Operating Permit Process

Operating Permit Process

Operating Permit Process

New Aviation Support Services Provider Requests for Operating Permit Approval

Airlines are required to utilize the Aviation Support Provider companies that hold an existing operating permit or agreement with the Department of Aviation (Aviation) to provide such services at the Airport. Airlines may request Aviation’s consideration to approve a new Aviation Support Provider no less than 60 days in advance of when the Airline desires such services to commence. However, Aviation is under no obligation to approve such request that it deems not to be in the best interest of the Airport Operations. Aviation will not consider cost or national solicitations for a single service provider as the sole or mitigating factor in its consideration of the Airline’s request.

Requests for a permit to be issued to a new Aviation Support Provider are evaluated based upon the following criteria:

  1. The request must come from an Airline operating at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). The Airport exists to serve the Airlines, and there is an existing relationship between the Airport and the Airline.
  2. The Airline must explain why the service(s) cannot be provided by a company currently holding an existing Aviation Support Services Operating Permit. This gives the Airline an opportunity to provide feedback to the Airport on the companies currently authorized to provide services at LAS.
  3. The Airline should explain why it needs to change service providers and any concerns or issues it has with its current provider. This alerts Aviation to potential problems and allows for corrective action. Aviation also verifies whether the issues have been brought to its attention in the past.
  4. The Airline should list the Providers it considered during its process. Unless the Airline has concerns or issues with its current Provider, the list should include the current Provider as well as other currently authorized Aviation Support Service Providers.
  5. The Airline should also provide insight into the criteria used to select the new Aviation Support Service Provider. Such insight can be used to show that the Airline’s decision is based on more than cost and/or national solicitation for a single service provider.

Clark County Code, Section 20.02.020, requires Aviation, “to operate, supervise, manage, maintain and control the airport and such other airports and aviation-related properties and facilities hereafter lawfully assigned to the department.” Given the physical constraints of the facilities and the number of Airlines operating together in a common use facility, controlling the number and type of Providers is essential to the proper management of the Airport. For this reason, both the number and the quality of Aviation Support Service Providers are evaluated as follows:

  1. The number of companies currently authorized to provide the service(s) must be considered because Aviation does not want to restrict competition by having too few companies providing a service. Having too many companies approved to provide Aviation Support Services could also create an environment that is very difficult to manage.
  2. The compliance or non-compliance of current Aviation Support Service Providers is also an important consideration because Aviation seeks to have quality companies service the Airlines. A company with recurring compliance issues may be more inclined to maintain compliance to remain competitive. Adding an additional Aviation Support Service Provider may also result in the inevitable elimination of a substandard company.

Existing Vendor Requests for Aviation Support Provider Services

Aviation Support Service Providers are required to provide thirty (30) days advanced written notification to the Airport Business Office whenever they intend to provide new services to any new or existing air carrier or cargo carrier customer.

Request to Add Services to an Existing Operating Permit

Permits are issued based upon a request received from an Airline. The Permits are issued for a specific service(s), and any change thereto would need to meet the same criteria as a request for a new Aviation Support Service Provider.

A request to add services to an existing operating permit must meet the following criteria:

  1. The request must come from an Airline operating at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). The Airport exists to serve the Airlines, and there is an existing relationship between the Airport and the Airline.
  2. The Airline must explain why the service(s) cannot be provided by a company currently holding an existing Aviation Support Services Operating Permit. This gives the Airline an opportunity to provide feedback to the Airport on the companies currently authorized to provide services at LAS.
  3. The Airline should explain why it needs to change service providers and any concerns or issues it has with its current provider. This alerts Aviation to potential problems and allows for corrective action. Aviation also verifies whether the issues have been brought to its attention in the past.
  4. The Airline should list the Providers it considered during its process. Unless the Airline has concerns or issues with its current Provider, the list should include the current Provider as well as other currently authorized Aviation Support Service Providers.
  5. The Airline should also provide insight into the criteria used to select the new Aviation Support Service Provider. Such insight can be used to show that the Airline’s decision is based on more than cost and/or national solicitation for a single service provider.