Pilots Accuse California County of Neglecting Airport While Asking for Massive Rent Increase

The only general aviation FBO in Humboldt County has closed after facing a 500 percent jump.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 06:55 PM ET

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A look at Murray Field in Humboldt County, California. [Credit: Gene Joyce]

Key Takeaways:

Northern Air, the sole FBO at Humboldt County's Murray Field (KEKA), was forced to close due to a 500 percent rent increase from the county, exacerbating long-standing issues of airport neglect.
The closure eliminated fuel sales and FBO services, prompting widespread protest from local pilots who cite safety concerns and accuse the county of undermining general aviation.
Humboldt County defends the rent increases as necessary to align with market rates and FAA grant assurance requirements, stemming from years of artificially low rents and past neglect.
While the county promises future improvements, including a self-serve fuel facility at Murray Field, pilots remain skeptical given the airport's history of neglect and a previous FAA investigation into county airport management.

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Could your small business absorb a 500 percent increase in rent? Kyle Gable, the owner of Northern Air, the only general aviation FBO in Humboldt County, California, says no, he can’t, so he made the decision to close the FBO located at Murray Field (KEKA).

In January, the county informed Gable that the rent would increase from $1,536 a month to $10,088 a month beginning March 1.