FBO operator alleges unlawful contract termination at Inverness Airport; advisory board asks county for update

Andy Chan, an operator with Wright Bridal Aviation, told the Citrus County Aviation Advisory Board on a June meeting date that “the county unilaterally, unfairly, and unlawfully chose to send us a letter of termination on our contract.” He requested the board consider asking the county to rescind the notice of termination and to take the matter “in the light of the public eye.”

Chan said he had asked county officials who authorized the letter and that “the commissioners have denied it. Steve Howard, the county administrator, said he was unaware of it.” He also told the board the Inverness Airport had previously hosted multiple FBOs that failed and that his company responded to a 2018 county request for qualifications, receiving “over 90% scoring” for its proposal. Chan said the lease he accepted included differences the county agreed to at the time, and he described considerations tied to flight-training operations under Part 61 and Part 141 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.

Holly Davis, Citrus County commissioner, responded that the matter was not kept secret and explained the county’s agenda deadlines, saying, “Our last meeting was 2 days ago. We were well past the agenda deadline.” Davis said county staff was working to place the item on the next Board of County Commissioners agenda and urged waiting for that process to unfold.

Members of the Aviation Advisory Board told speakers the legal dispute appears to fall outside the board’s advisory authority. Heiko Kalenback, chair of the Citrus County Aviation Advisory Board, said the issue “is so far beyond our purview that I'm not really sure it's even appropriate for us to comment on this issue at this point in time,” and he advised that the process should proceed through the appropriate forums.

Board members agreed to request an update from county staff at the next advisory-board meeting. Todd Regan, aviation project manager, said he would add the update to the July meeting agenda.

The board did not take any formal action or vote on the contract issue during the meeting. Chan asked the board to consider revoking the termination notice and to address concerns about hangar tenants; board members repeatedly framed the topic as a legal matter for the Board of County Commissioners and county administration.

Background and immediate next steps: Chan asserted the county’s notice threatens subtenants and privately owned hangars at Inverness Airport and asked for the termination to be rescinded. Commissioner Davis said staff will place the item with the commissioners; the advisory board will receive a status update at its July meeting rather than act on the legal dispute itself.