Like many airports, San Carlos has adopted regulations known as “Minimum Standards” for all kinds of activities and operations at the airport. Included in these regulations are fees, insurance and business license requirements for commercial activities on the airport. Such activities include maintenance of all kinds and flight instruction. Businesses and service providers who are based at San Carlos pay substantial fees to the County. When businesses and providers from outside use the airport without paying fees in competition with SQL-based businesses, it places SQL-based businesses at a competitive disadvantage. Specifically, SQL-based businesses have complained to the Airport about outside flight instruction and mechanics working on the field and undercutting their business.
Airport management has assured the San Carlos Airport Association that they are taking a pragmatic approach to the application of fees, license and insurance requirements. If a service is not available at San Carlos from an SQL-based provider, then the Airport does not expect the off-field provider to pay a fee. This includes specialty maintenance, such as maintenance that requires type-specific expertise and instruction that requires type-specific knowledge and/or ratings, or instruction in operations that is not available from experienced instructors who are based at SQL. In addition, instruction and maintenance and other services provided by and between tenants based at SQL does not require payment of fees.
Insurance, however, is required. If it is impractical for service providers to name the County as an additional insured, then the Airport encourages the providers to provide evidence of their insurance coverage to the Airport, so that there is assurance of financial responsibility by those who are providing services on the airport.
