Russellville Municipal Airport Commissioner Less Teaff (left) and manager Bobby Day look over a map of the airport, specifically of areas of timber or forest land, during Wednesday’s meeting at the airport terminal.
(THE COURIER / Sean Ingram)
Russellville Municipal Airport Manager Bobby Day told commissioners during their regular meeting Wednesday that fuel sales continued to increase for the period during August 2013 to last month.Total monthly fuel sales were 7,636 gallons in August 2014, an increase of 1,405 gallons from one year ago (6,231). Sales for jet fuel were three gallons fewer last month than the year before, but aviation gas was up 3,203 gallons in August 2014 over 1,795 gallons in August 2013.
Year-to-date jet fuel sales total 26,210 gallons, aviation gas sales are at 18,129 gallons, giving the airport total fuel sales of 44,339 gallons this year — ahead of 37,719 gallons sold through August 2013.
Day also reported the city hangar occupancy was at 77.8 percent for August, down from the 81 percent occupancy in July.
The manager told commissioners he had ordered a Ford F-350 truck from Cogswell Motors and has sought bids to refurbish the vehicle into a fuel truck. The Russellville City Council in June approved $60,000 for the airport to purchase a new fuel truck.
Master plan items
Engineer Bob Chatman said a preconstruction meeting took place for the installation of new runway end identifier lights (REIL) and precision approach path indicator (PAPI) systems, part of the airport’s Master Plan. The contractor for the project, Rick McGinty Co. of Greenbrier, indicated it would take eight to nine weeks to order the equipment and it reach the Russellville airport.
The PAPI system consists of four lights that turn progressively from white to red as seen by the pilot from a too-high to a too-low position. A pilot on a correct glide slope sees two red and two white lights. More white lights appear when they are too high, and all red lights indicate a pilot is too low. The last light must turn red with at least one degree clearance above the highest obstacle within 10 degrees either side of the runway centerline.
A REIL system increases the probability that pilots will be able to spot the runway when breaking out of the clouds after an instrument approach in low-visibility weather.
Preliminary cost estimates for the 2014 FAA/state 90-10 funded projects total slightly more than $200,000, with no cost to the city of Russellville.
Chatman also reported items to be added to the Master Plan — or a “wish list” of possible projects that would improve the airport’s safety and appearance, discussed by Day and commissioners — would be submitted to a committee for approval.
In a related matter, Day said he had advertised for the clearing of timber around the airport to reduce wildlife habitat, primarily deer, in order to improve airport safety.
Attending Wednesday’s meeting were Day, Chatman, commission chair Bob Burris and commissioners Phil Cowger, Paul Horney, Tommy Littleton, Dwight Talburt and Less Teaff.
The Russellville Municipal Airport Commission meets at 6 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of each month inside the airport terminal.
- Source: http://www.couriernews.com
No comments:
Post a Comment