Delta Regional Airport Board agrees to increase fuel prices

During a regular meeting of the Delta Regional Airport Authority on Thursday, board members agreed to increase the price of the Avgas available on the airport’s property.

Members also discussed the steps to take regarding the membership of Shirley Harvell, who has not been attending meetings due to health reasons.

Board Chairman Shannon Hobbs told members the airport is getting low on aviation gas and a purchase will need to be made soon.

"This is something I wanted to talk to the board about tonight," said Hobbs. "We are within 1,000 gallons of empty on Avgas. Jet fuel is fine. We are sitting somewhere around 6,900 to 7,000 gallons of jet fuel. Due to everything that is going on in the political field, a truckload of 8,500 gallons will cost $6.18 a gallon. Trey (Baker with Titan Aviation Fuels) really advised against a tanker load due to the volatility that it is at. At a maximum, he really wanted us to do 4,250 gallons, which puts us at $6.43 a gallon. That was the spot price on Tuesday morning. I am like Corbin (Brown, board treasurer) in that we have to have fuel. We can't have an airport without fuel."

Hobbs said pilots are beginning to park their planes due to the rising fuel prices.

"This is real sticky," said Hobbs. "Trey even said that we are racking up fuel prices at record highs. He said that we should expect a massive drop in general aviation. That is the traffic that is dropping back. We won't see it in the jets because those corporate guys don't care what the price is. It is a tax write-off for them. The ones who fly for fun are

(Continued from Page 1) parking it right now because it is too high to fly. This is tough and can cause us to lose money quickly. These guys are shopping prices, and when it is this high, these pilots are watching for pennies of a difference."

According to Brown, the airport needs to increase its prices by at least a dollar to try and keep up with prices around the area.

"If we are currently one of the lowest, do we need to raise the price of fuel?” asked Brown. "If these guys are price shopping and we are the lowest they are going to jump on us and run us out of fuel all at once. Should we go up a quarter or something? I think maybe we should go up a dollar to $5.59 per gallon."

Hobbs said he is hesitant to allow fuel to be pulled out when there is less than 500 gallons in the tank to avoid water being in the fuel.

"We are going to immediately pop a dollar," said Hobbs. "I feel safe taking it to 500 gallons, but I am really hesitant of pulling more than 500 gallons out if we are sitting at 1,000 gallons."

"I think we don't need to wait a month to have a meeting," said board member Kendall Owens. "If we hit 650 gallons or that 500gallon mark we need to have either a special called meeting or a phone poll to go ahead and get fuel ordered."

According to Hobbs, the situation with Harvell's absences is becoming an issue.

"Ms. Harvell's absences are really stacking up and I don't know what to do from here," said Hobbs. "Kendall, do you think we should just talk to the mayor about it? I know we had to do this with Mr. (Bill) Hays."

"I think that we are at a point that we need to speak with Ms. Harvell and find out whether or not she is going to be able to resume her membership on the board or move forward with speaking with the mayor,” said Owens. “I think, out of respect, we should contact her first before speaking with the mayor. I don't mind reaching out to her and having this conversation."