North Adams Airport Commission Appoints New Manager
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Airport Commission has approved the appointment of Skyler Friedman as the airport's new manager.
"I think this is a good fit as a pilot and as someone who has the time and energy to work towards improving the place," Friedman said Tuesday during his interview with the Airport Commission.
Friedman is an employee of Hewison Aviation, a tenant and flight school operating in the airport's administration building. Per an arrangement with the city, Hewison also acts as the service provider to the airport, which includes providing management. Friedman was Hewison's nominee for the position.
Friedman is a private pilot and holds an Advanced Ground Instructor certificate.
Originally, Hewison employee Andrew Franklin held the position. It was passed on to Hewison Operations Manager Maura Hewison in the interim.
Maura Hewison, still acting as manager, said Friedman flies every day and is familiar with the airport. More importantly, she noted, he has experience both in airport operations and as a pilot.
"It is one thing to be a pilot; it's another to be an airport manager who sits at a desk and who has never flown a plane," Hewison said. "When you have both sides of that ... he will be an asset."
Friedman will be scheduled to work as manager 20 hours a week. Hewison said that over time, he will figure out his schedule and determine when to physically be in North Adams.
Predictable hours are important for airport users, who want to know when they can knock on the office door and when they should make a call. Friedman said this will be clear once he understands the airport's needs. He noted that weekends tend to be busier and plans to be in North Adams for a few hours on Saturday and Sunday.
He added that he is always available via phone or virtually. He is based out of Albany, N.Y., and can be in North Adams in under an hour by car, or in 25 minutes by plane if there is an emergency.
Former commissioner and airport user Dan Caplinger wanted to know if there was a policy in place to handle potential conflicts of interest. As a Hewison employee, there is a possibility that Friedman might have to take action against the flight school or a fellow employee. Caplinger added that this was less of an issue with Franklin because flight school operations had yet to ramp up at that time.
Friedman said that he saw the position more as handling maintenance and day-to-day operations. He felt that if there was ever an issue beyond that, it could be brought to the commission.
"I guess to me, it seems more about maintenance, keeping the airport in its current condition," he said. "Managing the airport, fuel maintenance, the runway, NOTAMs, weather. Bigger decisions would be relegated to the council."
Caplinger pushed back, stating that protecting safety at the airport is absolutely a responsibility of the manager.
"I think the manager must promote and protect the safety of airport operations, so that is definitely not just a maintenance role," he said. "This theoretically could raise a conflict between Hewison employees and the manager. If you see reckless behavior from one of your comrades ... I urge you to not see your role as just maintenance. Airport users expect you to be an authority to maintain safety at the airport."
Friedman and Hewison both agreed. Friedman said he understood the importance of enforcing safety at the airport.
Hewison underlined that there is a complete separation between the flight school and the managerial service.
"He has the power to make choices or decisions, not because he is an employee of Hewison, but because we are an employee of the city of North Adams," Hewison said. "The flight school and the airport manager are not the same thing ... he knows what he is at liberty to do. As the airport manager, he stands alone."
Beyond that, she said if there is ever a safety issue at her flight school, she wants to fix it.
Former interim commissioner and City Councilor Andrew Fitch said he felt communication was one of the most important elements of the job.
"Where things have gone wrong in the past, where they have gone terribly wrong, was poor communication and lack of communication," Fitch said. "That is when it all falls apart, and we are coming upon a fragile state where things are rebuilding. If you are a great communicator, great. If not, things will nosedive."
Friedman said communication is important to him and he can communicate via any medium necessary.
Hewison said she will work alongside Friedman until he becomes more familiar with the position. Hewison's contract with the city lasts until September, at which point the arrangement could be nixed or renewed.
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