By DK McDonald of Mohave Daily News
BULLHEAD CITY – Mohave County Airport Authority Board of Directors announced the completion of the $1.12 million purchase of the airport’s fixed based operations from from Signature Flight. I want to thank everyone in the com-munity, MCAA and the general aviation community, as well as the employees that work at the airport,” said Laughlin/ Bullhead International Airport Director James Scheller, “The Signature employ- ees that were not only the FBO but the ground turn service, they’re outstanding employees – Without them and all of you, this would not have been possible.” The announcement came during Wednesday’s regularly scheduled quarterly meeting. The purchase gives MCAA 100% ownership of the airport and control of operations of the entire facility, which allows the airport to negotiate terms of services, fuel pricing, airplane parking and storage and other ground services. Directors approved a request from airport counsel to authorize the airport director to sign and process grant applications in the performance of his fiduciary duties. Directors also approved a request for $10,000 toward the engineering and environment phase of the airport terminal expansion project. The total cost of completing engineering and environment is approximately $2 million. Scheller reported to directors that he and Board member Jackie Wallin gave an informational presentation Tuesday on project to the Laughlin Town Advisory Board. Grant submission that will reimburse most costs of the project is due by June, 2025. Directors also voted to approve a non-exclusive on-demand ground transportation agreement with DJW Transportation. The agreement requires the on-demand transportation company to have vehicles staged to meet all arriving and departing commercial flights, providing transportation services for after-hour custom-ers. The concessionaire will lease airport space for $400 per month. During committee reports, Scheller informed directors that Empire Aviation, an FAA-approved aircraft maintenance company is a prospective tenant for Hangar 30. The company conducted a site visit in September. The airport submitted its Small Community Air Service Development grant application and is waiting on results, said Lance Ross, Air Service Development Committee chair. LBIA has applied for an $800,000 grant specifying a minimum revenue guaran-tee, marketing cash to recruit, initiate and support new service between LBIA and any one of six main target markets
