive way.

First, regarding the new requirements for outside mechanics and service providers to carry $1 million in liability insurance and name the airport as an additional insured: This is becoming a standard practice at many airports across the country, including those managed by various authorities, to help protect public infrastructure, other users, and the broader aviation ecosystem. It's a measure aimed at ensuring accountability and safety in shared spaces. For the Mooney Summit specifically, we're proud that Mooney Summit, Inc. already meets these requirements through our event liability coverage. Importantly, our focus is solely on education, seminars, and fostering fellowship among Mooney owners and enthusiasts—we're not performing any aircraft maintenance or repairs. This keeps things straightforward and compliant, allowing us to concentrate on what we do best: building connections and sharing knowledge in a supportive environment.

On the topic of fuel prices, it's true that avgas tends to run higher at airports in larger metro areas like those under HCAA compared to more outlying fields— this is a common trend driven by factors such as higher operational costs, demand, and location premiums. For instance, self-serve prices at places like Zephyrhills Municipal (KZPH) are often more competitive, as you've noted. However, for attendees flying into KTPF for the Summit, the convenience of being right in the heart of Tampa can outweigh the difference, especially when factoring in alternatives like Uber or ground transport from farther afield (which could easily exceed any fuel savings). To make it even more accessible, our host FBO at KTPF, Atlas Aviation, has generously offered a special fuel discount for Summit participants. This gesture reflects their commitment to supporting GA events and helping keep costs manageable for visitors.

Finally, concerning the challenges for mobile mechanics like your trusted contact in renting hangar space to establish a dedicated shop: I completely understand how frustrating it can be when growth opportunities feel limited, and it's disappointing to hear about the difficulties in expanding on-field services. We can't dive into the specifics publicly here on the MooneySpace forum out of respect for ongoing discussions and policies, but Grant, if you (or anyone else) decide to register and attend the Summit, I'd be more than happy to personally introduce you to the appropriate contacts who could explore reasonable options for hangar availability or shop setup. Our event is a great networking opportunity, and we're all about facilitating positive outcomes for the community.

Overall, while I recognize the valid frustrations with some aspects of airport management and FBO operations, the Mooney Summit is designed to celebrate the joy of flying and better the breed of Mooney pilots in a welcoming setting. Hillsboro County Aviation Authority, KTPF and Atlas Aviation have been fantastic partners, creating an atmosphere that's pro-GA and focused on education rather than maintenance hurdles. We'd love to see you there—registration is open at www.MooneySummit.com, and it's a fantastic chance to connect, learn, and perhaps even address some of these broader concerns in person.

Fly and be safe

[Grant_Waite]

3 minutes ago, mike_elliott said:

Thank you for sharing this detailed heads-up about the recent changes at the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) airports—it's always helpful to hear perspectives from fellow pilots and tenants to stay informed. As someone involved with the Mooney Summit, I appreciate the opportunity to provide some additional context, especially since our event is approaching on September 12-13, 2025, at Peter O. Knight Airport (KTPF) and Tampa International Airport. We value the GA community and want to ensure everyone has a positive experience, so I'll address a few of the key points Grant raised in a constructive way.

First, regarding the new requirements for outside mechanics and service providers to carry $1 million in liability insurance and name the airport as an additional insured: This is becoming a standard practice at many airports across the country, including those managed by various authorities, to help protect public infrastructure, other users, and the broader aviation ecosystem. It's a measure aimed at ensuring accountability and safety in shared spaces. For the Mooney Summit specifically, we're proud that Mooney Summit, Inc. already meets these requirements through our event liability coverage. Importantly, our focus is solely on education, seminars, and fostering fellowship among Mooney owners and enthusiasts—we're not performing any aircraft maintenance or repairs. This keeps things straightforward and compliant, allowing us to concentrate on what we do best: building connections and sharing knowledge in a supportive environment.

On the topic of fuel prices, it's true that avgas tends to run higher at airports in larger metro areas like those under HCAA compared to more outlying fields— this is a common trend driven by factors such as higher operational costs, demand, and location premiums. For instance, self-serve prices at places like Zephyrhills Municipal (KZPH) are often more competitive, as you've noted. However, for attendees flying into KTPF for the Summit, the convenience of being right in the heart of Tampa can outweigh the difference, especially when factoring in alternatives like Uber or ground transport from farther afield (which could easily exceed any fuel savings). To make it even more accessible, our host FBO at KTPF, Atlas Aviation, has generously offered a special fuel discount for Summit participants. This gesture reflects their commitment to supporting GA events and helping keep costs manageable for visitors.

Finally, concerning the challenges for mobile mechanics like your trusted contact in renting hangar space to establish a dedicated shop: I completely understand how frustrating it can be when growth opportunities feel limited, and it's disappointing to hear about the difficulties in expanding on-field services. We can't dive into the specifics publicly here on the MooneySpace forum out of respect for ongoing discussions and policies, but Grant, if you (or anyone else) decide to register and attend the Summit, I'd be more than happy to personally introduce you to the appropriate contacts who could explore reasonable options for hangar availability or shop setup. Our event is a great networking opportunity, and we're all about facilitating positive outcomes for the community.

Overall, while I recognize the valid frustrations with some aspects of airport management and FBO operations, the Mooney Summit is designed to celebrate the joy of flying and better the breed of Mooney pilots in a welcoming setting. Hillsboro County Aviation Authority, KTPF and Atlas Aviation have been fantastic partners, creating an atmosphere that's pro-GA and focused on education rather than maintenance hurdles. We'd love to see you there—registration is open at www.MooneySummit.com, and it's a fantastic chance to connect, learn, and perhaps even address some of these broader concerns in person.

Fly and be safe

Dear Mike,

I concur with your perspective; however, it is evident that individuals or entities without significant influence or consistent business contributions are often treated differently. This is an unfortunate reality. While I could advocate passionately for the airport community as a whole, my voice alone carries limited weight. I encourage others to join me over time in voicing their concerns and advocating for their rights and needs as tenants.

My intention is not to discourage attendance at the airport or the summit. Rather, I aim to provide transparency about the operational dynamics here, based on my firsthand experience as a local resident and tenant. It is easier for misinformation to spread when individuals are not based here or familiar with the local context.

[mike_elliott]

Grant. I’ll make sure you have an audience with Brett to express your concerns on Friday if you decide to attend. We all want an easy path for GA, especially Brett, and he does carry a big stick
 

[76Srat]

Not throwing rocks at all on the Mooney Summit process of how selecting the location(s) works every time.  I know there are hundreds of considerations that go in to planning and putting something like that on--we're all grateful for all of that.  That said, it would be great to see those decisions focus more toward more GA-friendly airports and locales.  At the risk of sounding completely cynical, most airports in larger metro areas have zero interest in supporting anything involving piston and/or GA operations.  I know holding the Summit in Tampa is far more glamorous and attractive than say, Ogala, Nebraska, but why do it at an antagonistic place?  

Thanks for posting your PSA--when policies don't match up to reality, we should move on.  

[EricJ]

1 hour ago, Schllc said:

While I believe the entire insurance industry is broken from top to bottom, I don’t see a $1,000,000 liability policy as a high bar, it cannot possibly be that expensive, and owners should demand it as well.  I would not want someone uninsured doing repairs to my plane. 

It's around a couple grand a year for such a policy (last time I checked, anyway).    You have to do a fair amount of work just to pay for it, and for many retired people or people who don't strictly do A&P work, it's not economical to get the insurance.   So it does limit access to many A&Ps.

A $1M policy has been a requirement for a long time around here to be registered to work on essentially any of the local public airports.   Scottsdale even takes a cut of your gross receipts, which seems to be fairly unique.

[Schllc]

5 minutes ago, EricJ said:

A $1M policy has been a requirement for a long time around here to be registered to work on essentially any of the local public airports.   Scottsdale even takes a cut of your gross receipts, which seems to be fairly unique.

insurance is typically based on revenue, but aviation may be different.  

With regard to airports taking a cut, ours does as well.  10% vig to do business here.

[Grant_Waite]

1 hour ago, mike_elliott said:

Grant. I’ll make sure you have an audience with Brett to express your concerns on Friday if you decide to attend. We all want an easy path for GA, especially Brett, and he does carry a big stick
 

I do appreciate it Mike, anyone with some say would go a long way. It’s can be frustrating enough trying to deal with Mooney for simple requests as I’ve found out. Add on this airport nonsense and it’s a drain. I wasn’t planning on coming although I did transfer my registration from last year. I’m trying to work out when I’m going to fly the plane to the potential buyers since I can’t keep waiting on approvals for a basic bank loan checklist to be done at home. 

[Grant_Waite]

35 minutes ago, EricJ said:

It's around a couple grand a year for such a policy (last time I checked, anyway).    You have to do a fair amount of work just to pay for it, and for many retired people or people who don't strictly do A&P work, it's not economical to get the insurance.   So it does limit access to many A&Ps.

A $1M policy has been a requirement for a long time around here to be registered to work on essentially any of the local public airports.   Scottsdale even takes a cut of your gross receipts, which seems to be fairly unique.

So for my mobile mechanic, it’s 500-600 a month for the policy. This new hangar use policy is something that’s going to add to the cost thus lead him to increase rates. He’s currently 40 dollars less than competitors because he doesn’t have a shop overhead. I know the shop on field is about 160 plus an hour but their rent is something like 10k plus for a 70x40ft shared space. I’m not sure if they steal some or any of the revenue produced for any mechanic on field but I wouldn’t be surprised if they did. 

[Yetti]

On 8/26/2025 at 9:18 AM, Paul Thomas said:

In FL, the airport will threaten you with trespassing. Some cops may even arrest you for it but the charges won't hold because you were invited by a tenant... so they'll kick out the tenant. My airport writes it in my lease that I'm not allowed to have non-approved contractors on the field, that even include things such as someone to wash my airplane, not just mechanics.

I'd be really tempted to sell the IA an ownership position in my plane for $10.00.  Assuming they allow owners to be with their planes. 

[Hank]

11 minutes ago, Yetti said:

I'd be really tempted to sell the IA an ownership position in my plane for $10.00.  Assuming they allow owners to be with their planes. 

Or the more traditional "$1 and other valuable considerations," in particular the unlisted right to in-hangar maintenance. 

[Paul Thomas]

8 hours ago, Yetti said:

I'd be really tempted to sell the IA an ownership position in my plane for $10.00.  Assuming they allow owners to be with their planes. 

I'm allowed to do my own maintenance but it has to be done at the designated spot; thankfully, it's a shade hangar. I've actually done a couple annual there 15+ years ago. Interestingly enough, back then, they didn't even care whether the airplane was based on the field.

I know at least one airport that has issues with "owners" that are not the true owner. Whether the 10% partner is there because he has a hangar, can do the maintenance, etc... I think policing that is going to create more issues than it solves.

Edited August 28 by Paul Thomas

[RangerM20]

I pay $5700/year for 1 million coverage for product liability and premises insurance.  That's a lot for a mobile or part time mechanic

[Grant_Waite]

Everything began to shift after HCAA “acquired” what was then Vandenberg for $4.8 million back in 1985. At first, there seemed to be some support for growth and development, but over the years—especially as new generations of career government staff cycled in—the direction changed. Historical details are difficult to find, but the turning point appeared to be when Skyport took over and the current HCAA leadership came on the scene. Since then, the decline has been gradual but steady.

 

Many of you know Hawk, who originally started his paint shop at Tampa Executive. Over the years, the airport hosted a number of maintenance operations, but one by one they left as bureaucracy tightened its grip. Running a maintenance shop is challenging enough when dealing with the FAA; add in an overreaching FBO manager and an ambitious county administrator, and the environment becomes anti business and ga fast. 

[jetdriven]

It must be going on everywhere then, because the local airport down the street, Manassas, has 300 piston airplanes based there and no piston airplane maintenance shop. And it's a similar situation at the other of the three big GA airports in the DC area too. I don't know how people are doing, maybe they're going out of state now for maintenance. 

[Grant_Waite]

4 hours ago, jetdriven said:

It must be going on everywhere then, because the local airport down the street, Manassas, has 300 piston airplanes based there and no piston airplane maintenance shop. And it's a similar situation at the other of the three big GA airports in the DC area too. I don't know how people are doing, maybe they're going out of state now for maintenance. 

If they were smart, they’d come to you. I’d kill to have a shop like yours in my area 

[Pinecone]

On 8/28/2025 at 2:37 PM, Grant_Waite said:

If they were smart, they’d come to you. I’d kill to have a shop like yours in my area 

Not that far in Mooney time.

[MikeOH]

2 hours ago, Pinecone said:

Not that far in Mooney time.

Sure, if it's a short 'while you wait' repair.

Otherwise, it's definitely NOT Mooney time to get home, and then come back to pick up your plane!

[Pinecone]

Make a fun trip out of it and see the local area.

 

[Paul Thomas]

2 hours ago, Pinecone said:

Make a fun trip out of it and see the local area.

 

I like having my maintenance done at home; you know when you start a project, not always when you finish it due to what may be uncovered.

[Grant_Waite]

21 hours ago, Paul Thomas said:

I like having my maintenance done at home; you know when you start a project, not always when you finish it due to what may be uncovered.

Yeah it’s a luxury to have that option these days. For a lot of us, we are forced into having to go elsewhere which is the worst thing unless you have a very good relationship with the shop. I always found that unless I was present, the work would take twice as long to get done.