June 18, 2025 • 16 mins
From tarmac to takeoff, Director of Airports Greg Baer shares more about how the two County-owned airports boost the local economy and are gateways to growth and innovation in the community.
Guests: Airport Director Greg Baer and Host Kristi Jourdan
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome to government Speak.
This is where we'll cut throughthe government speak to get the
information you need aboutcounty programs, services, and
events straight from the source.
Welcome to Government Speak,
Contra Costa County'sofficial podcast.
I'm your host, Christy Jordan,Contra Costa County's public
information officer, andon this episode we have our
(00:20):
director of airports, GregBear, joining us in studio at
10 Douglas.
Greg, welcome to the podcast.
Thank you.
Happy to be here.
So for those who might notbe familiar, airports are a
division of County Public Works.
We've got two airportsin the county.
One's Buchanan, theother one is Byron.
Um, and, uh, Buchananis located in Concord.
(00:42):
What can you share about the
work that's beingdone in your division?
Well, for the most part, youknow, our focus is on day to
day operations for uh a safeairport or airports, and then
we have special projects thatthey go on, but, you know, this
time of year, uh for theday to day operations, um.
(01:04):
We're largely in in vegetationmanagement, or said more
plainly, a lot of mowing.
There's uh grass in theinfields that needs to be mowed
to keep our our signs visible,uh our lights visible, and so
that's uh right this this time
of year, that'swhat we're doing.
(01:25):
So, um, talk about yourbackground in aviation.
Uh, not everycounty has airports.
We are fortunate enough to havetwo of them and we'll go into
some further detail abouteconomic drivers and and kind
of assets to the community,but what is your background?
Are you a pilot?
How did you get into this work?
Yeah, no, I, I've had along history in aviation.
(01:45):
I became interestedas a as a kid.
Uh, my godfather, um, whohappened to live next door when
I was growing up, uh, wasbuilding his own, uh, Long
Easy, and I was about 10 yearsold when I took my first flight
in his aircraft, and ever sincethen I've been interested in
aviation, um.
(02:07):
Went off to college at SanJose State University with the
intent of flying professionally.
Um, that didn't come tofruition, but, uh, I learned
how to fly in, in collegeand still maintain.
Somewhat currency uh these days.
While at San Jose, I also gotmy, it's called the air frame
(02:27):
and power plant certificatesto, to work on aircraft, and
that was actually my first jobat a college was with United
Airlines uh working on.
Wide body aircraft, um.
I then went into.
Uh, the public sector for, uh,after United, I went and got my
(02:48):
master's in publicadministration at Sonoma State
University andthen got into, uh.
Airport management about10 or so years ago.
Before coming to Contra Costaabout 3 years ago, I managed
the Napa County Airport, andum, yeah, that was one airport,
now I'm, I've got 2.
(03:10):
Um, I mean, that's amazing.
It's, it's what a journey it'sbeen to go from, you know,
private to public and, and to,you know, full circle, be able
to deliver some of thoseservices here in Contra Costa
County, um.
We like our airports here.
Can you talk about some ofthe economic impacts that the
airports bring, because both ofthem have kind of a different
(03:32):
flavor, you know, there'ssome at Byron, there's lots of
drones and, and, you know,other types of flights
happening there, but, um, talkabout what does an airport
bring to a community?
Sure, and you, you raised areally good point, um, in terms
of airports being different,uh, there's a saying in this
business, you've seen oneairport, you've seen one
(03:52):
airport, um, our airports are,are very different and unique
and and ours hold true, right?
Um, so in terms of, you know,the, the asset that they are,
they are definitelyan economic asset.
Um, We run as as many uhmunicipal airports do, whether
it's a city or county we run onan enterprise enterprise fund
(04:16):
um economic model wherethe intent is to be self
sufficient, self sustaining,and we do that largely through,
uh, real estate, uh, leasingout space, hangars, um,
buildings for, forbusinesses, etc.
Um, and so because we're anenterprise fund, um, we, we are
(04:38):
not a line in the general fundof the county, meaning, you
know, and it is somewhat ofa misnomer out there that the
airports are fundedby tax dollars and
Generally speaking, allairports strive to to not be
that way and we are.
Self-sustaining through our own.
Uh, fees and, and, and rentsand stuff, and not only are we
(05:01):
not taking the airport'sdivision of public works is not
taking general fund money as aas a line item, um, we actually
generate revenue that comesto the to the county to the
general fund and to the schoolsof the county through uh the
different taxes that come withleasing property and taxes on
(05:22):
aircraft on an annual basis.
Um, so for example.
Typically, um, in past yearsover a million dollars from the
airports goes into the generalfund and, and equally about the
same to to the schools.
So again in summary we're not,we're not taking from uh the
tax base but we're actuallycontributing to, uh, the
(05:45):
general fund.
In terms of jobs between thetwo airports, there's over 800
jobs, uh, that come from theairports, um, you know, not
just counting jobs, butthere's businesses uh that are
conducting business at atboth airports, um, we're job
training center.
(06:08):
There's a lot of folks thatcome to the airports to learn
how to fly.
They want careers in aviationand they, they learn how to fly
here and then go off and.
And fly for a lot ofthem for major airlines.
Um,
We, public safety, um, is a is
a big one, especiallyat Buchanan.
(06:28):
Uh, the Contra Costa CountySheriff, their air operations
unit operates a helicopter,uh, out of Buchanan.
Reach Air Medical Services,um, operates out of Buchanan.
And PG&E operates two fixedwing aircraft and then a lot of
their contractors that dopipeline inspections and, and
(06:48):
aerial line electricalline inspections, um.
come out of Buchanan as well.
Um, And then while we're not
Always
A, a center for um naturaldisaster responses, but a lot
of times airports in generalserve as uh a a place when
(07:14):
you're responding to a naturaldisaster in these days it's,
it's wildfires, um.
And Airports are serving justlike we saw in the the LA
County fires.
Airports served a big, a bigservice there and so we're
always kind of standing ready.
We have a lot of uh pavementand, and good ingress grass
(07:35):
for, um, responding toto natural disasters.
Plus you have all that spacetoo for large equipment to be
positioned, um, and you can dothat relatively quickly with a
little planning.
Um, what else, uh, doyou, do you have there?
I know you, you have kind ofsome community involvement or
(07:55):
some community resources,um, particularly at Buchanan.
Um, what are some of theservices provided there?
Sure, so we have a semi-privatecharter company called JSX that
people can, um, you know, buytickets and, and fly on JSX.
Where can they go?
So those, uh, JSX out ofBuchanan goes to Las Vegas,
(08:16):
Burbank, and Orange County.
On the community side and, andengaging with the, the public,
our neighbors, we have anannual Santa event that Santa
rides in on the firetruck and then um.
Sits and and kids have anopportunity to take a photo of
a free photo with Santa.
(08:37):
Um, This is the the upcomingwill be the 3rd annual Girls on
Aviation Day.
Uh, the last two havebeen a huge success.
Uh, a lot of, uh, youngladies have come to Buchanan.
And uh last year we had a C-130come in from, from the Air
Force and that was athat was a huge hit.
(08:58):
So airports can be noisy.
You have flights and airplanes,you know, coming uh overhead.
Um, we have a noisereduction program.
What, what's the airport doingto try and minimize the noise
in the community?
Sure, so that's, it's theprogram's been around for a
while, um, and there's, butit's an ongoing, uh, it really
(09:19):
comes down to education andreminding, uh, folks of our
program because mostof it is voluntary.
Uh, there are a couple piecesthat uh are actually in a way
ways ordinance that areenforceable, um, but most of it
comes from uh a voluntary basisand so we do outreach to Let
(09:41):
pilots know where the sensitiveareas are, um, the best routes
in and out that that the the.
Have the least impact on ourneighbors because at the end of
the day we want to be goodneighbors we want to integrate
with the community uh we wantto be that that community asset
(10:01):
and, and so it's it's in ourown self interest to be to be
good neighbors.
Uh, we've we've one of theflight schools has recently
started buying aa different, um.
Type of aircraft it's actuallymuch quieter than some of the
other ones that they were using
and and again it's,it's outreach.
(10:22):
uh, I recently met with, forexample, the Contra Costa
County Sheriff's department,you know, flying their
helicopter in and out to, um,because, you know, people,
there's also turnover and, andso when you have new people
come in, they may notbe aware of our program.
Um, so I met with them recently.
I'll be meeting againwith Reach Air Medical.
They're another helicopteroperator that comes and goes
(10:44):
quite frequently.
And so just meeting with theirstaff so they understand, uh,
where we're hearing concerns
and, and how wecan address that.
So it's also just generalawareness, but there's
proactive efforts taking place
to try to minimize um the noise.
Uh,
(11:05):
if, if that doesn't work, howdoes someone submit a noise
complaint, um, or an inquiry?
Navigate to our web page andon the right hand side, I think
it's the second tab down thatsays, you know, file a noise
complaint or, and we actually,we've integrated that word um.
Inquiry into our vocabularybecause a lot of times people
(11:27):
don't necessarilycall to complain.
They're calling to.
To ask for information, um,you know, they, they heard
something and, andwhy is it that way?
And and once we explain.
The why and, and for example,if it's a, you know, we can do
the research and find out thatthe, that flight that they're
(11:47):
calling about was, you know,late at night or early in the
morning because it was a it was
a medical responseby reach, right?
And so.
Cause, cause a lot of times inthe middle of the night, they,
it's, it's pretty quiet.
And so once you explain thewhy, uh, people understand, so
it's, it's a lot of that is aninquiry and it's an opportunity
(12:09):
for us to um educate and andshare uh the asset that is the
airport, you know.
Yeah, sometimes it doesn't comefrom a place of adversarial and
it's just gen genuine um.
Uh, curiosity.
We've talked about some of theeconomic impacts in terms of
(12:29):
job creation, um,here in the county.
What about uh some of theinnovative technology being
used at the airports becauseyou don't just always see
planes flying.
So what else do you havegoing on at the airports?
So yeah, um, prior to, tocoming here, there was a a kind
of a pilot programthat was started.
(12:50):
It's called the, the batsprogram or Bay Area test site,
um, where the county has been,
you know, the, the thoughtprocess has been to be
welcoming to, uh, this, thisnew innovative technology and
and these startup companiesthat are working in the.
Called the urban air mobility,uh, kind of age and, and, um,
(13:12):
so mostly a Byron because ofits location and it's, um, the
airspace that's around, it'sstill very close to the, to the
Bay Area for for travelpurposes, but uh we've got
several companies testing theirdifferent technology, um, and
so it, it's, it'spretty exciting.
(13:34):
It's, it's pretty cool to seesome of the stuff that's going
on there.
The, the Buchanan, um, airport,you recently helped host a
ribbon cutting ceremony there.
Um, what was that about?
Can you tell us a little bitmore about what's, what's new
at Buchanan?
So yeah, we recently opened um.
A new facility, it'sabout 18,000 square feet.
(13:57):
It houses, um, ouradministrative offices, uh, it
houses the the primary purposebehind it was uh a new our
facility which standsfor aircraft rescue and
firefighting so it houses two,
fire trucks and uh amenitiesfor our um safety officers.
(14:19):
And then the the last pieceis uh kind of more of a
traditional terminal uh areafor operators such as JSX or if
we were to get anotheroperator that would.
You know, use it asa as a terminal area.
And so that that ribbon cuttingwas to let the community see
what we've been doing,show that it's um.
(14:43):
A, a community benefit, uh, tohave companies like JSX, um,
and show our safety presenceat the airport and that was
actually featured uh onContra Costa's TV episode
5 of Inside PublicWorks as well.
(15:03):
If there is one takeaway fromtoday's discussion, what would
you want people toremember the most?
That uh, that the airports area community asset, um, and to
feel free to to reach out we,um, I have plenty of staff, uh,
that they can, they havequestions they can give us a
(15:25):
call and I'm my door exceptwhen I'm in meetings is always
open and happy tomeet with people about
about the airports and what
opportunities existat at both airports.
Well, uh, that's itfor today's show.
I'm your host, Christy Jordan,Contrast County's public
information officer.
(15:47):
Thanks for joining us onthe Government Speak podcast
brought to you by the Officeof Communications and Media.
But don't just take our wordfor it, stay curious, stay
connected, and stay informed.
Until next time, keep your mindopen and your facts straight.
Welcome to government Speak.
This is where we'll cut throughthe government speak to get the
information you need aboutcounty programs, services, and
events straight from the source.
Welcome to Government Speak,
Contra Costa County'sofficial podcast.
I'm your host, Christy Jordan,Contra Costa County's public
information officer, andon this episode we have our
(00:20):
director of airports, GregBear, joining us in studio at
10 Douglas.
Greg, welcome to the podcast.
Thank you.
Happy to be here.
So for those who might notbe familiar, airports are a
division of County Public Works.
We've got two airportsin the county.
One's Buchanan, theother one is Byron.
Um, and, uh, Buchananis located in Concord.
(00:42):
What can you share about the
work that's beingdone in your division?
Well, for the most part, youknow, our focus is on day to
day operations for uh a safeairport or airports, and then
we have special projects thatthey go on, but, you know, this
time of year, uh for theday to day operations, um.
(01:04):
We're largely in in vegetationmanagement, or said more
plainly, a lot of mowing.
There's uh grass in theinfields that needs to be mowed
to keep our our signs visible,uh our lights visible, and so
that's uh right this this time
of year, that'swhat we're doing.
(01:25):
So, um, talk about yourbackground in aviation.
Uh, not everycounty has airports.
We are fortunate enough to havetwo of them and we'll go into
some further detail abouteconomic drivers and and kind
of assets to the community,but what is your background?
Are you a pilot?
How did you get into this work?
Yeah, no, I, I've had along history in aviation.
(01:45):
I became interestedas a as a kid.
Uh, my godfather, um, whohappened to live next door when
I was growing up, uh, wasbuilding his own, uh, Long
Easy, and I was about 10 yearsold when I took my first flight
in his aircraft, and ever sincethen I've been interested in
aviation, um.
(02:07):
Went off to college at SanJose State University with the
intent of flying professionally.
Um, that didn't come tofruition, but, uh, I learned
how to fly in, in collegeand still maintain.
Somewhat currency uh these days.
While at San Jose, I also gotmy, it's called the air frame
(02:27):
and power plant certificatesto, to work on aircraft, and
that was actually my first jobat a college was with United
Airlines uh working on.
Wide body aircraft, um.
I then went into.
Uh, the public sector for, uh,after United, I went and got my
(02:48):
master's in publicadministration at Sonoma State
University andthen got into, uh.
Airport management about10 or so years ago.
Before coming to Contra Costaabout 3 years ago, I managed
the Napa County Airport, andum, yeah, that was one airport,
now I'm, I've got 2.
(03:10):
Um, I mean, that's amazing.
It's, it's what a journey it'sbeen to go from, you know,
private to public and, and to,you know, full circle, be able
to deliver some of thoseservices here in Contra Costa
County, um.
We like our airports here.
Can you talk about some ofthe economic impacts that the
airports bring, because both ofthem have kind of a different
(03:32):
flavor, you know, there'ssome at Byron, there's lots of
drones and, and, you know,other types of flights
happening there, but, um, talkabout what does an airport
bring to a community?
Sure, and you, you raised areally good point, um, in terms
of airports being different,uh, there's a saying in this
business, you've seen oneairport, you've seen one
(03:52):
airport, um, our airports are,are very different and unique
and and ours hold true, right?
Um, so in terms of, you know,the, the asset that they are,
they are definitelyan economic asset.
Um, We run as as many uhmunicipal airports do, whether
it's a city or county we run onan enterprise enterprise fund
(04:16):
um economic model wherethe intent is to be self
sufficient, self sustaining,and we do that largely through,
uh, real estate, uh, leasingout space, hangars, um,
buildings for, forbusinesses, etc.
Um, and so because we're anenterprise fund, um, we, we are
(04:38):
not a line in the general fundof the county, meaning, you
know, and it is somewhat ofa misnomer out there that the
airports are fundedby tax dollars and
Generally speaking, allairports strive to to not be
that way and we are.
Self-sustaining through our own.
Uh, fees and, and, and rentsand stuff, and not only are we
(05:01):
not taking the airport'sdivision of public works is not
taking general fund money as aas a line item, um, we actually
generate revenue that comesto the to the county to the
general fund and to the schoolsof the county through uh the
different taxes that come withleasing property and taxes on
(05:22):
aircraft on an annual basis.
Um, so for example.
Typically, um, in past yearsover a million dollars from the
airports goes into the generalfund and, and equally about the
same to to the schools.
So again in summary we're not,we're not taking from uh the
tax base but we're actuallycontributing to, uh, the
(05:45):
general fund.
In terms of jobs between thetwo airports, there's over 800
jobs, uh, that come from theairports, um, you know, not
just counting jobs, butthere's businesses uh that are
conducting business at atboth airports, um, we're job
training center.
(06:08):
There's a lot of folks thatcome to the airports to learn
how to fly.
They want careers in aviationand they, they learn how to fly
here and then go off and.
And fly for a lot ofthem for major airlines.
Um,
We, public safety, um, is a is
a big one, especiallyat Buchanan.
(06:28):
Uh, the Contra Costa CountySheriff, their air operations
unit operates a helicopter,uh, out of Buchanan.
Reach Air Medical Services,um, operates out of Buchanan.
And PG&E operates two fixedwing aircraft and then a lot of
their contractors that dopipeline inspections and, and
(06:48):
aerial line electricalline inspections, um.
come out of Buchanan as well.
Um, And then while we're not
Always
A, a center for um naturaldisaster responses, but a lot
of times airports in generalserve as uh a a place when
(07:14):
you're responding to a naturaldisaster in these days it's,
it's wildfires, um.
And Airports are serving justlike we saw in the the LA
County fires.
Airports served a big, a bigservice there and so we're
always kind of standing ready.
We have a lot of uh pavementand, and good ingress grass
(07:35):
for, um, responding toto natural disasters.
Plus you have all that spacetoo for large equipment to be
positioned, um, and you can dothat relatively quickly with a
little planning.
Um, what else, uh, doyou, do you have there?
I know you, you have kind ofsome community involvement or
(07:55):
some community resources,um, particularly at Buchanan.
Um, what are some of theservices provided there?
Sure, so we have a semi-privatecharter company called JSX that
people can, um, you know, buytickets and, and fly on JSX.
Where can they go?
So those, uh, JSX out ofBuchanan goes to Las Vegas,
(08:16):
Burbank, and Orange County.
On the community side and, andengaging with the, the public,
our neighbors, we have anannual Santa event that Santa
rides in on the firetruck and then um.
Sits and and kids have anopportunity to take a photo of
a free photo with Santa.
(08:37):
Um, This is the the upcomingwill be the 3rd annual Girls on
Aviation Day.
Uh, the last two havebeen a huge success.
Uh, a lot of, uh, youngladies have come to Buchanan.
And uh last year we had a C-130come in from, from the Air
Force and that was athat was a huge hit.
(08:58):
So airports can be noisy.
You have flights and airplanes,you know, coming uh overhead.
Um, we have a noisereduction program.
What, what's the airport doingto try and minimize the noise
in the community?
Sure, so that's, it's theprogram's been around for a
while, um, and there's, butit's an ongoing, uh, it really
(09:19):
comes down to education andreminding, uh, folks of our
program because mostof it is voluntary.
Uh, there are a couple piecesthat uh are actually in a way
ways ordinance that areenforceable, um, but most of it
comes from uh a voluntary basisand so we do outreach to Let
(09:41):
pilots know where the sensitiveareas are, um, the best routes
in and out that that the the.
Have the least impact on ourneighbors because at the end of
the day we want to be goodneighbors we want to integrate
with the community uh we wantto be that that community asset
(10:01):
and, and so it's it's in ourown self interest to be to be
good neighbors.
Uh, we've we've one of theflight schools has recently
started buying aa different, um.
Type of aircraft it's actuallymuch quieter than some of the
other ones that they were using
and and again it's,it's outreach.
(10:22):
uh, I recently met with, forexample, the Contra Costa
County Sheriff's department,you know, flying their
helicopter in and out to, um,because, you know, people,
there's also turnover and, andso when you have new people
come in, they may notbe aware of our program.
Um, so I met with them recently.
I'll be meeting againwith Reach Air Medical.
They're another helicopteroperator that comes and goes
(10:44):
quite frequently.
And so just meeting with theirstaff so they understand, uh,
where we're hearing concerns
and, and how wecan address that.
So it's also just generalawareness, but there's
proactive efforts taking place
to try to minimize um the noise.
Uh,
(11:05):
if, if that doesn't work, howdoes someone submit a noise
complaint, um, or an inquiry?
Navigate to our web page andon the right hand side, I think
it's the second tab down thatsays, you know, file a noise
complaint or, and we actually,we've integrated that word um.
Inquiry into our vocabularybecause a lot of times people
(11:27):
don't necessarilycall to complain.
They're calling to.
To ask for information, um,you know, they, they heard
something and, andwhy is it that way?
And and once we explain.
The why and, and for example,if it's a, you know, we can do
the research and find out thatthe, that flight that they're
(11:47):
calling about was, you know,late at night or early in the
morning because it was a it was
a medical responseby reach, right?
And so.
Cause, cause a lot of times inthe middle of the night, they,
it's, it's pretty quiet.
And so once you explain thewhy, uh, people understand, so
it's, it's a lot of that is aninquiry and it's an opportunity
(12:09):
for us to um educate and andshare uh the asset that is the
airport, you know.
Yeah, sometimes it doesn't comefrom a place of adversarial and
it's just gen genuine um.
Uh, curiosity.
We've talked about some of theeconomic impacts in terms of
(12:29):
job creation, um,here in the county.
What about uh some of theinnovative technology being
used at the airports becauseyou don't just always see
planes flying.
So what else do you havegoing on at the airports?
So yeah, um, prior to, tocoming here, there was a a kind
of a pilot programthat was started.
(12:50):
It's called the, the batsprogram or Bay Area test site,
um, where the county has been,
you know, the, the thoughtprocess has been to be
welcoming to, uh, this, thisnew innovative technology and
and these startup companiesthat are working in the.
Called the urban air mobility,uh, kind of age and, and, um,
(13:12):
so mostly a Byron because ofits location and it's, um, the
airspace that's around, it'sstill very close to the, to the
Bay Area for for travelpurposes, but uh we've got
several companies testing theirdifferent technology, um, and
so it, it's, it'spretty exciting.
(13:34):
It's, it's pretty cool to seesome of the stuff that's going
on there.
The, the Buchanan, um, airport,you recently helped host a
ribbon cutting ceremony there.
Um, what was that about?
Can you tell us a little bitmore about what's, what's new
at Buchanan?
So yeah, we recently opened um.
A new facility, it'sabout 18,000 square feet.
(13:57):
It houses, um, ouradministrative offices, uh, it
houses the the primary purposebehind it was uh a new our
facility which standsfor aircraft rescue and
firefighting so it houses two,
fire trucks and uh amenitiesfor our um safety officers.
(14:19):
And then the the last pieceis uh kind of more of a
traditional terminal uh areafor operators such as JSX or if
we were to get anotheroperator that would.
You know, use it asa as a terminal area.
And so that that ribbon cuttingwas to let the community see
what we've been doing,show that it's um.
(14:43):
A, a community benefit, uh, tohave companies like JSX, um,
and show our safety presenceat the airport and that was
actually featured uh onContra Costa's TV episode
5 of Inside PublicWorks as well.
(15:03):
If there is one takeaway fromtoday's discussion, what would
you want people toremember the most?
That uh, that the airports area community asset, um, and to
feel free to to reach out we,um, I have plenty of staff, uh,
that they can, they havequestions they can give us a
(15:25):
call and I'm my door exceptwhen I'm in meetings is always
open and happy tomeet with people about
about the airports and what
opportunities existat at both airports.
Well, uh, that's itfor today's show.
I'm your host, Christy Jordan,Contrast County's public
information officer.
(15:47):
Thanks for joining us onthe Government Speak podcast
brought to you by the Officeof Communications and Media.
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