Interim airport director nominated

The Spokane International Airport board of directors Wednesday nominated former Providence Health Care chief executive Ryland “Skip” Davis to be interim director.

If approved by the Spokane City Council and Spokane County Commissioners, he would replace Neal Sealock, who is retiring after five years as director to pursue a Ph.D.

The board accepted Sealock’s resignation effective Wednesday. He had announced his decision to step down July 2.

Davis himself retired in 2008 after 13 years at Providence and Sacred Heart Medical Center. A pilot who owns an airplane kept at Felts Field, Davis has been president of the Spokane Airport Tenants Association.

He resigned that position to become interim manager.

“I’ve already had a taste of retirement and I’m not sure I like it,” Davis said.

Davis said he will serve while the board conducts a national search for a permanent replacement, but added, “I don’t intend this to be a caretaker kind of period.”

He said he wants to increase awareness of the airport as an economic asset. The recession has slowed aviation activity, he said, but the airport should be made ready for a rebound.

Jeff Hamilton, incoming chair of the airport’s personnel committee, noted Davis’ experience managing a large organization in a business that, like aviation, is highly regulated.

“We are delighted to have a person of Skip’s caliber, experience and acumen willing to assume this position on an interim basis,” Hamilton said.

The board also approved the transfer of leases and operating agreements from Cascade Aerospace to JetTech Aerospace, which will allow the newly independent company to continue aircraft maintenance operations on the airport’s south side.