Pilots' 'truck stop' east of Colorado Springs fuels economic

Colorado Springs Business Journal, Oct 21, 2005 by Rob Larimer

Just east of Colorado Springs at the airport's edge lies one of the area's biggest economic development advertisements.But, it may also be one of the least recognized.Colorado Aviation Discount Fuel, owned and operated by Craig and Kim Powell, is a fixed base operation. It's like a truck stop for private jets and their owners, where pilots stop to refuel during cross-country trips.But this isn't a place where barstool breakfast specials of biscuits and gravy are served to grizzly, road-weary truckers.It's a Colorado Springs stop for corporate executives, company presidents, movie stars and multi-million dollar investors - and anyone else who can afford to shell out at least $20 million a year to operate their own jet.I can't tell you how many people come through here on their way to build somewhere or make some big business deal, Craig Powell said.

These are high-power people.And even though most of the stops are intended to be short stays during longer trips, it's that one stop that convinces many travelers that Colorado Springs could be a place to do business.They come here and see how beautiful it is and find out how fast the area's growing and they want to come back, Powell said. A lot of them have never been to Colorado before.It's a scenario that has played out often at Colorado Aviation Discount Fuel, Powell said, so his role as an ambassador for Colorado Springs is not lost on him.It is, however, lost on many city and economic leaders, Powell believes.He said they are either unaware of the potential his fixed base operation has as an economic draw, or that it even exists.It's likely that no one is aware of the business' potential because there is no way to quantify it, he said.If a CEO comes here on a jet and decides he wants to do business here, then he sends an associate or another president back to the city on a commercial airline he said.So no one really knows where the idea originates.Powell isn't necessarily looking for financial support from the city, but he said recognition would be nice, especially since it's the city that stands to benefit the most from his operation.The business was once the site of a flight school, but Powell, who learned to fly in the Navy and worked in the aviation industry, decided to move to Colorado Springs in 1999 and start a business.He flew to the Springs and made a deal over lunch to buy the school.The next day he closed the school and started his fixed base operation.He originally sold fuel and provided maintenance to jets, but dropped the mechanic service in favor of selling fuel and storing planes.Powell estimated that Colorado Aviation and Discount Fuel is one of the seven largest fixed base operations in the United States, housing 83 planes and selling 2.5 million gallons of fuel a year and providing a stop for nearly 12,000 jets registered in North America.About 95 percent of fixed base operations are owned by corporations.Powell said that being a single operation with a sole owner has allowed him to keep his prices low and his business competitive.But there's another ingredient that Powell said gives him an edge over his competitors - customer service.It's business 101, he said.Powell said that he takes the time to meet every pilot and owner and make them feel at home.Next to his hangar, he offers a customer lounge - decorated to look more like a ranch house - with wireless Internet and a private pilot's lounge with a snooze room, massage chair and satellite TV.Kim even bakes fresh brownies every morning for guests.That personal touch is what keeps pilots and customers loyal, Powell said.It has made the Powell's good friends with Dean Kamen, who makes frequent stops in Colorado Springs.Kamen may be most known for inventing the Segway, but also holds more than 150 U.S. and foreign patents.Powell said his first class customer service led to a chance encounter with actress Heather Locklear.He said she yelled down to him from her jet and asked if he had something to eat.I said I had some food inside, but she said she didn't have any shoes on, Powell said. Powell jokingly offered her a piggy back ride, and to his surprise, Locklear took him up on the offer.Before I knew it I was carrying her inside, Powell said, adding that his son and wife were a little shocked.Powell said Locklear asked for Mexican food, but all he had was tortillas.So, the two went in search of a Mexican restaurant.But it was 10 o'clock at night, Powell said. The only thing that was open was Taco Bell, and she said, 'Oh, that's my favorite.'With a taco in one hand and a burrito in the other, Locklear munched away as they made their way back to her jet, Powell said.It's unbelievable, he said. You just never know who you're going to meet here.