Spokane Airways Inc. and XN Air LLC, the two fixed-based operators at Spokane International Airport, have submitted the only bids to SIAs board to lease land for a commercial aeronautical service there, SIA says.


The board issued a request for proposals in September to parties interested in leasing roughly 2 acres of land at the west end of Pilot Drive, located at the east side of the airport.


Originally, Spokane Airways and SIA had discussed relocating that long-time fixed-base operator to the site, since six of the companys nine leased buildings are to be demolished next year to meet requirements related to the airports new control tower. The two parties, however, couldnt agree on the terms of the lease for a new building SIA had designed, and are involved in a dispute over what SIA must do to fulfill its obligations under Spokane Airways current lease. Recently, SIA filed a condemnation action to acquire Spokane Airways leases.


SIA has said it will help Spokane Airways look for other possible sites at the airport, but last month, Spokane Airways lawyer said SIAs decision to put the property out to bid ultimately could result in putting the company out of business.


Spokane Airways officials couldnt be reached for comment about the bid. The company, whose origins date back to the 1930s, has more than 100 employees.


Meanwhile, Alan Hale, president of XN Technologies, the Cheney-based parent of XN Air, says that under the terms SIA put forth for the proposal, hes not allowed to comment on it.


XN Air expanded its services last January to become SIAs second fixed-base operator. The company, which formed in 2003 and had 20 employees as of last June, previously had focused strictly on avionics, installing and repairing communications and navigational electronics used aboard aircraft. As a fixed-based operator, it now also provides fueling and maintenance services to general-aviation aircraft users.


When XN Air became a fixed-base operator, it moved to a new 17,300-square-foot hangar at 8125 W. Pilot Drive, just east of the proposed commercial aviation service site, from a smaller hangar.


Airport spokesman Todd Woodard declines to disclose details about the bids, and says SIAs board plans to discuss the proposals during its Dec. 20 meeting.


Were evaluating them based on the criteria put forth in the RFP process, Woodard says. We have a prime piece of real estate and we wanted to find out who would be interested in leasing that site and what they would do with it.


He says the description of the new service was left vague to encourage bids, but it could be a fixed-base operator.