Someone Call Airport Impossible to the Brownsville/South Padre Island "International" Airport

Reality TV shows "Hotel Impossible" and "Restaurant Impossible" starring Anthony Melchiorri and Robert Irvine respectively share a similar format;  bringing a tired, outdated, poorly managed business out of the doldrums of mediocrity, giving it a chance at success.

Many locals feel our Brownsville airport is desperately in need of an update, a refurbishing, management with a vision, not hogtied to the 1980's.  The Airport Advisory Board meets monthly with Aviation Director Larry Brown chanting the finance report, neatly converting the slight ups and downs of tonnage, takeoffs and revenue into monthly and annual percentages.

After Brown's report, Business Development Director Michael Jones, in his segment of the meeting, tantalizes the board with the prospects he has courted at the latest aviation conclave, usually with at least one sure

Brownsville Airport

thing, an airlines strongly considering Brownsville that can't be mentioned just yet by name.

Jones is typically followed by the maintenance guru, who expects most of the chillers to be shortly in operation, mentions palm tree trimming and last month's sprinkler project still nearing completion.  The city and Brownsville's airport would be better served if the 8 or 9 board members simply cancelled the meeting and took a tour of the facilities, guided by someone who understands what an airport in a bustling city of 200,000 in the subtropics should look like.  Think AIRPORT IMPOSSIBLE!

After our last article reporting on gleanings from the most frequent meeting of the Airport Advisory Board on October 22, we heard from someone at the airport who wished to not be identified. Those who work, manage or use the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport regularly should know instantly if these words have a ring of truth:

Jim, this place in rundown, embarrassingly so.  What we call the "people bridges," leading out from the terminal to board the plane leak profusely during a rain.  The south bridge used by American Eagle is the worst, but the north bridge used by United Express is almost as bad.  We actually set out buckets to catch the water.  The carpeting gets drenched and retains a musty, mildew odor for several days after a rain.  

There is so much I could tell you.  The main restroom has a number of sinks, each with a soap dispenser.  80% of the soap dispensers do not work.  The dispenser that holds plastic toilet seat covers does not work.  The air conditioning in the building has never worked correctly.  

We had two smoke incidents recently in the main lobby.  The fire department came out. They used heat detectors to locate a defective part in the HVAC system that was smoldering.  The terminal is dated with fake Charro Days decor, vinyl.  It needs a total redecorating.  

The setup for the two airlines inside the terminal is confusing.  Customers frequently end up at the car rental desk asking for directions.  I could tell you much more Jim.  Larry Brown is a very nice man, but he is just "old school."  We need management with new ideas.

Oh, the landscaping.  There is a small strip near the cargo building that is nicely landscaped.  The walkway is covered with tile.  The entire terminal area should be up to that standard at a minimum.