Barnstable Airport Welcomes Audit

The manager of Barnstable Airport in Hyannis, Mass., says he’s looking forward to the results of an audit by FAA officials last week. “I think it will help us,” said Airport Manager Quincy “Doc” Mosby. “I’m positive that we’ll do fine.” For whatever reason Barnstable, which is served by a handful of regional airlines flying to Cape Cod and nearby islands, is one of just two airports in the U.S. chosen by the FAA for audit this year, according to the Yarmouthport Register. A lawsuit launched by one of the airport’s tenants, Rectrix Aerodrome Centers, over the alleged improper use of airport funds might have something to do with it, but the FAA isn’t saying. According to the Register, Rectrix claims it was prevented from selling jet fuel at the airport when regulations that would have permitted the sales were concealed by the airport. Regardless of the rationale, the agency appears to be serious. Two staff from Washington and two from the regional office in Burlington, Vt., spent four days going over the airport’s 2005 records and having a look at land use at the airport. The FAA provides airport improvement funds for the airport and, in turn, the airport agrees to abide by the strings that come attached to that money, generally to ensure the airport remains open to the public and the money is used for the aviation facilities for which it was intended. “We reserve the right to perform audits whenever we feel it’s necessary,” FAA spokesman Jim Peters told the Record.