FlyUSA reports operations, safety and community gains; proposes reverting airport name to "Clearwater Executive Airport"

FlyUSA, the fixed-base operator at Clearwater’s municipal airfield, briefed the AirPark Advisory Board on operations, safety measures, tenant enforcement and community outreach and proposed returning the facility’s name to “Clearwater Executive Airport.” The presentation was given at the board’s meeting in Clearwater and was described as informational rather than a formal action item.

The update explained why the operator is sending an annual report and filing financial statements with the city: the financials are due to the city by the end of the first quarter. Barry (FlyUSA representative) said the company recently hired a new general manager, Danny Cooper, who was in fuel quality-control training on the day of the meeting. FlyUSA described several operational changes intended to improve safety, staff performance and customer service, including installation of the NDX quality-control platform with electronic checklists, upgraded ground support equipment and the ability to fuel aircraft paneside and provide receipts at the pump.

Those operational changes follow storm response and hurricane activity last season. FlyUSA said damage was limited mainly to shade-hangar roofs and some T-hangar doors; a city-contracted damage assessment for the air park closed at about $5,000. The operator noted the existing memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Coast Guard was activated during storm responses and described the air park as “critical infrastructure” at roughly 72 feet above sea level.

Board members were given tenant-related updates: the operator said it removed derelict, uninsured and unairworthy aircraft and is enforcing lease provisions that require tenants to name the city and FlyUSA as additional insureds. FlyUSA referenced its lease definition of an “active” aircraft and said it enforces activity by checking that aircraft “takes off and lands at least once a month.” The operator said tenant town-hall meetings have drawn between about 20 and 40 people and that tenants reported improved WiFi coverage across hangars, removal of obstructing vegetation and other on-site fixes.

Noise mitigation measures implemented by FlyUSA also were discussed. The operator said it tightened flight-training restrictions — including limits on helicopter training and on training during holidays — and reported a reduction in based helicopter training aircraft from six to one since FlyUSA assumed operations. The board was shown an emailed comment from neighbor Frank Scalzo that said, “there’s no doubt the helicopter traffic is considerably less under FlyUSA than it was under the previous space operator.”

FlyUSA also described ongoing community activities hosted at the air park, including a fall open house that drew “a couple hundred people,” recurring Young Eagles youth flights in partnership with the Experimental Aircraft Association, Pilots and Paws animal-transport flights, and other nonprofit events such as Toys for Tots and Arc of Tampa Bay fundraisers.

On branding, FlyUSA proposed reverting the airport’s name from “Clearwater Airpark” back to its historic name, “Clearwater Executive Airport.” Barry said the change would be a rebrand only and would not change the airport’s operations, runway length, aircraft mix or openness to commercial traffic. The board was told the city would need to update ordinances and signage if the name change were pursued; no formal board vote or city ordinance change occurred at the meeting.

No formal action on the name change was recorded. The presentation was informational and will be part of continued discussion between the operator, city staff and the board.

Ending: The board did not take a formal vote on the proposed name change. FlyUSA pledged continued coordination with city staff on the operator’s annual report, hurricane-preparedness activities and tenant enforcement; the operator said it expects to file its financials with the city by the end of the first quarter.