Signature Flight Support filed a Part 16 complaint yesterday with the FAA disputing the legality of the decision by the Orange County (California) Board of Supervisors to grant another FBO the leasehold held by Signature for more than two decades. The 28-page filing included a detailed legal case, and implications that political corruption was at the root of the board’s decision.

Among several other issues, Signature’s complaint focuses on the county’s request for qualifications (RFQ) process, which consisted of a complex matrix of criteria and qualifications. Of six applicants for the leasehold, Signature finished first in the ratings, with the other FBO on the field, Atlantic Aviation, finishing second and ACI Jet, a California entity that Signature characterizes as underqualified with only small-airport experience, finishing fifth. Despite an independent five-member advisory board and the five-member John Wayne Airport Commission unanimously deciding in favor of Signature and Atlantic, the county board nevertheless granted the leasehold to ACI Jet, according to the filing. The county further gave Signature 30 days to vacate the premises.

Signature is asking the FAA to intervene with a cease and desist order against the county to first, stop the eviction process, and then to re-evaluate the granting of the leasehold. The companiy claims the decision was based on what Signature characterizes as undue influence on the part of an individual who, Signature said, tried to encourage the board to allow him control of the leasehold.