Around 40 people attended the meeting in support of the Warsaw Flying Club.

WARSAW — The Warsaw Flying Club was facing potential eviction going into the Warsaw Board of Aviation Commissioner’s Nov. 14 meeting. Around 40 people packed the small board room to show support for the club.

At last month’s meeting, airport manager Nick King presented the board with an issue the airport had with the club involving some safety issues. King was unsure how to proceed and had informed the board that following protocol meant the club would be evicted.

Board president Jay Rigdon kept a tight leash on the meeting, not letting anyone speak out of turn and shutting down interruptions. Warsaw Flying Club president Jon Fussle, as the representative of the club, was the only member given an opportunity to speak to the board. Despite what seemed like hard feelings between the club and King at last month’s meeting, Fussle thanked King for all he does for the airport.

“While we’re good at what we do, we’re not Nick. We found a new fond appreciation for all the stuff he has to keep track of …  it’s not an easy job that he’s got,” said Fussle.

Fussle informed the board that everyone in the club had been given copies of the airport’s rules and policies and vowed to meet with King and the board in the future prior to events to avoid incidents like the one in September.

“It is our priority to run a safe and effective flying club,” said Fussle. “We provide excellent flight training.” The club recently received the 2017 Flight Training Excellence Award.

After Fussle spoke, the board had their opportunity to comment. Board member John Yingling stated he was concerned with Fussle’s promises, stating that he has seen, and heard complaints of, Fussle not following rules. Gene Zale further added that he was concerned about an email he had gotten from a Michael Wilson. Zale claimed that Wilson stated that he was a new pilot and has always felt anger against the board.

“If he is a new pilot, how does he have anger against this board?” asked Zale. “The only place he can get anger is from you [Fussle].” Fussle denied any accusation of speaking poorly against the board and stated the pilot had either misspoken or had misdirected his frustration.

Rigdon made a five-point motion that included some changes for the club. Prior to reading his motion, Rigdon read to the group the Federal Aviation Administration’s definition of a flying club which states a flying club is a non-profit. To make sure the Warsaw Flying Club operates as a club, part of Rigdon’s motion included that the club is to impose term limits on all leadership and the leaders of the group will be responsible for its actions.

Fussle attempted to interject, stating that the club was actually a single-member LLC that he started 14 years ago, a flying school disguised as a club. Having already made his motion, seconded by John Yingling, Rigdon dismissed Fussle’s concerns. The motion was approved by Rigdon, Zale and Yingling, only being denied by Dan Robinson.

The club has until Dec. 31 to report their changes. Term limits will present an issue to Fussle and his wife Katye, the club’s vice president.

Rigdon’s motion also included that consideration to terminate the Warsaw Flying Club’s agreement to operate will be tabled indefinitely.

In other business:

• King gave the fuel report, informing the board that fuel sales are up but still behind last year’s numbers.
• The board approved the sale of Kent Carter’s hangar to CJ Overmyer.