Hangar lease agreement tabled

CLOVIS — The Civil Aviation Board tabled action on a proposed lease agreement for T-hangars at the Clovis Municipal Airport after numerous local pilots voiced their concerns Tuesday evening at the board’s regular meeting.

Most of those pilots took issue with the lease’s language on aircraft condition and storage accessibility.

The requirement that airplanes kept in a privately leased hangar be “airworthy” or “must be made airworthy within 4 months” was an issue for pilots and airplane owners who said certain essential mechanical repairs or parts-replacements can take far longer.

Board members agreed the four-month rule was not sufficiently accommodating to those situations, and resolved to likely extend that time period to 12 months and also allow for exceptional cases to be taken into account on an individual basis.

“Common sense would work real nice in this whole situation,” said pilot Mark Myers.

The original intention of that language in the lease was to eliminate use of the airport’s T-hangars for storage of derelict aircraft, said Chairman Donnie Lewellen.

Board members also agreed to reconsider another lease stipulation authorizing the city to “enter upon the leased premises at any time and by whatever means necessary,” for reasons including repairs, inspections, and exhibition of the premises to prospective tenants, workers or contractors.

As presented in the lease under consideration Tuesday, that rule requires the leaseholder to not use a personal combination lock on hangar doors unless the combination is supplied to the city.

Pilot Robert Thorn felt that access could be a liability for the city, and recommended hangar tenants be held to the same reasonable standard as apartment tenants: with the exception of emergencies, the landlord may only access the property after giving a 24-hour notice.

Board member John Hepfer proposed a workshop where a committee selected from among board members could hear additional public input lease revisions before the next meeting.

The city commission has the final authority to approve or disprove the lease changes.