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Barring a last-minute stay from the FAA or the Orange County Superior Court, Signature Flight Support is planning to exit John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Santa Ana, California, tomorrow. The departure will end a 20-year presence by Signature at the airport in a move directed by the Orange County board of supervisors.
The supervisors on February 28 reaffirmed their decision to retain Atlantic Aviation on the airport but award a second, temporary leasehold to a smaller, local FBO chain—ACI Jet. For ACI Jet, the location would be its fourth; it has other locations at smaller airports in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Oceano.
Signature filed a Part 16 complaint earlier this month with the FAA over the board’s decision, and yesterday filed writ of mandate with the Orange County Superior Court asking for relief. Signature had not yet received a response at press time.
Both Signature and ACI Jet have retained well-known Washington, D.C. counsel to represent them in the dispute over the leasehold. Kathryn Thomson, a former Transportation Inspector General who is an attorney with Morrison & Foerster, is representing Signature, while Flight Safety Foundation general counsel and former FAA chief counsel Ken Quinn, who is a partner in the law firm Pillsbury, is representing ACI Jet.
Thomson accused the board of going to “extraordinary lengths to manipulate the [contract bidding process] to a predetermined outcome,” but Quinn assured the board that Part 16 FBO complaints are rarely successful and said, “There’s been no discrimination. You welcome new entrants."
Current Signature tenants at SNA, meanwhile, have the option to stay under the new leasehold. “We are also able to make accommodations at our other Southern California airports and will do everything we can to support our customers,” a Signature spokesman said.
Signature Flight Support ended its 20-year tenure at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Santa Ana, Calif., on March 31 but vowed to continue to fight for the leasehold there. The Orange County board of supervisors in late February reaffirmed its decision to award the leasehold formerly held by Signature to ACI Jet. The board also reaffirmed a second leasehold to the other existing FBO on the airport, Atlantic Aviation.
In its decision to award to ACI Jet the lease that Signature had held for two decades, the board cited pricing concerns and a desire for a more local company. Signature, however, has accused the board of illegal and unfair bidding processes and said it will continue its legal challenges. On March 29 the company filed for a writ of mandate with the Orange County Superior Court, as well as a Part 16 complaint with the FAA, to overturn the county’s decision.
In the meantime, Signature said it is working with them to ensure a smooth transition.
“Signature vehemently disagrees with the actions by the Orange County board to replace us…and we are continuing to pursue the reversal of its actions in the appropriate legal venues,” said Signature senior vice president of sales and marketing Geoff Heck. “Nonetheless, the interests of our customers are best served by vacating the premises now and ensuring that they will continue to have access to the airport as part of an orderly transition.”
The location is ACI Jet's fourth, joining facilities at smaller California airports in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Oceano.