John Mason reports in the Register Star Mahlon Richards, president of Richmor Aviation, responded Mon., Oct. 21, to critics of the proposed improvements to the Columbia County Airport with a defense of the economic benefits his business brings to the county. In an email to Mason, Richards stated his case for creating a safety zone for the existing runway and enlarging the runoff area. Richards said that without the proposed safety zone, some aircraft could not use the runway safely. He said as a direct result some corporate pilots will choose to land at Albany International instead. This could impact corporate decisions to locate business developments in Columbia County, he wrote. Citing the 2011 study by engineering consultants McFarland-Johnson, Richards stated Richmor supports 95 jobs and and helps the county generate $7.6 million in income from sources outside the county. Thirty-seven of the 95 jobs are located at the airport, carrying a payroll of more than $2.5 million, he said. Read the full story in the Register Star.