Collier County directs staff to ask FAA, FDOT about potential deactivation of Everglades Airpark and to study fixes

Collier County commissioners unanimously authorized staff Tuesday to consult the Federal Aviation Administration and the Florida Department of Transportation to determine what obligations, if any, would apply if the county considered deactivating Everglades Airpark and to return with a full analysis of repair costs, revenue options and next steps.

The directive came after Transportation Management Services department head Trinity Scott outlined years of operating losses and storm damage at the unclassified airpark, including an estimated $1.2 million in hangar repairs from recent storms. “The Everglades Airpark has operated at a net operating loss for many, many, many years,” Scott said. “We are here to request authorization to engage the Federal Aviation Administration and the Florida Department of Transportation to seek information only regarding grantor requirements and obligations associated with our prior acceptance and expenditure of grants for the Everglades Airpark.”

Why it matters: The board faces a choice between investing to restore and make the facility more resilient and commercially viable, or seeking information that could reveal financial obligations if the county were to decommission the airport. Scott told commissioners that the Everglades runway and taxiway have been repaired recently but that recurring saltwater flooding, fuel-system problems and damaged T-hangars limit operations and fuel sales — the airport’s primary revenue streams.

Commissioner comments and public input: Commissioners said they wanted a thorough, data-driven process. Commissioner Bill McDaniel urged staff to include at least a decade of operational and financial history in the analysis and to convene an ad hoc working group to explore revenue and marketing options. “We need to have all of the cards on the table,” McDaniel said. Several commissioners also encouraged staff to prioritize options that could restore fuel sales and hangar use, because those changes would most quickly affect revenue.

Dozens of pilots and local residents urged the board to preserve and repair the airpark. Stacy Heaton, Southern regional manager for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, said AOPA members had surveyed pilots and found strong interest in the field and in landing there if fuel and reliable services were available. “There is a strong sentiment in favor of keeping the air park open, emphasizing its multifaceted value to both the aviation community and the local economy,” Heaton said.

Board action and next steps: The board voted unanimously to authorize staff to consult FAA and FDOT for fact-finding about any grant assurances or repayment obligations, to develop a repair and operations analysis, and to return with options and estimated costs for board consideration. The board also directed staff to work with community stakeholders, including aviation groups, to convene an ad hoc committee to generate improvement ideas.

What staff will report back: Trinity Scott said staff will gather information on grant obligations and potential repayment liability, a scope and estimate of repairs (including the $1.2 million hangar estimate), recent operational metrics and potential revenue improvements (fuel sales, hangar leasing and events). The FAA/FDOT consultation will specifically aim to answer whether the county could decommission the airport and what, if any, financial obligations would follow.

Bottom line: Commissioners did not direct closure; they authorized a formal, multi-part fact-finding process so the board can weigh repair costs and grant obligations before any decisions about the airport’s future.