Interest expressed in new hangar

Another new hangar may be added to Portland Municipal Airport.

Tim Homan of Lakefield CNC visited Portland Board of Aviation on Wednesday to share his desire to construct a new hangar at the facility.

Homan, a resident of Celina, Ohio, originally visited the aviation board in November 2021 to express interest in building a hangar but said Wednesday at that time he was not ready to move forward with the project. He said Lakefield CNC has continued to grow, which led him to visit Portland’s airport within the last month to raise the issue again. He met with aviation board president Faron Parr and airport manager Hal Tavzel.

“I was just really impressed that you guys really have your stuff together,” said Homan, referencing the airport layout plan that details sites for potential future hangar construction. “It really made me think this is what I want to do.”

He said of the sites available he is most interested in a spot to the west of the airport parking lot and fuel farm. 

Asked what size hangar he would like to build, Homan said at least 80 feet by 80 feet. (That would be the same size as the new corporate hangar Tavzel’s Sonrise Aviation put in this year.)

Homan said he will be back to visit the aviation board when he has plans for a hangar completed, perhaps as early as next month.

“We’d be glad to have you over here,” said Parr. “That’s what we try to encourage … I’m glad that you’re considering us.”

Also Monday, board members Clyde Bray, John Ferguson and Parr, absent Caleb Lutes, approved the purchase and installation of a new electrical vault box from Appalachian Foothills Contracting of Lexington, Kentucky, at a cost of $16,239.23. The company had the low quote by more than $6,000. (It also handled the lighting work for the airport’s runway extension project that was completed in 2022.)

There was an electrical issue with the vault recently that affected lights and resulted in the runway being shut down for several nights. Coppersmith of Portland was able to fix the issue, but Tavzel recommended getting the equipment replaced to avoid potential longer runway shutdowns. (He noted that there can be a four-month lead time or longer for the vault boxes.)

The board also approved a $70,282.15 contract with HSC Pavement Maintenance of Indianapolis for sealing cracks in the original runway and taxiway at the airport. The work is planned for 2025.

In other business, the board:

•Heard from Portland clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips that T-hangar rental agreements for 2025 have been sent to tenants. The board agreed last month to increase monthly rent to $100 from the current $95.

•Approved an amendment to a T-hangar rental agreement with Brian Albers to allow him to have a fuel tank for motor gas for his plane at the airport. The contract requires Albers to provide proof of insurance.

•Heard a lease has been signed with adjacent property owner Richard Schafer for storage space for airport equipment effective Oct. 1 through March 31 at a rate of $1,500 per quarter.

•Learned the following from Tavzel:

   —He attended the first day of the Aviation Indiana annual conference Tuesday in Terre Haute. Butler, Fairman & Seufert engineer Jason Clearwaters, who works with the airport, planned to be in attendance throughout the three-day event.

   —The transition to a wireless connection to the airport’s automated weather observing system (AWOS) is complete. The system, which had experienced frequent issues over the last several years, is now working properly as required by the Federal Aviation Administration.

   —The airport sold 6,652 gallons of fuel in September for $30,704.18. That’s down from 8,000 gallons in September 2023.

•Approved payment of $26,141.01 in claims.