The city of Cortez awarded the operator contract for the Cortez Municipal Airport to Cortez Flying Service during its meeting Tuesday night after considering a new national company.
Pilots from Cortez Flying Service and supporters of the local business filled the Town Hall meeting room to express their opposition to a new company, Right Rudder Aviation, at times interrupting City Council’s discussion.
Councilors considered switching to the new company to reinvigorate the airport and turn it into a source of local economic growth.
“Cortez Flying Service is more or less kicking the can down the road,” Councilor David Rainey said. “We are looking for the future of the airport.”
Both companies gave presentations to the City Council, revised with feedback from the council committee that worked on the original recommendation of Right Rudder Aviation.
Cortez Flying Service created a web presence to show how it might advance and improve the city-owned airport.
In addition to Rainey, Councilor Amy Huckins also was on the committee. She said Right Rudder Aviation offered upwardly mobile job placement and community programs such as a flight school, aviation STEM curriculum for high school students and scholarships and learning opportunities for students interested in aviation.
“I can see how there is a lot of room for growth,” Mayor Mike Lavey said.
Cortez Flying Service should “take note” of the programs Right Rudder Aviation is offering, Lavey said. “We want Cortez to thrive and prosper.”
Councilor Orly Lucero said he has never heard a complaint about the airport’s operation under Cortez Flying Service.
Gregg Tripp of Cortez Flying Service said the company has “geared up and is already moving ahead.”
“Please give us a chance and let us prove ourselves,” Tripp said.
Andrew Chan, chief operating officer of Right Rudder Aviation, said he was grateful for the opportunity. Cortez Flying Service has had “over 50 years to improve the airport, and they’ve remained stagnant,” he said.
Chan said Right Rudder Aviation would hire 13 people at the airport and move two others to Cortez.
But the city voted to maintain Cortez Flying Service on the condition that it follow through with improvements and advances.
Cortez Flying Service employs six people.
The city offered Cortez Flying Service a five-year contract, with an automatic renewal unless the city chooses to terminate or reconsider the contract.
“The city can’t commit to something for 25 years that isn’t working,” said Mike Green, the city attorney.
The contract requires Cortez Flying Service to provide a higher level of rental car service to make it easier for visitors to explore the area.
ehayes@the-journal.com
