Airport sees drop in sales

A dramatic drop in fuel sales at Portland Municipal Airport is being attributed to a business decision by the airport’s former manager and winter weather.
Miller Aviation, owned by former airport manager Dave Miller, is no longer purchasing large amounts of fuel at the local airport. Severe weather was also likely a factor in the fuel sales drop through the first six weeks of this year.
During a meeting of the Portland Aviation Board Wednesday, airport manager Hal Tavzel told the board during his monthly report that just $832.62 in fuel was sold at the airport in January.
As of Tuesday, only $253.37 in fuel has been sold this month. No jet fuel was sold this month or last. This is a dramatic drop compared to December, when $2,125.15 in fuel was sold at the airport. In November, $1,570.98 was sold.
Tavzel said many pilots don’t fly during times of snow and ice, unless absolutely necessary.
Tavzel said that Miller purchases the majority of his fuel at other area airports, although he continues to maintain a presence at the Portland airport.
Discord between Miller, the board of aviation and Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier resulted in Miller’s airport management contract not being renewed early in 2010. Tavzel was hired in April.
The city took over fuel sales at the airport last fall by installing a pay at the pump system. The fuel sales were previously operated by the manager.
In other business Wednesday, board members approved a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration, stating that the city plans to use an estimated $422,000 in grant money later this year for construction of a new fueling station.
Board members plan to use their Non-Primary Entitlement funds for the fueling station. The FAA gives the city a $150,000 grant each year. So far, the city has four years of unused NPE funds.
In a related matter, Mike Evans of Woolpert Inc. told board members that he is working to gather information on past fuel sales at the airport. This information must be submitted to the FAA in order for the city to proceed with the new fueling area. Also, he is working to register the city with the FAA’s Central Contractor Registration.
The city is considered a vendor because it controls fuel sales at the airport. The city must be registered with the system in order to use NPE funds for the new fueling system, he said.
Also Wednesday, board members:
•Welcomed Linda Kennedy to the aviation board. She replaced Mark Franklin, who resigned.
Kennedy is a past member of the aviation board, and also has served on the city council and as city clerk-treasurer.
•Approved monthly claims of $7,961.13.
Among the claims was $5,352.40 for snow removal at the airport. Tavzel said the airport was closed down for half a day during the recent ice storm, but was re-opened after snow and ice were removed from the runway and taxiway.
•Voted to approve a $6,123.75 pay request for Woolpert for the airport layout planning.
Woolpert is designing a new layout for the airport — which includes the new fueling station, a new terminal building, new aprons and new hangars. The city will pay 3.75 percent of the costs, the state will pay 1.25 percent and the FAA will pay the rest.[[In-content Ad]]