Airport Merger Plan Raises Concern

More than 100 concerned pilots, airport business owners and aviation enthusiasts crowded into a County Government Center conference room Thursday for a meeting on proposed changes to the county’s Department of Airports.

Called by Supervisor John K. Flynn, the meeting was held to discuss a proposed merger of the county’s Department of Airports into the Public Works Department, and an idea to eliminate the post of airports administrator--a position vacant since late last year when Marshall A. MacKinen resigned.

During the meeting, the first of several to be held on the subject, pilots expressed concerns that the merger would be harmful for the county’s two airports in Oxnard and Camarillo.

“Why do we want to change something if it already works?” asked Steve Barber, Confederate Air Force wing leader at Camarillo Airport. “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”

But according to county Public Works Director Arthur Goulet, the merger could save about $200,000 annually in the airport department’s enterprise fund. Currently, the fund is valued at about $4.1 million.

Flynn told the uneasy crowd that the proposal was still just a proposal and that no formal decisions on the airports will be made soon.

“We will end up meeting with you folks many times,” Flynn said. “Remember, we’re just talking about an idea here. Please try to keep your minds open.”