While only one of the options is privatisation, it is the one which has caused alarm.

Executive director of AOPA, Benjamin Morgan, described his organisation as a general Aviation advocate based out of Sydney.

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"I am deeply alarmed at what the council have done here," he said.

He called for government grants used to develop the airport to be refunded. 

But council CEO Susan Law has fired back saying she held concerns about damaging rumours and misinformation, which she said was sending the wrong message to ratepayers.

The row started after the council ran newspaper advertisements in metropolitan mastheads on February 23 asking for Expressions Of Interest for the management of the Armidale Regional Airport. Council saw it as gathering information, but Mr Morgan thought it was a move to privatise and he said Armidale had much to lose.

"Council may or may not decide to move to tender - depending on the progress of the dialogue, and whether council wished to pursue any of the options," Mrs Law said.

Mr Morgan strongly warned against privatising the Armidale Airport, and he wanted to know why the people of Australia should be paving the way for a lucrative sale to a commercial entity. 

"Why are the taxpayers of Australia being abused? Should we be referring this to the productivity commission and be asking for an audit?" he said.

Mrs Law said the EOI was all about eliciting more potential options for a positive future for the airport rather than have it continue to be supported by ratepayers.

"It would be irresponsible for council not to canvass other options for the running and ownership of the airport that do not rely on continuing to have the ratepayers of Armidale subsidise it," Mrs Law said.

She said council acknowledged in some instances there may be highly successful commercial operators that are better placed to develop the airport precinct to its full potential than a local government entity.

Mrs Law said immediate airport stakeholders were individually informed about the EOI in meetings with council representatives on or about February 18.

CEO of Armidale based Fleet Helicopters, Mike Watson, told AOPA following the meetings  that he had expressed concerns. He said the airport was an asset owned and managed for the benefit of the entire community and he had cautioned against its privatisation.

"There is a very small minority of people jumping to negative conclusions and I want to assure the public that no decision has been made, and we are a long, long way off from even considering selling the airport,” Mrs Law said.

"Prominent and well respected business leaders in our community have provided their support for this process and are asking the community to have an open mind." 

CEO of Regional Australia Bank Kevin Dupe said there were some instances where the private sector was better placed than local government to manage and grow publicly owned facilities like the airport and business park development.

Former Dumaresq Shire general manager Don Tydd was passionate about the airport and its future.

"I would hate to see his legacy stalled and a strong future for the airport and business park thwarted due to a small minority of people in this community snatching defeat from the jaws of victory,” he said.

Airport Aviation business owner Brad Edwards was supportive of the council’s approach.

“I believe the council has the community’s best interests at heart and it would be remiss of them not to explore every option,” Mr Edwards said.