Aeronautics
5500 44th Street, SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Phone: (616) 233-6000
Fax: (616) 233-6025
flygrandrapids.org
Gerald R Ford International Airport Board - Opening
The Kent County Board of Commissioners has expanded the size of the Gerald R Ford International Airport Board from six to seven members and is seeking one applicant to serve on the Board for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2012.
Individuals applying for this Board appointment should live outside Kent County in one of the following counties: Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo or Ottawa, and shall be a representative for private sector businesses.
Interested citizens meeting this criteria may apply by submitting a completed application to the Board of Commissioners' office no later than December 31, 2011.
Download the application or call 616-632-7580 for more information.
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Kent County Department of Aeronautics to provide safe, efficient, environmentally sensitive and economically self-sustaining air transportation facilities responsive to regional needs.
Overview
The Department of Aeronautics manages and operates the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA). GFIA is served by 8 passenger airlines with 120+ daily scheduled non-stop flights to and from 25 major market destinations. GFIA also serves as a significant general aviation base and regional air cargo hub.
The airport has its own police, fire, and maintenance departments. Policy and general oversight of GFIA is the responsibility of the Kent County Aeronautics Board, a six-member body appointed by the Board of Commissioners. GFIA receives no General Fund allocations. The department’s operational requirements are met through rates and charges assessed to airport tenants and patrons for the use of airport services and facilities. The airport’s capital requirements are met through earned surpluses, revenue bonds, passenger facility charges, and state and federal grants In 2009, GFIA served over 1.8 million passengers and processed more than 76 million pounds of air cargo and mail.
Strategic Goals
- Participate in the economic development and planning efforts of the region
- Continue to respond to changing economic and community demand, adjusting services accordingly
- Operate without the use of Kent County General Fund support.
Operational Goals
- Provide a safe, secure, efficient and user-friendly facility that is well maintained and aesthetically pleasing, providing the amenities needed by the traveling public and transportation service companies supporting scheduled airline service
- Provide facilities to be leased by aeronautical/ airport support companies at fair market value generating revenue to assist the Department in its mission to be financially self-sustaining
- Provide safe, secure, operationally efficient and user-friendly facilities for general aviation businesses providing aircraft parking, fueling, sales, flight training, charter, repair and other associated activities by aircraft not operated by scheduled passenger air carriers, cargo air carriers or the military
- Provide safe, secure, efficient and user-friendly facilities in compliance with Federal law for cargo, air freight and mail tenants, public and trucking companies
- Provide facility inspection, routine maintenance and light construction services for Department facilities such as buildings, parking lots, roadways, runways, ramps, aprons, lighting systems and signage systems
- Provide the Kent County Aeronautics Board with management oversight and policy implementation for the operations, maintenance, safety, security, marketing, communications, development and financing functions of Department of Aeronautics facilities, including the Gerald R Ford International Airport
2010 Adopted Uses: $40,251,324
2010 Adopted Revenues: $35,153,351
Selected Performance Measures
Performance Measure |
2007 Actual |
2008 Actual |
2009 Actual |
2010 Expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Net revenues over expenses
(not including depreciation or debt service) |
$9,655,806
|
$8,933,780
|
$7,730,273 |
$8,583,265 |
Number of major discrepancies noted during annual
FAA certification inspections |
0
|
0
|
0 |
0 |
Airfield operations: number of takeoffs and landings |
101,378
|
97,501
|
87,883 |
92,300 |
Passenger activity: total passengers |
1,990,660
|
1,809,445
|
1,771,465 |
1,950,000 |
Tenant activity: number of primary tenants |
53
|
52
|
51 |
53 |
General aviation: total based aircraft |
88
|
82
|
98 |
87 |
Total air cargo (lbs.) |
91,890,660
|
95,190,603
|
76,554,991 |
76,000,000 |
Department History of Uses
| Uses |
2007 Actual |
2008 Actual |
2009 Adopted |
2010 Adopted |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Personnel |
$
|
8,803,760 |
$
|
8,840,426 |
$
|
8,896,154 |
$ |
8,888,272 |
Commodities |
538,303
|
614,935
|
437,190
|
428,004 |
||||
Contractual |
17,408,062
|
18,125,310
|
17,705,814
|
20,650,443 |
||||
Operating Capital |
273,210
|
76,249
|
254,930
|
201,100 |
||||
Other Expense |
5,383,342
|
5,308,647
|
8,832,056
|
10,083,505 |
||||
Total Uses |
$32,406,677
|
$32,965,567
|
$36,126,144
|
$40,251,324 |
||||
Personnel FTE |
124 | 124 | 124 | 120 | ||||
Significant Budget Issues
The reduction in personnel is due to the elimination of 5 part-time Parking Operations Attendant positions as the result of operational efficiencies gained from the opening of the new parking structure.
2010 is the first year that debt service is fully allocated for the new parking structure.
History of Uses (in millions)
