Private aviation

South Florida CEO, Nov, 2004 by Joan Gonzalez

According to Gittens, Signature Flight Support has become a fixture at MIA, having grown into a modern facility after years of operating out of a World War II-era hangar and then a collection of trailers. "Any new private jet facility would be the focus at our other airports," says Gittens. "Both Kendall-Tamiami Executive and Opa-Locka currently provide excellent FBO services with excellent approaches, air traffic services, corporate hangars, office areas and related services with new and expanded, secure facilities coming on line at a rapid pace."

Gittens has been director of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department since March 19, 2001. In addition to MIA, airports under her leadership include Kendall-Tamiami Executive, Opa-Locka and Homestead General Airport. She was previously general manager of Hartsfield Atlanta International and prior to that deputy director for business and finance at San Francisco International Airport.

Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport

When it comes to the most popular airport for private or executive air services, the clear winner is Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), located along Commercial Boulevard just west of 1-95 and a few miles north of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airport.

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Ft. Lauderdale's Executive Airport is not part of the Broward County Aviation Department. Clara Bennett, who was given the title of manager of the airport in August, after serving as acting manager for 18 months says, "The airport is self-sustaining, with no local tax dollars going toward its operation, maintenance or improvement."

The airport generates more than $5 million in annual revenue from land leases and fuel flowage fees and it pays Fort Lauderdale about $450,000 each year in lieu of taxes. The Executive Airport and the 200-acre Industrial Airpark combined make up the city's third largest taxpayer, with the airport's total economic impact to the local community estimated at approximately $330 million.

FXE is rated as a general aviation facility with the capacity to serve all aircraft other than major airlines and designated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a general aviation reliever facility for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. It has 447 hangers and its based aircraft include 369 single engine, 187 multi-engine, 115 Jets and 37 helicopters. It is situated on approximately 1,200 acres. "Based on itinerant operations," says Bennett, "the airport is the eighth busiest general aviation airport in the country. We handle close to 250,000 takeoffs and landings per year, making it one of the top five busiest general aviation airports in the United States."

The airport is also the hub for the city's Foreign-Trade Zone, taking up nearly 1,300 acres and offering businesses cost savings and economic incentives.

Moreover, the Executive Airport is still growing. Projects include a new corporate headquarters totaling approximately 30,000 square feet of office and hangar space for professional flight training. Sheltair Aviation Facilities is renovating and replacing facilities with the construction of approximately 50,000 square feet of hangar and office space, as well as remodeling numerous existing facilities. Crown Center is expanding its office campus with the construction of a new 100,000 square foot building and two four-story parking garages and Alter Group is expanding its campus at Cypress Concourse with the construction of a four-story parking garage to accommodate Kaplan Higher Education, which will bring 730 jobs to Fort Lauderdale.