FUELING UP — Jefferson County Airpark tenant Roger Mapel refueled his plane at the airport’s fueling station, which is subject to possible upgrades by the Jefferson County Regional Airprot Authority. -- Christopher Dacanay

WINTERSVILLE — Discussions about the future of aviation in Appalachia have begun, centered around electric-powered and vertically mobile aircraft, the Jefferson County Airpark’s manager reported Monday.

Brian Thaxton told the Jefferson County Regional Airport Authority Board of Trustees during their monthly meeting that he participated in an Appalachian Advanced Air Mobilities virtual conference call in February.

Assembled for all Appalachian airports, the call was intended to develop a ground-level perspective of those airports’ interest in and preparedness for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, Thaxton said. EVTOLs are aircraft that use electric power to take off and land vertically, like a helicopter.

“They’re just trying to map out where the future of aviation goes and how Appalachia will be able to accommodate it,” Thaxton said, noting that considerations include power supply and infrastructure availability.

Trustee Rich Stenzel said the board should keep in mind such developments as it continues to discuss adding airplane parking spaces. Ongoing since October, the board’s consideration of more parking spaces has seen several areas in the airport proposed, with future committee meetings expected to flesh out details.

Thaxton agreed, noting that space would be required for construction of vertiports, or spaces where EVTOLS can take off, land and charge.

To a question from board President Brandon Reese about grant funding for constructing an EVTOL facility, Thaxton said he’ll learn more at the upcoming Ohio Aviation Association meeting.

The Appalachian effort is in its “infant stages” right now, focusing on gauging feasibility, Thaxton said, adding that he’s participating and will ask more in-depth questions when the time is right.

Later, Stenzel noted that such eVTOL developments ought to factor into the airport’s five- or 10-year plans.

Lance Wanamaker of the airport’s engineering consultant Michael Baker International added that the airport is almost due to a new airport layout plan, which would cost the airport more than $300,000 to prepare.

Reese acknowledged that’s “a lot of money” but said it’s about time the board began placing projects on the ALP to “be forward thinking,” noting that recent projects have not been included in the plan.

Separately, the board debated whether to remodel some of the airport’s Tee hangars or start from scratch.

Thaxton said box hangar tenants have been enjoying their electric doors, which led him to revisit the idea of installing new electric doors in a single row of Tee hangars, while also upgrade the lighting and adding insulation. At an estimated $200,000 for four Tee hangars, the project would result in a “middle ground” between box and Tee hangars, providing a better product for tenants.

Stenzel expressed apprehension, saying the project is like putting “lipstick on a pig.” He suggested that, instead of spend $400,000 for eight spots, the board could knock the old hangars down and construct eight new ones with a longer lifespan for $700,000.

Stenzel added that, if renovated, the already tight Tee hangars possibly stand to lose even more clearance area for planes going in and out.

Apart from Stenzel, the board generally agreed that the Tee hangars are still valuable enough not to be torn down, but more questions remain about refurbishing. Wanamaker said he’d report back with more accurate costs for constructing Tee hangars following a separate job he’s working on.

Additionally, the board considered upgrades to the airport’s retail fueling system.

After an airport user expressed dissatisfaction with the airport’s current FuelMaster system last month, Thaxton investigated the issue and discovered the company QTPod, which specializes in self-serve fueling technology.

Thaxton noted the individual who sold the airpark its FuelMaster is now steering all of his customers to QTPod, which would provide a major upgrade from the current system that still relies on dial-up Internet. In simple terms, he added, the airport is liable for transactions through dial-up that result in fraud.

“It’s a bigger, brighter screen, it’s faster, it’s safer, it’s a possibility,” Thaxton said of the QTPod system, adding later: “It’s free to keep that (current) one. I can’t say it’s going to last forever, … but it still does work.

However, Reese expressed concern about the new system’s reported $22,825 price tag. Thaxton said it would take about four months for the airport to recoup the cost through fuel sales, though Stenzel said that the purchase wouldn’t result in incremental sales to justify itself.

Reese, who preferred to upgrade the current system, questioned whether the system’s software vendor could be contracted to upgrade the FuelMaster to communicate via WiFi. Thaxton noted that FuelMaster also has a new product that it would likely direct the authority to purchase instead. Stenzel proposed that FuelMaster might offer credit for system upgrades, unlike an entirely new company.

Trustee Geno Morelli suggested a more simple credit card machine approach, and the board ultimately resolved to have Thaxton investigate the issue further.

Also, the board mulled over proposed pavement expansions near the box hangars and Tee hangars.

Trustee Geary Bates brought up a safety concern from Thaxton, who’d said the apron in front of the box hangars needs an additional 10 feet of pavement to give planes more room to taxi without fear of rolling into the dirt.

The board looked on that idea favorably, but Bates’ proposal for paving four new entrances from the main parking area to the Tee hangar area proved more controversial.

In Bates’ view, the new connections would make it easier for airport users to drive their cars to their hangars, without having to drive on the taxiway. However, Stenzel said the easier connection would encourage airport users to drive their cars more frequently into the Tee hangar area, which could potentially pose a nuisance to other tenants.

Bates was encouraged to obtain estimates for the two jobs, but he said he’d be the one doing the work, utilizing dirt from on site to carry out the groundwork. Stenzel disputed Bates’ claim over the work, inciting debate about jobs at the airport that Bates had carried out previously.

In other business:

• The board voted, in gratitude, to reimburse the Jefferson County Port Authority for conveying properties essential for the airport’s wildlife exclusion fence project.

• Thaxton said the airport’s sodium formate has been working properly as a de-icing agent and is being stored as best as possible for next year. In the future, the authority will need to evaluate how much of the FAA and Environmental Protection Agency-approved substance it wants to keep on hand, he added. The airport’s new salt spreader has also been working well and is being power washed after every use to prevent corrosion.

• Thaxton reported the airport logged 410 operations in February, as well as 53.7 gallons of jet fuel and 484 gallons of avgas sold.

• The board discussed options for the airport to house a rental plane, after the only rental plane — privately owned — was damaged earlier this year. Discussions noted that the board owning its own rental plane poses a liability issue for the county, but the airport could invite other rental providers to establish a satellite branch.

• Reese said board Vice President Dustin VanFossen gave a grand slam of a presentation about the airport at the State of the County forum Feb. 25.

• The board heard from Washington resident and airport tenant Marissa Robinson, who praised the airport for its space availability but noted its fuel prices are not competitive, compared to another regional airport.