Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 18, 1991                   TAG: 9104180429
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AIRPORT'S PLANS PROMPT QUESTIONS/ PLANE OWNERS, BUSINESSES FEAR HIGH FEES

"We might have to move to smaller airports if we can't afford to stay here," Chuck Waring said Wednesday. "We need everybody we have here now, and we shouldn't kick anyone out."

Waring told the Airport Commission he's afraid that rental rates will increase dramatically if the airport begins leasing space to the highest bidders.

Speaking at a public hearing on the plan for expanding general-aviation facilities, Waring urged the commission to consider the plight of small-aircraft owners who fly for a hobby and can't afford to pay high rent for storage space.

Charles Linenfelser, who operates an aircraft maintenance business, said he's afraid the "general-aviation family" will be shattered if the commission allows private developers to build hangars and then set the fee for storing planes.

"If everybody is competing for everything, it might make more money for the airport, but it will create chaos," he said. "No one should be ousted if they are paying their bills."

If a bidding procedure is used for the new hangars, Linenfelser said, he suspects that "fat cats" will submit the highest bid and then charge exorbitant rates.

Consultants have recommended a plan for expansion, but the commission hasn't decided whether it will finance the hangars or seek bids from private developers.

Roanoke County Supervisor Bob Johnson, commission vice chairman, said he was surprised to hear that Linenfelser opposes the free-enterprise approach, because that is the way he obtained space for his maintenance business.

"We have the most expensive real estate in the Roanoke Valley, and I think the free-enterprise system should be permitted to operate," Johnson said.

If the commission seeks bids, Johnson said, he doubts the winning bidders would set unreasonable rental rates because that could leave them with empty buildings.

The expansion would occur in the next decade on 64 acres near the airport's old passenger terminal, parking lot and existing hangars.

The plan calls for an increase in aircraft storage spaces from 82 to 117 by 1995.

Several old buildings, including World War II-vintage Quonset hangars, would be razed. The new hangars could house planes that are displaced by the razing.