Supervisors Consider Raising Airport Fees

Ventura County supervisors are considering raising the storage fees for large aircraft that park at Oxnard and Camarillo airports.

A new fee schedule calls for all airplanes weighing over 12,500 pounds to pay higher fees, based on their weight or size, officials said. Currently, the maximum tie-down fee for all large planes is $113 a month.

Under the proposed rates, aircraft weighing over 12,500 pounds would pay $60 for every additional 10,000 pounds, said Rodney Murphy, county airports administrator. For example, the monthly charge for aircraft weighing from 12,500 to 20,000 pounds would be $120. For a plane weighing from 20,000 to 30,000 pounds, the monthly fee would be $180, and the charge for a 30,000- to 40,000-pound aircraft would be $240, Murphy said.

Currently, only a few planes parked at the two airports weigh more than 12,500 pounds.

But Murphy said the number of heavier aircraft stored at the airports is expected to increase over the next year.

The County Board of Supervisors will discuss approving the new fee schedule at its Tuesday meeting.