Aeronautics
5500 44th Street, SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Phone: (616) 233-6000
Fax: (616) 233-6025
flygrandrapids.org
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 9 passenger airlines with 120 daily scheduled non-stop flights to and from 18 major market destinations.
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 2008, GFIA served nearly 1.8 million passengers and processed more than 95 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 to assist the Department in its mission to be financially self-sustaining
- Provide operationally efficient and user-friendly facilities for general aviation businesses
- Provide efficient and user-friendly facilities for cargo, air freight and mail tenants, public and trucking companies
- Provide facility inspection, routine maintenance and light construction services for Department facilities
- Provide the Kent County Aeronautics Board with management oversight and policy implementation
2009 Adopted Uses: $36,126,144
2009 Adopted Revenues: $36,126,144
Selected Performance Measures
Performance Measure |
2006 Actual |
2007 Actual |
2008 Actual |
2009 Expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Net revenues over expenses (not including depreciation or debt service) |
$10,965,118 |
$9,655,806 |
$8,933,780 |
$8,583,265 |
Number of major discrepancies noted during annual
FAA certification inspections |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Airfield operations: number of takeoffs and landings |
112,608 |
101,378 |
97,501 |
100,000 |
Passenger activity: total passengers |
2,015,846 |
1,990,660 |
1,809,445 |
1,900,000 |
Tenant activity: number of primary tenants |
63 |
62 |
62 |
62 |
General aviation: total based aircraft |
104 |
88 |
87 |
87 |
Total air cargo (lbs.) |
87,281,497 |
91,890,660 |
95,190,603 |
92,000,000 |
Department History of Uses
| Uses |
2006 Actual |
2007 Actual |
2008 Adopted |
2009 Adopted |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Personnel |
$ |
7,801,658 |
$ |
8,803,760 |
$ |
8,789,469 |
$ |
8,896,154 |
Commodities |
428,888 |
538,303 |
482,700 |
437,190 |
||||
Contractual |
16,393,648 |
17,408,062 |
17,803,657 |
17,705,814 |
||||
Operating Capital |
157,450 |
273,210 |
220,820 |
254,930 |
||||
Other Expense |
5,655,364 |
5,383,342 |
13,385,638 |
8,832,056 |
||||
Total Uses |
$30,437,007 |
$32,406,677 |
$40,682,284 |
$36,126,144 |
||||
Personnel FTE |
124 | 124 | 124 | 124 | ||||
Significant Budget Issues
There are no significant issues to report.
History of Uses (in millions)
