Late salvo in Lovell flight Group says study predicts loss from rival fixed-base operator

Contributed Rendering General aviation facilities such as depicted in this rendering are going up at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport.

A group opposing new general aviation and fixed-based operations at Chattanooga’s airport says a study indicates the facilities would lose up to $3 million over five years.

But a Lovell Field official disputed the figure, saying the proposed operator of the facilities is projecting positive cash flows over the period.

“Wilson Air, who won the project, has projected a profit,” said airport spokeswoman Christina Siebold in an e-mail. “The four proposals we received from four credible [fixed-based operator] firms all indicated that the five-year projection was profitable.”

Chattanoogans for Fair Aviation said the study by Marquette Advisors of Minneapolis shows that future general aviation business at the airport does not support a new terminal and hangar space.

Pete O’Hare, a spokesman for the group, said in a letter to airport officials that they should consider stopping the project on which construction has already begun.