Richland County seeks information on fixed base operator for airport
June 26, 2023
County also seeks to expand flight instruction services at Hamilton-Owens facility
Richland County Government has issued requests for information (RFIs) related to Fixed Base Operator (FBO) services and flight instruction services for the County’s Jim Hamilton-L.B. Owens Airport. Serving the Midlands since 1930, Hamilton-Owens, known as CUB, is a general aviation reliever airport and the third-oldest airport in the state.
FBOs provide various services to pilots and planes. The County’s FBO request seeks information from potential service providers for the airport, including:
- Types of products and services available
- Lease or service agreements the FBO and the County would agree to fulfill
- Associated items and conditions
- Suggested revenue sharing options
- Ground lease and new construction development options
Eagle Aviation, the airport’s current FBO, has served Hamilton-Owens since 2006 and also operates at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Eagle Aviation’s contract expires June 30, 2024.
The RFI for flight instruction services aims to provide the County with:
- Lease or use agreement provisions the County and involved entities would agree upon
- Terms and conditions
- Revenue sharing options
- Ground lease and new construction development options
“We believe the time is right to expand opportunities for flight instruction for the growing population base in the Midlands,” said Mike Kelly, chairman of the Richland County Airport Commission. “CUB is the ideal downtown airport training environment for student pilots of all types.”
The RFI for FBO services closes July 12. Learn more and submit information: https://richlandcountysc.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/97572
The RFI for flight instruction services closes July 17. Learn more and submit information: https://richlandcountysc.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/98336
