Five Questions

Independent of the city since 1969, Naples Municipal Airport is successfully managed and operated by the City of Naples Airport Authority. This self-sufficient, autonomous entity receives no city or county funding, relying solely on revenues generated from aviation and non-aviation airport users, along with state and federal grants.

Ted Soliday, the municipal airport's executive director, is the force behind such critical issues as bringing Delta Airlines to Naples and spearheading noise abatement initiatives. In 1999, the airport received the FAA's Southern Region Air Carrier Safety Award for benchmarking airport facility safety guidelines.

Three years later, the airport went one step further, becoming the first facility in the nation to successfully ban Stage I aircraft in accordance with the 1990 Airport Noise and Capacity Act. That was followed by the Stage II aircraft ban in 2002.

With more than 38 years of aviation industry experience, Soliday's résumé includes airport planning and design, air traffic control, education, flying, and airport management.

1What other challenges besides noise issues do you face with residential neighborhoods being in such close proximity to the airport?

Because we are in direct view of our neighbors, we are especially conscious of the facility's appearance. We are vigilant about water management and other environmental issues that could affect our neighbors. In 2003, we received the Environmental Achievement Award from the Airports Council International in recognition of our environmental efforts.

2 Have revenues decreased as a result of the Stage I and II aircraft bans?

Revenues have not decreased, but there have been other consequences. The FAA has decided to withhold further federal funding because they feel the decision made by the Naples Airport Authority was unreasonable. As a result, annual federal funding totaling more than $1 million dollars has been withheld. We are fighting that decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals this month, and we expect to be victorious.

3What is being done to attract other airlines in addition to Delta?

We continue to solicit all of the major commercial airlines by offering complimentary ground-handling services and terminal rental and marketing assistance to promote the airlines' presence in our community. We anticipate other carriers to service Naples in the future.

4The perception is that the Naples Municipal Airport caters to private business aircraft. Is this perception a reality?

It's true that a significant amount of our activity is directed toward private business aircraft. The revenues generated from fuel sales, hangar rentals and ground-handling services to the private aircraft make it possible for us to offer incentives to the commercial airlines.

5As the community grows, what is being done to attract more travelers to the airport?

The airport is in line with the growth of the community. We are constantly planning, developing and implementing new strategies for the future. Also, in an effort to support the commercial air service, we have established the FlyNaples Air Service Team, which works closely with the Naples and Marco Island chambers of commerce, the Collier County Economic Development Council and the Convention and Visitors Bureau in an effort to promote our airport's services.