By: Diane Benjamin

This story and the last one about CIRA are because a reader contacted me. Part 1: https://blnnews.com/2026/03/03/cira-part-1-2/

That reader left a voicemail at CIRA on February 5, 2026:

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The name is redacted because it isn’t important to the story.

Based on what this reader was told, I FOIA’d CIRA for what is in Part 1 and all communication involving the Public Address system. Since this reader was told while at the airport the system hasn’t worked right in 2-3 years, I narrowed the request to that.

The first attempt by CIRA to provide information was digital requiring Microsoft 365 to open the files. Since I wasn’t going to pay for a program to use once, plan 2 by CIRA was printing all the emails. I picked up a BOX of paper Monday. The stack on the bottom are emails I’m not using, the top stack are things I used. Anybody need scrap paper? 😏

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It’s not as bad as it looks because a lot of paper was wasted on duplicate emails. All FOIA requests include duplicates because every email in a chain gets included.

The FAA requires a Public Address system, having a system that doesn’t work violates regulations.

The oldest documents I have are dated in December of 2023. That is when CIRA hired a Consultant. The Faith Group Scope of work document is dated February 2, 2024. The cost for a Needs Analysis/Recommendations was $10,440, possibly more if needed. An email dated August 20, 2025 increased that amount to $16,998.

I have numerous emails showing the PA system wasn’t working or marked “urgent”. One example from almost a year ago:

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The old system was pieced together using borrowed parts. One would think borrowers would move with at least a little swiftness before the lender wanted the parts back.

A temporary mic station was installed at one gate on 4/15/2025. A new system wasn’t.

I have an email from Faith Group dated June 3, 2025 stating “we are definitely in the homestretch”.

It looks to me like Faith Group only got bids from 2 companies. One didn’t have a FID (Flight Information Display) system, so that left just one company.

CIRA’s Deputy Executive Director had to correct the math for Faith Group, see below. This quote is from IDS/Simplway. I have an email awarding the contract to them on October 26, 2025. The loser was Tech Electronics/IED, I think because they didn’t offer the Flight Information Display system. They are the company who loaned equipment to patch the old system.

Since CIRA doesn’t have Board Meeting minutes older than October 2025 on their website, I don’t know when and if the Board approved it. It is not in the October 2025 minutes.

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In December 2025 Faith Group presented another Scope of Work covering Selection, Mobilization, and Construction Phases. Total cost: $38,127. Like the previous scope, it could go higher. They must have been hired because emails from February 2026 still involve them. Adjustments are still being made.

I believe the borrowed equipment has been returned, I know the firm it was borrowed from wanted it back. Therefore, like my reader stated, it’s not a good look. Staff were yelling flight information.

The December 2025 Scope of Work does not include completion dates. It’s been almost 2 years since the first Scope of Work. If you are at the airport in the future, let me know if the PA system works!

Lessons:

-If government wants a quote from you, bid high. By the time it is approved your costs will be higher.

-Government efficiency doesn’t exist. The private sector would never put themselves in an “urgent” position without required equipment.

-Airport personnel must have been happy with Faith Group or they wouldn’t have been hired the second time. Emails show delays by FG for illness, rescheduling due to conflicts, and thinking an email had been sent when it hadn’t.

-Just getting recommendations from other airports is too difficult when a consultant can be hired.

-The airport director’s salary is really high compared to private sector managers who supervise so few people.