GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - Hangar businesses at the Grand Junction Regional Airport are taking flight, now that a security gate is fencing them in. The federally funded fence meant to avert wildlife and terrorists has forced general aviation operators to escort their customers through a swipe-card operated gate.

"The next thing we know, we have this, and it happened overnight," says Dana Brewer, owner of Monument Aircraft Services.

"No alternative has been as viable, or viable period, or fund-able like the security access gates we're putting in," says Amy Jordan, deputy director of administration at the airport.

It wasn't a viable option for Brewer. He sold his hangar and is taking off to Mack Mesa Airport. "It's a hard decision to make... This airport has been pretty unfriendly to general aviation in general," says Brewer.

"We've tried to reach out and work as best we can with the community," says Jordan.

The airport hired a third party security expert Jeff Price, from Denver, to examine possible alternate routes for security, besides the fence. Price suggested leaving the gates open during business hours, but that plan was rejected by the TSA. "They disapproved formally in writing. So it didn't leave many options after that," says Price.

It's a ruling that is questioned by many airport businesses, since they weren't able to see the secure documents due to security reasons. The next option many hangars have chosen is to move. Brewer says he knows of at least a handful now up for sale.

"It's a tragedy for businesses that had public access and they've lost it," says Rory Maughan, who works on a private hangar at the airport.

It's a loss that airport heads say is necessary for airport security. Hangar operators say it was a tailspin of bad decisions.

The access gates will be locked on November 7th. Only airport workers with badges will be allowed through. Everyone else will need an escort.