AvEx chief says many want spot at airport

Leading Edge Aviation may have competition for a spot at Acadiana Regional Airport, according to Paul Lubomirski, president of AvEx.

During the recent Iberia Parish Council meeting, Lubomirski urged the parish council to not hastily make a decision concerning the fate of AvEx. He said two plane painting companies, in addition to Leading Edge, have expressed interest in the airport's facility.

"One of the things that Leading Edge would like you to believe is that May 1 is the drop-dead time and that if you don't take advantage of what they're doing, that forever you'll have lost a chance, but in reality that's not the case at all," Lubomirski said.

"I've got the names of two other companies, very reputable companies, that would die for the chance to come in and take our place. So don't feel that this particular offer is the only offer that is ever going to be on the table."

After the meeting, Lubomirski would not divulge the names of the two companies or the cities from which they were based. However, he said the parish council and the airport commission have the information.

Lubomirski said if it came down to it, he would prefer AvEx be replaced by one of the unidentified companies, rather than by Leading Edge.

"If the airport commission and the parish council do their due diligence, it will be very clear. They (Leading Edge) put on a great presentation, but they're not the company they pretend that they are," the AvEx president said.

Lubomirski cited what he said was the company's history of coming and going from different facilities throughout the years.

It's an accusation the president of Leading Edge Aviation, Michael Manclark, denied.

According to Manclark, the only facility Leading Edge ever left was in Greenville, Miss., and that was because of AvEx.

He said that when Leading Edge's four-year lease came up for renewal, AvEx convinced the city it could offer more jobs and higher salaries and was hired in the California-based company's place.

"AvEx, in a sense, took that facility from us," Manclark said. "The only reason we ever left was because AvEx came in and was able to negotiate us out of the lease, and then they ditched the lease."

Frank Cooper, airport director of Mid-Delta Regional Airport in Greenville was not present during AvEx's brief stay, but he said he has researched the incident.

"Our understanding is that the city elected not to renew Leading Edge's lease, because AvEx had put together a proposal of what they'd do and the number of jobs they'd bring in the area. The city entered an agreement with AvEx and it never worked out," he said.

Cooper added that after AvEx vacated Mid-Delta Regional Airport, the building was vacant until Leading Edge returned five years later.

The city has benefited from this return, according to Cooper, who said Leading Edge employs more than 200 people at the Greenville airport, including many local residents.

"The impact has been very beneficial," the airport director said. "They have done a

tremendous amount of work on the buildings. When they're vacant things don't work when you fire them back up... We're glad they're here."

According to Manclark, he should be believed. He said he can back up every promise he makes.

"Paul is asking the city to make a leap of faith," he said.

However, Lubomirski said all he wants is for the people to keep the faith.

"We have a history here," the AvEx president said during the parish council meeting. "We're not a wish and a promise."