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RECIP TECHNOLOGY In today's economy, at almost every airport you go to and every FBO you visit, you will find several aircraft projects that have been started and put on hold or abandoned altogether due to the lack of funds. When a project is delayed this is not good for the customer, the business, or the air- Varco Pruden has built a reputation for AIRPORT INDUSTRY BUILDING SOLUTIONS Calamos Corp. Office & Hangars Bohemian Air, Loveland, CO Phoenix Sky Harbor Air Cargo Facility VOLO Aviation, Stratford, CT When you need a hangar, maintenance facility, FBO terminal building or cargo warehouse, Varco Pruden Buildings and their coast-to-coast network of authorized builders work as a team to provide a high quality facility, on time and on budget. Varco Pruden, a pioneer in the steel framed building industry, can offer your organization: Lower material and labor costs. Faster completion schedules. Flexible designs for interior space. Choices of exteriors such as brick, stucco, glass, wood or steel panels. All Varco Pruden Buildings are designed, engineered and manufactured to provide a structure that meets your specifications today while giving you quality and sustainability you can rely on in the future. See examples on our website. To find an independent authorized VP Builder near you, visit www.VP.com today. Trusted Since 1948 Find Out More. Visit www.VP.com/ad/AIRBIZ craft. At a typical FBO, just doing annual inspections and routine maintenance is not sufficient to keep the lights burning. A large percentage of the annual income of FBO facilities is generated through major repairs or alterations or rebuild projects. Small FBOs are generally located at small county or municipal airports and the facilities which are supposed to be maintained by the local government authorities aren't always getting the support they need. I went to a FAA sponsored flight safety seminar a while back and had a conversation with the FBO operator there about local politics and the lack of support from the local authorities. Apparently the challenges associated with trying to maintain a decent facility and pleasant environment to work in are not geographically sensitive. Unfortunately the airport facilities seem to be on the bottom of the list as far as the authorities are concerned. It would make sense to me that the local airport should be a big part of having a thriving community. Many local business owners have businesses in other places or live in other places, and use their aircraft for their business travel, not to mention vacationing. You would think that the governing authorities would realize the importance of having a working rest room, a roof that doesn't leak, or a taxiway that isn't gravel and full of holes. These items should be considered necessities but frequently don't make it through the budgeting process. And, the operators of these facilities frequently aren't even allowed to do some repairs themselves out of their own pockets. With more stringent environmental concerns, authorities no longer allow operators to wash airplanes or engines at their facilities due to EPA hazardous regulations. Varco Pruden Buildings is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. AviationPros.com/company/10325502 34 November/December 2013 Aircraft Maintenance Technology • www.AviationPros.com • www.AMTSociety.org