Civil Aviation Board votes to recommend increase in markups

CLOVIS — At the Civil Aviation Board meeting on Tuesday, the board voted to recommend to the city commission an increase in its markups on full service gasoline prices at the airport from $1.00 to $1.50 a gallon for low lead and an increase from $1.30 to $1.75 a gallon for Jet A-1 fuel.

The board also voted to recommend adding markups of 25 cents a gallon to the cost of self-service low led gasoline at the airport and a markup of 50 cents a gallon for self-service Jet A-1 fuel.

In other business, the board recommended continuing Essential Air Service with Denver Air Connection when the current two-year deal expires in May. The city commission will take final action on the recommendation, with the federal Department of Transportation making the final decision.

Board Chairman T.J. Curtis said DAC provides the airport with regional access to major international airports and it is in the best interest of the airport to award the contract to DAC. The motion passed unanimously.

• Airport Director James Harris said replacing the monument sign at the airport, which was on the agenda for discussion, would cost about $20,000 and in lieu of other expenses at the airport, he did not recommend it at this time. The board decided not to replace the sign but discussed the possibility of using low lights on the signage instead.

• The board awarded Valley Fence Company a $1,567,208.48 contract to construct the fencing at the airport. The 100 percent Federal Aviation Administration funded project is estimated to start in late October to early November.

• Runway 12-30 PAPI Lights will be ready to go out for bid next week, Harris said.

• A self-service fuel station is expected to be installed the end of this week or early next week, Harris said. It should take about a week to complete.

• Another fully funded project, the Airfield Marking Project, has been assigned to San Bar Construction Corp., based in Albuquerque, Harris said. The project is 100 percent funded by the New Mexico Department of Transportation. There is no estimated start or completion date as yet.

• Harris said the Airport Equipment Storage Building, which is “massive” and measures 100-feet by 60 feet has arrived and has to be welded.

• The Fuel Farm Light Pole, which needs to be replaced, is back ordered, he said.

• The terminal landscaping project was awarded to Nick Griego and Sons at a cost of just under $10,000, he said. It is a xeriscape project.

• Curry County has agreed to remove dirt from a large pile at the airport, which it will use to fill-in washouts around the county. The cost to the county is 25 cents a truck load. Harris said the dirt looks “hideous” and he would have given the dirt away.

• Harris said the airport is waiting to see if the FAA will fund an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting vehicle. Curtis said it would improve the capability of the airport.

• Harris said he attended an international Ground Support Equipment Expo in Las Vegas recently to look at GPUs, aircraft de-icers and other equipment. This level of equipment attracts more jets, which sells more gasoline. “The equipment will enhance the capabilities of the airport and attract more modern aircraft.” It will give Clovis an edge against the competition at airports in Lubbock and Amarillo, which charge ramp and landing fees. Clovis does not charge these fees and the gas prices at Clovis are competitive.

• The airport is looking at purchasing new refuel trucks with an interest-free loan from the city.

• Enplanements at the airport have reached 4,496, which is about half of the 10,000 goal the airport is hoping to achieve. Harris said if the enplanements continue to increase at the current rate, the airport will surpass that goal next year.

• The airport is planning another Wings n’ Wheels event in 2022, Harris said.