ABERLE Custom Aircraft would like to introduce our affiliate -
FALLBROOK AIR SERVICE
In extreme north San Diego county, 18 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and adjacent to the Marine Base at Camp Pendleton, lies Fallbrook. It is a rather unique unincorporated community with its own small airport, Fallbrook Community Airpark. Prime lease holder on the Airpark was Fallbrook Air Service, owned and operated by the Aberle family, who moved to Fallbrook in 1968. On the Airpark at that time were approximately 15 airplanes, one 10 unit hangar building and lots of weeds. Many LEAN years were to pass before black ink hit the ledger. Today there are over 150 aircraft based here.
Our Airpark adds to the unique flavor of the little town. The runway is relatively short (2,165 feet long), the entire airport is terraced on a hill (the approaches are unobstructed), and it was created by local individuals with absolutely no public monies.
Fallbrook Air Service served general aviation with aircraft rental, flight instruction, fuel sales, hangar/tiedown rental and aircraft maintenance for over 30 years. San Diego County was pressed by one new local individual to wrest control of the airport from the non-profit corporation formed over 35 years prior to build & oversee the property. What was once a self supporting airport with reasonable rates for all users is now over taxed and over fee'd like so many other public facilities. To the users of the airpark this will manifest itself in higher rates for every service, rate and product.
The Fallbrook Air Service lease expired and we negotiated the purchase of another lease on the airpark. Demolition of our previous office/pilot lounge and 10 unit hangar building extracted considerable capital, along with relocation costs which were considerable. The physical size of our new lease dictated that 9 of our old buildings be sold. Capitalization of this purchase and relocation required that we sell our rental aircraft also. We relocated 18 of our Port-A-Port hangars onto this new lease and continue in business despite those who would have it otherwise. We have no rental aircraft, no fuel and the total number of aircraft on the airport went from over 115 to under 65. Now, with artificial growth demanded by new construction stimulated by the County, which is making nearby Palomar airport less than attractive for general aviation, we again blossom with new (albeit beautiful) hot & cold running, bifold doored, epoxy floored, hangars.
Isn't government wonderful!