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 general aviation FBO at Murray Field (KEKA), is closing due to an untenable 500%+ rent increase imposed by Humboldt County, citing the dilapidated state of the facility and operational unviability.
The FBO's closure, alongside the cessation of fuel sales from a neglected tank, has sparked outrage among local pilots who attribute the issues to decades of county mismanagement and fear for the future of general aviation services.
Humboldt County's Aviation Director justifies the rent increases as necessary corrections based on appraisals and FAA grant assurances, promising future infrastructure improvements, though local pilots remain skeptical due to a long history of neglect.

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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.