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Hangar Repairs & Maintenance
For minor hangar repairs, including replacing smaller steel beam sections, no permit is required. The Dept. of Airports asks that you notify them prior to work starting.
For larger repairs, including roof panels of Port-A Port or other portable hangars, Ventura County Building and Safety has started to require permits, and structural engineering drawings prior to work starting. COHOTA is actively looking for a solution with VC B&S to make hangar repair less onerous for our members. If you have any input, please contact us.
On another hangar note, one of our board members recently replaced his hangar roof. He has written about his experience in complying with the Dept of Airports and County Building and Safety requirements, for all hangar owners to reference, should you be considering such work.
Please go to https://cohota.org/articles for his suggestions to streamline the process for you.
Hangar Inspections - Lease Information
The Department of Airports (DoA) is finishing up hangar inspections for all the hangars subject to the new lease. If you have not been inspected yet, please go online to vcairports.org to select an inspection date. If you do not select a date, the DoA will assign a date for your inspection that you will be required to comply with.
During your inspection, DoA staff are NOT authorized to take videos or pictures without your express authorization. If you see that taking place against your wishes, ask them to stop
immediately. If it continues, the DoA Director, Keith Freitas has asked to be called specifically.
If you have already been inspected, it is important that you contact the DoA to arrange for the signing of your new lease. When the new lease was finalized, a 2% transfer fee was imposed on all new leases. At the time of the lease approval, the DoA agreed to waive that fee, if the leases were signed by June 2023. To avoid paying that fee, make sure you speak to Madeline Herrle at the DoA, to make an appointment to sign the new lease.
Fire Extinguishers
Fire Extinguisher Recertification: We will continue to have periodic events at both airports to ensure everyone's extinguisher is currently inspected and tagged. Watch for upcoming announcements.
If you need an immediate certification, you can use a drop off service, such as
Service Pro, in East Oxnard. Their number is (805) 487-1477.
COHOTA Approves Draft Ground Lease
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Camarillo, California (March 12, 2022) — The Camarillo Oxnard Hangar Owners & Tenants Association (COHOTA) Board of Directors has approved a new draft ground lease for the privately-owned hangars at the Camarillo and Oxnard Airports. An agreement was reached between COHOTA and the Ventura County Department of Airports regarding the terms and conditions of the proposed ground lease, which ends an at-times contentious dispute between COHOTA and the County regarding the conversion of the month-to-month leases that have been in use at the airports since the 1980's.
"COHOTA is pleased to present this new draft lease to our members, which we think represents the interests of the hangar owners and the County in a fair and equitable manner." said COHOTA President Jon George. "We are grateful to the leadership of the Ventura County Department of Airports, especially Director Keith Freitas, who was instrumental in getting the lease over the finish line."
The draft ground lease will now be presented to the Ventura County Airport Advisory Commission and the Camarillo and Oxnard Airport Authorities. Upon approval, the lease will be presented to the Ventura County Board for Supervisors for final ratification.
The new 20-year term ground lease will replace the existing month-to-month leases. Among other features, the new draft lease no longer contains a reversion clause, allows regulated subleasing and provides for non-binding mediation of certain types of disputes. COHOTA was ably assisted in the final negotiations by attorney Leslie McAdam of Ferguson Case Orr Paterson LLP.
About COHOTA — For over 30 years, the Camarillo Oxnard Hangar Owners & Tenants Association has been the voice of hangar owners and renters at the Camarillo and Oxnard Airports. They also work to promote and support the airports and enhance the safety and spirit of general aviation. For more information, please contact venturacountyhangars@gmail.com.