Paul Thomas Posted 19 hours ago Report Posted 19 hours ago (edited) It seems like the new trend is for airports to be bought by aircraft companies. Beta bought an airport in Vermont and now Archer bought Hawthorne. https://news.archer.com/archer-to-acquire-los-angeles-airportas-strategic-air-taxi-network-hub-and-ai-testbed Edited 19 hours ago by Paul Thomas
Bolter Posted 18 hours ago Report Posted 18 hours ago LA city and airport management, "these airports are a burden on society, and take money from the people" Also LA city and airport management, "ideally located next to everything, an ideal airport location," and "please pay us now". It was not clear to me if this becomes a private airport and they can immediately exclude GA and charge fees, or they have received "control" of the airport but it remains a public airport without restrictions. I flew out of WHP for almost 20 years, always at risk of being closed down by the city. I watched SMO get squeezed by land developers that are pulling a fast one on the locals. So yes, a little jaded. -dan 3
Fly Boomer Posted 18 hours ago Report Posted 18 hours ago 44 minutes ago, Paul Thomas said: It seems like the new trend is for airports to be bought by aircraft companies. Beta bought an airport in Vermont and now Archer bought Hawthorne. https://news.archer.com/archer-to-acquire-los-angeles-airportas-strategic-air-taxi-network-hub-and-ai-testbed We like to talk about the demise of GA because of crashes, availability of parts, insufficient pipeline of new pilots, etc. The real story is that when there are no airports available, the rest of it won't matter. 1 1
Paul Thomas Posted 18 hours ago Author Report Posted 18 hours ago 15 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said: We like to talk about the demise of GA because of crashes, availability of parts, insufficient pipeline of new pilots, etc. The real story is that when there are no airports available, the rest of it won't matter. At least this one sold for $126 millions; I don't know if it's the right number or not but it sounds appropriate. Beta only paid $500,000 for Caledonia Airport in VT... I couldn't believe how cheap that was. Private equity could quickly corner the market if more governments are willing to sell their airports, especially at low prices like Vermont did.
Yetti Posted 17 hours ago Report Posted 17 hours ago 51 minutes ago, Bolter said: LA city and airport management, "these airports are a burden on society, and take money from the people" Also LA city and airport management, "ideally located next to everything, an ideal airport location," and "please pay us now". It was not clear to me if this becomes a private airport and they can immediately exclude GA and charge fees, or they have received "control" of the airport but it remains a public airport without restrictions. I flew out of WHP for almost 20 years, always at risk of being closed down by the city. I watched SMO get squeezed by land developers that are pulling a fast one on the locals. So yes, a little jaded. -dan Archer is an air taxi company..... So do you want to be flying with the autonomous flying thingies?
PeterRus Posted 17 hours ago Report Posted 17 hours ago 34 minutes ago, Yetti said: So do you want to be flying with the autonomous flying thingies? Yes, please.
Hank Posted 17 hours ago Report Posted 17 hours ago 46 minutes ago, Yetti said: So do you want to be flying with the autonomous flying thingies? Flying with poor company is better than not flying at all . . . .
Yetti Posted 17 hours ago Report Posted 17 hours ago 6 minutes ago, Hank said: Flying with poor company is better than not flying at all . . . . my problem will all these taxi thingies is that they put the propellers at eye level. If you have ever flown a drone and seen the props fly off....... Just a bad recipe.
PeterRus Posted 16 hours ago Report Posted 16 hours ago 25 minutes ago, Yetti said: my problem will all these taxi thingies is that they put the propellers at eye level. If you have ever flown a drone and seen the props fly off....... Just a bad recipe. Just like all the Mooneys...
Bolter Posted 16 hours ago Report Posted 16 hours ago 1 hour ago, Yetti said: Archer is an air taxi company..... So do you want to be flying with the autonomous flying thingies? What want has nothing to do with it. I expect that when approved as air vehicles, they will probably fly into all the airports over time. We cannot avoid the future aircraft in the pattern any more than we can avoid driving next to a Waymo in San Francisco. We are already the last generation to drive stick, and just might be the last to manually control cars and small planes.
Yetti Posted 16 hours ago Report Posted 16 hours ago 28 minutes ago, PeterRus said: Just like all the Mooneys... No the Mooney prop will fly off into space. These props are level with the head.
Hank Posted 16 hours ago Report Posted 16 hours ago 5 minutes ago, Yetti said: No the Mooney prop will fly off into space. These props are level with the head. Just like most light twins
Yetti Posted 15 hours ago Report Posted 15 hours ago 4 minutes ago, Hank said: Just like most light twins Thank you for reminding me of my phobias 1
bonal Posted 15 hours ago Report Posted 15 hours ago Tried to look up how many aircraft are based there but couldn’t get an answer wondering if they are using city owned hangars on yearly leases or long term leases. Seriously doubt the new “owners” are going to want to co exist with the existing GA community. Death by attrition one city, oops I mean one airport at a time.
bonal Posted 15 hours ago Report Posted 15 hours ago 1 hour ago, PeterRus said: Just like all the Mooneys... Didn’t know that there was a problem with Mooney’s throwing blades
N201MKTurbo Posted 14 hours ago Report Posted 14 hours ago It has been a few years since I landed at Hawthorn. It is a weird airport. It is just a giant slab of pavement. The only thing that separates the runway, taxiways and ramp is paint. It used to be the Northrop factory airport. The factory is still right next to it. I just looked at it on Google maps. It has grass now. The asphalt must have deteriorated between the runway and ramp.
1980Mooney Posted 14 hours ago Report Posted 14 hours ago (edited) 38 minutes ago, bonal said: Tried to look up how many aircraft are based there but couldn’t get an answer wondering if they are using city owned hangars on yearly leases or long term leases. Seriously doubt the new “owners” are going to want to co exist with the existing GA community. Death by attrition one city, oops I mean one airport at a time. You may be right. Archer acquired the remaining 30 years of the 2005 50-Year Master Lease and subleases from a private company that has been managing the airport for the City of Hawthorne. They also have the exclusive right to acquire 75% of the FBO at Hawthorne. The City of Hawthorne will still own the runways and remains the Landlord for the facilities (as they always have). However it sounds like Archer can operate it as they wish. The Prospectus indicates this will be a commercial hub for air taxis if development is successful. So small jets and turboprops will fly in and drop people off that catch Archer Air Taxis. Flying Mag calls the vision “a flying Grand Central Station “. Can small GA coexist? Probably for now - yes. Longer term - maybe. Edited 14 hours ago by 1980Mooney
Jackk Posted 14 hours ago Report Posted 14 hours ago 4 hours ago, Fly Boomer said: We like to talk about the demise of GA because of crashes, availability of parts, insufficient pipeline of new pilots, etc. The real story is that when there are no airports available, the rest of it won't matter. That’s why I like planes that don’t need a “airport” :)
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