Why Livewire Aviation?
As you may know, Livewire Aviation is in discussions with the county for a lease of the corporate hangar the county plans to build at the Inverness Airport. This video dives into that and raises the question of why/how this was given to Livewire.
Check out the video below. A summary is provided below that for those that wish to read about it instead.
SUMMARY
In this video, I investigate the decision-making process behind awarding a corporate hangar at Inverness Airport to Livewire Aviation, led by Alonda McCarty, instead of the long-standing fixed-base operator (FBO), Right-Rudder Aviation, run by Andy Chan. The video highlights years of work by Andy to secure grants for Citrus County to build hangars and expand aviation services. Andy had actively written and submitted grant applications, lobbied in Tallahassee, collaborated with Withlacoochee Technical College (WTC) on aviation mechanic education programs, and received support from the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority.
Official documents and county commission meeting records show that Andy had been the original advocate and assumed beneficiary of the corporate hangar project. Early applications explicitly stated the hangar would be used by the existing FBO (Andy), with part of it allocated for WTC’s FAA Part 147 aircraft maintenance program.
Despite this, in January 2023, Alonda McCarty of Livewire Aviation entered the picture, formally introducing herself via email and requesting a hangar. Over subsequent months, she was moved to the top of a previously unpublicized “list” for hangar allocation, seemingly leapfrogging Andy. County commissioners, especially Rebecca Bays and Ruthie Schlabach, pushed heavily for Alonda’s heli-plex proposal, which aimed to relocate helicopters for emergency services and law enforcement to a centralized facility, as well as bring in new helicopter businesses, including her own. However, this heli-plex concept had not previously been part of the airport’s official master plan.
Throughout 2023, county resources and grant opportunities shifted focus from Andy’s established plans to accommodate Alonda’s new proposal. Meetings, emails, and text messages revealed frequent behind-the-scenes communication between Alonda and county officials, including updates on grant progress, design plans, and lease negotiations. These interactions suggest a special relationship that granted Livewire Aviation considerable influence over the project’s direction.
Meanwhile, Andy continued his advocacy, reiterating his role in securing grant funds and questioning why he was passed over. At public meetings, he emphasized that he had submitted over 10 grant proposals and invested heavily in the county’s aviation growth without compensation. He also noted he was originally promised a hangar, with half designated for WTC’s training program.
Despite these contributions, the county proceeded with plans for a 12,000-square-foot hangar for Livewire Aviation using a $3 million funding package (split evenly between FDOT and Citrus County). This was significantly smaller than the 50,000 square feet Alonda initially requested, yet she accepted the offer.
The video concludes with critical questions: Why was Alonda chosen over Andy? What was the official selection process for the hangar? Why wasn’t there a transparent RFP (Request for Proposal) or public application process? Without a clear, documented procedure, the county opens itself up to favoritism and missed opportunities for community growth and educational investment.