BETHEL – HatzolAir, a charitable organization also known as Hatzolah Emergency Air Response Team, will build its world headquarters at Sullivan County International Airport.
“We look forward to partnering with Sullivan County to operate a world-class lifesaving effort from its airport,” said Eli Rowe, HatzolAir’s managing director and a county resident.
Its mission is to provide, arrange, facilitate and fund local, national and worldwide air transportation to those in need due to medical, humanitarian, disaster relief, compassion and/or other charitable reasons.
Part of the Hatzolah emergency medical service system, the group has signed a 30-year lease on just under 22 acres for $18 per year for as long as HatzolAir holds the lease, for a potential total of 120 years.
The company plans to build a hangar for five jets and a helicopter, and a fuel farm which it will convey ownership to the county. It will pay the county $18,000 annually to cover required permitting and maintenance costs as well as a surcharge of 30-cents per gallon.
Until its hangar is built, it will use the airport’s Hangar 7, of some 9,000-square-feet. A current tenant there will continue to use office space.
Last year, while hangered at Westchester County Airport, HatzolAir purchased 400,000 gallons of fuel for its two-jet operation.
The organization will pay Sullivan County $300-per-month for lawn-mowing, snow removal and other maintenance activities.
The county will work with HatzolAir to identify funding sources to construct the buildings and infrastructure necessary for the new hangar and headquarters.
