Several topics of discussion were presented last week to the Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport Board, which elected Guthrie Vice Mayor Grant Aguirre as the Chair.
As the board alternates the two-year terms of the Chair and Vice Chair, Dick Geib will continue in the Vice Chair role until next year.
Board members received an update on the construction for Hangar 23C, as the space originally was leased early in 2022, then was delayed due to funding challenges. However, construction is moving forward again, with plans being reviewed by the City Planning Department and awaiting their final approval and permit.
Also discussed was the airport’s Fixed Base Operator (FBO) agreement. The FBO contracts with the airport to provide fueling and other important services for pilots and aviation companies. The current FBO is Crabtree Aviation, but that owner is looking to retire, opening an avenue for a new company to provide those services.
Also, the airport requires a new fueling system and a tank capable of handling Jet A fuel. The existing system needs to be replaced because the system owner no longer holds any ramp space at the airport, and it is over two decades old and near the end of its lifespan.
Edmond and Guthrie have been working in concert to solicit bids, and a bid was selected in the amount of $399,000 to install the new system. However, both cities are greatly concerned about fronting that amount of money at present, given the many urgent needs of the airport, particularly perimeter fencing.
To that end, two options were discussed.
The first option called for the cities to bite the bullet and each provide the initial investment of $200,000 to move forward with purchasing and installing the system, then contracting with a new FBO to run it.
The second option, which was ultimately approved as a recommendation by board members, will allow a local FBO company, Jetset FBO out of Oklahoma City, to front the full cost of the installation, serve as the new FBO, and negotiate a higher fuel rate to recoup the costs.
Jetset is one of the three FBOs at Wiley Post Airport in Oklahoma City and provides nearly half of the fueling services there. They also currently manage 90,000 square feet of hangar space at Wiley Post and have another 40,000 square feet of space under construction.
Representatives from Jetset appeared very excited to partner with Guthrie- Edmond Regional (KGOK) and talked about what they see as the commercial possibilities there, given advantages such as proximity to the OKC metro and, particularly, the lucrative and growing north metro, as well as being outside of the primary Oklahoma City and Tinker air traffic areas.
They feel this positions Guthrie-Edmond Regional as an attractive destination for general aviation and business fliers, and they see great advantages for both cities and the airport.
The recommendation will now be taken up by the respective city councils for approval, and legal staffs. Ideally, the deal would be completed by early August and receive approval from the airport board at the Aug. 8 meeting.
The final issue on the agenda was the need for perimeter fencing at the airport, to help keep large wildlife off the runways and taxiways at KGOK. Both cities acknowledge the need is great but also that the investment would be costly.
Board members were hoping to receive guidance on something that would be a manageable yearover- year commitment of smaller amounts to get the fencing completed over time, and also potentially redirect some FAA grant money into the budget to assist.
Guthrie representatives said they would bring this issue up for discussion at the upcoming City Council Retreat and will provide possibilities at the next meeting.