Tampa Bay Executive Airport
Encyclopedia
The Tampa Bay Executive Airport was a private airport
located on State Road 54 in the town of Odessa, Florida
. It was owned and subsequently sold by Dr. James P. Gills. The airport was permanently closed on October 1, 2004, after which the hangars and other buildings were removed from the airpark. The runway remained as of March 2007, marked with several of the standard FAA 'X's. Most of it has been cleared in favor of new construction, with about 500 feet remaining on the East end. An industrial park has been slated for construction on the site.
Most of the businesses that were based at Tampa Bay Executive have been relocated to other airports in the region. Jensen Aviation (flight school) and JJ Aeronautics (maintenance) both moved to Zephyrhills Municipal Airport
, while Bayflite operations were repositioned to Community Hospital in New Port Richey. However, Bayflite did remain at the airport for nearly a year after the airport was closed. Most of the 100+ based-customers were able to successfully find hangar/tie-down space at several nearby airports, but some were forced to sell their aircraft.
Because of the airport's close proximity to residential areas and busy highways, it was no secret that several Pasco County officials were determining the best way to close the airport. It is rumored that the airport's ownership group was given a purchase offer for the property that far exceeded its actual value, which complemented the fact that the owners were quoted as saying that they were "...tired of being involved in a business that attracts so many lawsuits." The county worked to keep Bayflite on-site due to its centralized location and shorter response times, but the medevac
service was unable to continue operating there when demolition of vacant airport began.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located on State Road 54 in the town of Odessa, Florida
Odessa, Florida
Odessa is a census-designated place in both Hillsborough County, Florida, and Pasco County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,173 at the 2000 census.- History :...
. It was owned and subsequently sold by Dr. James P. Gills. The airport was permanently closed on October 1, 2004, after which the hangars and other buildings were removed from the airpark. The runway remained as of March 2007, marked with several of the standard FAA 'X's. Most of it has been cleared in favor of new construction, with about 500 feet remaining on the East end. An industrial park has been slated for construction on the site.
Most of the businesses that were based at Tampa Bay Executive have been relocated to other airports in the region. Jensen Aviation (flight school) and JJ Aeronautics (maintenance) both moved to Zephyrhills Municipal Airport
Zephyrhills Municipal Airport
Zephyrhills Municipal Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located one nautical mile southeast of the central business district of Zephyrhills, a city in Pasco County, Florida, United States.-History:...
, while Bayflite operations were repositioned to Community Hospital in New Port Richey. However, Bayflite did remain at the airport for nearly a year after the airport was closed. Most of the 100+ based-customers were able to successfully find hangar/tie-down space at several nearby airports, but some were forced to sell their aircraft.
Because of the airport's close proximity to residential areas and busy highways, it was no secret that several Pasco County officials were determining the best way to close the airport. It is rumored that the airport's ownership group was given a purchase offer for the property that far exceeded its actual value, which complemented the fact that the owners were quoted as saying that they were "...tired of being involved in a business that attracts so many lawsuits." The county worked to keep Bayflite on-site due to its centralized location and shorter response times, but the medevac
MEDEVAC
Medical evacuation, often termed Medevac or Medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to the wounded being evacuated from the battlefield or to injured patients being evacuated from the scene of an accident to receiving medical facilities using...
service was unable to continue operating there when demolition of vacant airport began.