Tennessee's Tri-Cities Regional Airport is one step closer to establishing an airport authority to handle its day-to-day operations. And Detroit Metropolitan Airport offered Tri-Cities a preview on the process to move from government oversight to an airport authority.

The airport is currently run by an unincorporated joint venture between four cities and two counties, including a city in another state - Bristol, Va., said Executive Director Patrick Wilson.

The structure was set up in 1935, when the airport was first built, said Wilson. "The airport itself is not considered a legal entity, which makes it a challenge on how we conduct business, acquire land and accept federal grants," he said. "But we're fortunate that the four cities and two counties cooperate, but there are times when it is cumbersome to get six approvals, and there are gray areas in an unincorporated joint venture."

Detroit and Willow Run Airport were owned and operated by Wayne County as the Dept. of Airports under the direction of the Wayne County executive, said spokesman Michael Conway. The 15-member Wayne County Commission approved contracts and major purchases, he added.

The Dept. of Airports was just one department among many vying for the attention of the county executive and the county commission, Conway recalled. "The airport had outgrown its operating structure and needed to operate more efficiently - like a business--in a fast-paced world. At the time, 25 of the top 50 airports were operated by authorities," he said. "We had modernized our airfield and terminals to successfully compete in a hub environment. It was time to modernize our management structure."

Michigan Public Act 90 established the Wayne County Airport Authority, a political sub-division with all of the powers to manage, operate, maintain, enter into contracts and agreements, provide law enforcement, fix rates, accept grants and other duties, said Conway. "Immediately after the public announcement to establish an airport authority, the Wayne County Commission passed a resolution opposing this action. On March 26, 2002, the governor signed the legislation creating the Wayne County Airport Authority to manage both airports," he said.

That April, the Wayne County Commission filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the state legislature's decision to transfer the license to operate both airports away from the county, said Conway. "There were subsequent legal actions also, but none were successful. In August 2002, the FAA awarded operating certificates for both airports to WCAA," he said.

Both airports were removed from the political arena and are now operated in a business environment, said Conway. "Since the authority's inception, we have created our own payroll department, IT department, human resources, labor relations, and a business and air service development department," he said. "Operationally, we have increased non-airline revenue, decreased spending, and reduced the cost per enplaned passenger to one of the lowest among large airports nationally."