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John M. Gentry ^ ^ast Madison Avenue 

County Mayor Athens, Tennessee 37303 ^^23) 745-7634 

March 10, 2009 

FAA: Office of the Chief Counsel 

Attention: FAA Part 16 Airport Proceedings Docket ^-

AGC-610, Room 925 

Federal Aviation Administration 

800 Independence Avenue, S.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20591 

— I 

Re: Docket 16-08-13 ^5; 

Dear Mr. Cross: 

Thank you for the opportunity to offer this brief rebuttal to Mr. Ferrell's reply to McMinn 

County's Answer. I, like Mr. Ferrell, wish to acknowledge that despite the length and 

sincerity of our disagreements we do consider ourselves friends. I honestly believe we all 

had the same goal for a successful and safe airport but had different interpretations of 

how the path was chosen to reach that goal. I would humbly offer that better 

communication and appreciation for each others opinions could have mitigated this issue. 

As County Mayor, I have never claimed to be an aviation expert or even an enthusiast. In 

fact, I inherited the project from a previous county executive. The engineers were 

selected and hired for the project prior to my term beginning. I did not oppose the project 

because I believed it would help correct what I was told were 12 to 13 FAA guideline 

violations in the old runway. I trusted the County Engineer, who actually served 

previously as an engineer for Tennessee's Division of Aeronautics (TAD), the 

engineering firm of HMB, and the professional personnel of TAD for expert advice. 

Quite simply as stated before, a mistake was made by TAD personnel on the line of sight 

deviation for runways with full-length parallel taxiways, which McMinn County was 

planning to build in the future. I understand and agree with Mr. Ferrell and Mr. Keyes' 

position that McMinn County is technically the airport owner, however, in reality rural 

counties rely heavily, not only on TAD's financial support, but also on their technical 

recommendations as well. When TAD blessed the design, and knowing they were paying 

ninety percent of the project I trusted and relied on their position. 

Concerning the rental of the Athens Air Cessna 172 I can only offer the FBO's 

explanation that their insurance company restricts rental to the instructors listed on the 
policy. It has been explained to me that solo flights by students are allowed under the 

instructing pilot's coverage. I also want to reiterate that McMinn County's confract with 

the FBO does not require plane maintenance, flight training or plane rental services to be 

provided by the FBO. As stated in an earlier response, we are currently drafting 

minimum standards which will ultimately provide guidelines for future service providers, 

if they so choose to locate at the McMinn County Airport. 

McMinn County offers no additional information on the alleged vehicle keying incident. 

If it happened, it did so while the deceased former FBO Bill Johnson was still operating 

the airport and caimot be verified or denied. I am convinced that it should also have been 

reported immediately to law enforcement for a proper investigation and written report. 

McMinn County, and most likely all parties involved, sincerely regret how this entire 

project unfolded. It seems to have been wrought with problems from the beginning. The 

FBO died after a valiant fight against cancer, the lighting contractor went out of business, 

TAD's senior project manager retired and even the engineering firm of HMB later pulled 

out of Tennessee. Somehow, at the very end we have a modem and safe airport facility 

which receives great reviews by its users and visitors. I am enclosing some recent letters 

of support we have received since I informed the County Commission and others of this 

Part 16 process. However, three pilots who opposed the initial project design, and had 

every personal, technical and constitutional right to do so, remain convinced they were 

discriminated against for doing so. This simply is not the case and we DENY the 

allegations. 

Again I wish to tell Mr. Ferrell and others they are welcome and encouraged to use these 

new airport facilities. McMinn County is pleased with the job performance of Athens Air 

LLC. and we are disappointed Mr. Ferrell fails to appreciate the enthusiasm the other 

members of the local aviation community hold for the airport and the FBO's services. 

In summation, McMinn County DENIES the allegations of violating federal grant 

assurances by willfully allowing economic discrimination and knowingly operating an 

unsafe airport. McMinn County requests the allegations be DISMISSED, due to lack of 

verifiable evidence that McMinn County or its agents willfully operated an unsafe airport 

or willfully discriminated against anyone. 

M. Gentry 

McMinn County Mlaydr 
EXHIBITS 

1) Waupaca Industry Letter of Support 

2) James P. Vreeland Letter of Support 

3) Carl Bingham Letter of Support 

4) RLK Facilities Design, LTD Letter of Support 
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

I HEREBY CERTIFY that on March 11, 2009,1 caused to be placed in the United States 

mail (first class mail, postage paid), a true copy of the foregoing document addressed to: 

FAA: Office of the Chief Counsel 

Attention: Part 16 Airport Proceedings Docket (AGC-610) 

Room 925 

Federal Aviation Administration 

800 Independence Ave., S.W. 

Washington, D.C, 20591 

Dewitt T. Ferrell 

P.O. Box 206 

Athens, TN 37303 

Mr. David Crews 

Chairman, McMinn County Commission 

Chairman, McMinn County Airport Committee 

McMinn County Courthouse 

6 E. Madison Avenue 

Athens, TN 37303 

M. Gentry 

McMinn County Mayor 

6 East Madison Avenue 

Athens, TN 37303 
A ThyssenKrupp 

Automotive 

Company 

ThyssenKrupp Waupaca n 

McMinn County Mayor's Office 

Attn: Mayor John Gentry 

6 East Madison Avenue 

Athens, TN 37303 

Dear Mr. Gentry, 

My name is Shane Lehman, and I am Director of Aviation for ThyssenKrupp 

Waupaca, Inc. I wanted to take a moment to compliment Athens Air at McMinn 

County Airport. As a corporate pilot, I fly into many different airports across the 

country and have observed many different Fixed Based Operators. Athens Air at 

McMinn County is one of the finest around. We have two corporate jets and land at 

McMinn County Airport multiple times a week. The service we receive to our 

planes and crew is outstanding and very professional. Kristy and the staff are 

always willing to go the extra mile for us and take care of us both during, and after, 

normal business hours, which is very helpful in keeping us on our schedule. It is 

such a relief to know we can count on someone to take care of us when we arrive. 

We look forward to many years of future business at McMinn County Airport. 

Should you have any questions, feel free to contact me. 

Thank you. 

Shane Lehman 

Director of Aviation 

shane.lehman(g>,thvssenkrupD.com 

(920) 540-7502 

ThyssenKrupp Waupaca Inc. 

1955 Brunner Drive, P.O. Box 249, Waupaca, Wl 54981 

Phone: (715) 258-6611, Fax: (715) 258-9268 
James P. Vreeland III 

218 Kiowa Point 

Loudon, TN 37774 

(865)458-3141 

February 21, 2009 

McMinn County Mayor, John Gentry 

6 East Madison Avenue 

Athens, TN 37303 

Dear Sir: 

This is just a note from one of your tenants. As of late I have heard some 

bad vibes about the airport apparently spread by a few and I wanted to inject a 

positive note from someone new. I arrived at your airport only a few short years 

ago during my move to the Knoxville area but I remember it like it was yesterday. 

I was initially greeted by Curtis Bible who manages on weekends, and I informed 

him that I was looking for a place for my plane to come to in Tennessee. At that 

time he welcomed me to the airport and introduced me to the manager at the 

time, Bill, and introduced me around to all the other people around the airport. 

Coming from the north and not knowing anyone this was well received by me. 

He went out of his way to help me re-locate and has been a good friend ever 

since. After the untimely demise of Bill, Kristy Gentry became the new manager. 

In my opinion she has breathed new life into the airport with not only a more 

youthful approach but a female one. I do not get down to the airport a lot 

because of the distance that I live away from the airport and the recent high fuel 

prices but when I appear, the operators are always friendly to me even though 

they don't see me to often. 

In conclusion I would like to thank you, the county and the staff at the airport 

for your hospitality and the running of a nice, safe, clean airport. I look fonward 

to many more years of our growing partnership. 

Sincerely, 

%m--

James Vreeland 
March 6,2009 

Mayor John Gentry 

McMinn County Mayors Office 

6 East Madison Avenue 

Athens, TN 37303 

Dear Mayor Gentry, 

It seems that in todays hurried world, most never find time to 

compliment, but only find time to complain. However, after being in business 

for myself for over 40 years, I wish not to conform to the latter and feel compelled to compliment when I see exemplary service and organization. I moved 

to eastern Tennessee 8 years ago from Odessa, Texas where I grew up and was 

in the real estate and automobile business. Aviation was an important part of my 

business plan, and an invaluable asset. Living in the wide open spaces of West 

Texas I could have never have been able to expand my businesses without the use 

of my airplanes. I had the same 2 hangars leased for over 25 years and became 

very familiar with the "politics" that sometimes exist between the FBO and the 

airport board. I saw several FBO operators come and go during that time and 

saw first hand the difference between a good and a bad FBO operator. 

When 1 first moved to Tellico Village ( 8 years ago) I visited Mr. Johnson, who 

ran the airport at that time, and put my name on the hangar list. I had always 

been based at a small field (E02) and really wanted to be back in that environment. 

I was shocked to learn of the short supply of hangars in Tennessee and ended up 

finally being able to put my airplane in a large conmiimity hangar at McGhee Tyson until 

4 years later when I finally got a private hangar. During that time I continued to check 

atMMI hoping to get a hangar at that airport. When they finally started 

construction on the new hangars I was excited to know that possibly I could 

finally be located at MMI. During this time I met Kristy Gentry who had 

taken over after Mr. Johnson's illness and passing. My name, which had 

been on the list for 8 years, was going to be very close as to whether I would get 

a new hangar. When it got down to the final days, it appeared that I was going to 

miss out by one name. I tried to fit my plane in one of tiie old hangars, however due 

to the extended tip tanks it would not fit (less than 6 inches clearance on each 

wingtip). 1 was disappointed that I was so close, and yet still not going to be 

able to get a hangar. A few days later Christy called and told me that one of the 

tenants had recanted on moving and that my name was the next on the list, and I 

could have it if I wanted. Needless to say I made the fastest trip to MMI in my 

life to sign up and move in. 

During the past 5 months I have had a chance to observe the operations at 

MMI. I was totally impressed with the professional maimer in which she handled 

the transition to the new hangars as well how she operates the FBO. I have found 

her to be TOTALLY honest about all of her dealings with customers—she proved 

that to me with the assignments of the new hangars. I can assure you that where I came 

from, the "good ole boy" operation is alive and well. Having been around pilots 
for over 40 years, I can tell you that a lot of them think that they are the only 

one on the airport. I have watched her make decisions that reflect good business to 

protect her, as well as the county, when it would have been easier to "cave in" 

to a pilots request. Aviation is under a terrible burden during these times of 

increased costs of not only fuel, but also insurance, maintenance, and federal 

regulations. Frankly, I do not see it getting better in the near future. The bright spot 

is that Kristy and Curtis are doing a great job to really exemplify what is GOOD 

about aviation. The services that they provide on a daily basis is centered on 

giving value and SERVICE to the tenants of the airport and they really make 

a positive impression to the transient pilots that stop for fiiel. A close friend from 

Odessa (who took my place on the E02 airport board when I moved to Tennessee) 

stopped in at MMI for fuel on one of his cross country trips to see his son 

in Atlanta, He called me and ended up spending the night at my home. He was 

very impressed with the service and we discussed what made MMI such a good 

experience. We both concluded that the youth and enthusiEism for aviation which 

Kristy exudes, as well as her uncompromismg business sense for honesty and service, 

will represent KMMI well for years to come. She has her work cut out for her in 

dealing with a bunch of older guys (seems like all pilots these days are older guys) that 

are "set in their ways". 

I definitely think you have the right "girl" for the job! 

Sincerely yours, 

Carl Bingham 

Hangar #24 
RLK Facilites Design, LTD 

Dlv. of Reister Engineering, Inc. 

February 22, 2009 

Mr. John Gentry 

Mc Minn County Mayor's Office 

6 East Madison Ave. 

Athens, TN 37303 

Re: Mc Minn Counfi 

Dear Mr, Gentr^ 

I am \vritiTig t( 

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\Aj!;ia]^a'pleasure it is to fly into your airport 

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.ggpiSf iii|em of a facility that you have there, and encourage all those 

to keeP^up theiioutherF^spitali|y, friendly attitude and good w/ork! 

Cordi. 

iW. Reister, P.E. 

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1440 21 St Street • Rockford, Illinois 61108 • Phone 815.227.0100 • Fax 815.227.0130 • Emailjoe@relsterengineering.com