Business is picking up at Falcon Field, but there are still strides to be made toward profitability, according to members of the Airport Authority.

At its regular monthly meeting Wednesday night, the Authority reviewed its most recent budget period and approved a new budget for three months, subject to review in June.

Airport manager Jim Savage called March "a good month," noting that revenue increased $28,000 during that time. The facility was as busy during March as at any time during his tenure, Savage said.

Authority chairman Robert Patterson agreed with Savage's positive assessment, while fellow member David Good pointed out that there was still a deficit for March, despite the increase in business. "We can't keep losing money," he said.

Patterson emphasized the presence of several one-time expenses last month that Savage mentioned in his report, saying that "infrastructure" and "housekeeping" took a sizable chunk out of the budget.

In discussing the new budget, Savage addressed the airport's arrangement with Thrifty Rent-a-Car, which he said was taking a considerable amount of time from his employees' regular airport duties. He added that it will soon be time to consider letting Thrifty rent space at the airport and handle the operation itself, rather than having Falcon Field personnel do it.

Several airport tenants expressed concerns about the authority's aircraft maintenance operation. Ken Justice pointed out what he considers an inequity in how the tenants are assessed fees and do not have access to equipment.

Justice said he has no problem handing over 2 percent of his gross revenue to the authority, which is standard for airport tenants, but he thinks he should be able to use the authority's equipment when needed for his own Justice Aircraft Maintenance. He said that when he has tried to do so, he has been told that his company is the "competition" and the authority cannot allow it.

"It doesn't seem quite fair," Justice said.

Another tenant echoed those sentiments, saying that the authority must decide if these companies are in competition with each other or if everyone is working together to benefit from good airport service, as is often the claim.

Patterson responded that he does not want to use taxpayer money to work against the tenants of the airport, and he believes that everyone can share and cooperate to make the entire facility a success.

In other business, Andrew Conwell brought the authority up to speed on his project to erect runway remaining markers as an Eagle Scout project.

Conwell said that he has raised $800 from individuals as well as Coweta-Fayette EMC. The signs for the project, expected to be by far the largest expense, are being donated by a local business, saving Conwell about $3,500. "I was really excited about that," he said.

The signs will also be ready much sooner that if Conwell had been forced to use the company he had received the $3,500 bid from. He still needs couplings and posts to mount the signs, which he does not see being a problem. He may get reflectors, needed on the signs to make the letters more visible at night, donated from a company that makes them for roads.

Concrete and rental equipment are expected to cost about $300. If the other supplies can be obtained with the remaining money, Conwell said, the project should be a go. Patterson said he hoped to see Conwell back at next month's meeting still making progress.

A proposal from Windsock's Ltd. to operate a restaurant at the Aviation Center is under consideration. A lease agreement from the authority was submitted to Windsock's recently. Savage said that he spoke with Jim Clark, who told him he has yet to review the agreement with his attorney. Both sides want to move soon on this project, and Savage said the ball in is Clark's court.

There was some discussion among members of the authority about what steps would be taken should the restaurant's operating hours differ from those of the airport.