Avitat HPN Fighting Loss of Hangar Lease

FBO Avitat Westchester is about to lose the lease on one of the largest hangars–E-1–at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y. But, according to Avitat CEO Michael Dolphin, the request for proposal process that calls for the lease to be granted to JPMorgan Chase “was flawed, violated long-standing county practices and was a retaliatory action against Avitat for complaining about illegal practices at the airport.” Avitat, which has been in business at Westchester County since 1993, filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York seeking damages and injunctive relief. According to Dolphin, Avitat would have to reduce its 60-person workforce by 50 percent if it is unable to renew its lease for Hangar E-1.