VALDOSTA — For the second month, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority discussed the option to install a self-service fuel tank and then tabled the topic until the next meeting pending further research. The Authority met Wednesday morning to discuss this issue along with other business.

An offer was made at the December meeting by representatives of Valdosta Flying Service for installation of a self-service fuel station to provide Avgas to reciprocating engine aircraft. If approved, a 1,200 gallon double-walled tank holding 100 low lead gasoline while resting on a cement slab would be installed at the suggested location on the northeast side of the airport by existing T-hangars.

A hose and payment device would be placed nearby at the edge of pavement, easily accessible to pilots. The tank would also need a simple barrier, similar to the posts seen around tanks at gas stations serving cars and trucks, to prevent collision damage.

The Authority listened carefully to the proposal before choosing to have Airport Director Bob Holliway further research the issue and report back at the January meeting.

The authority had previously discussed the possibility of installing a self-service unit. If this option was chosen, the unit could be operated by authority members who were concerned a private owner may not be able to keep prices low.

As Holliway reported Wednesday, he found evidence that having a self-service tank operated by the Authority can be inconvenient. He came to the conclusion that it was not practical for the authority to provide the service itself.

Members agreed. However, they were still concerned allowing a private company to have full control would not guarantee low gas prices.

Billy Lewis, general manager of VFS, assured the members that his company wanted to serve customers and that the $45,000 capital expenditure to purchase and install the unit would not be recovered through high self-service gas prices.

Members of the Airport Authority decided that further research was needed before definite approval could be given to VFS. A sub-committee of three was formed to discuss and analyze every possible option available for self-service gas. The committee members will report their findings at next month’s meeting, which is scheduled for Feb. 8.



In other business:

• Ticket prices remain competitive with Tallahassee, Fla., and most Jacksonville, Fla. flights.

• The final total for enplanements this year showed an overall decrease from last year. However, the total, 40,667, was higher that that from 2003, 31,639. December totals for both enplanements and deplanements increased from November.

• Once again, the on-time percentage of 68.2 percent was due to late arrivals or late departures caused by late arrivals. This is the lowest on-time figure since August.