Aircraft owners and other aviation advocates recently established the Savannah Area Aviation Association (SAAA) after an airport master plan at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (KSAV) in Georgia left some operators scrambling for hangar space, NBAA reported.
The master plan included a Southeast Quadrant Redevelopment Project that affected tenants of shadeports, T-hangars, and community hangars. When the plans moved forward last year, NBAA said a lack of communication led several aircraft owners to need to find new space with little notice.
SAAA interim councilmember Ted Meyer, who is a business aircraft pilot and aircraft owner, said the organization wants to work with the airport commission so it understands the value of the spectrum of general aviation.
“Savannah [airport] is doing a great job of helping FBOs develop excellent transient services in recent years,” Meyer told NBAA. “We’re working with them to ensure that the commission maintains a focus on allowing for a range of storage options at this airport to house aircraft owned and used by area businesses and residents.”
Noting this has been a trend affecting operators nationwide, Meyer added, “We’re hoping to work the problem locally to help alleviate some of the pressure that this has caused here in the past several years.”
NBAA Southeast regional director Greg Voos said organizations such as SAAA help the industry as a whole. “Although this group focuses on local issues, it’s important that NBAA and its membership work with organizations like SAAA because, in a lot of ways, our goals and our challenges are similar all over the country,” said Voos. “Strong local and regional organizations lead to a strong global industry.”