Fayetteville airport advisory board outlines 2026 projects; FAA inspection underway

The Fayetteville Airport advisory board on Monday heard a director’s report laying out the airport’s top priorities for 2026, including a Taxiway Echo extension backed by an FAA 90/10 grant, replacement of the airport’s 1998 ARFF (rescue/firefighting) truck using expiring COVID funds, and a mill-and-overlay rehabilitation of the North GA apron. The board approved the prior meeting’s minutes by voice vote and adjourned after public praise for staff.

Why it matters: The projects are aimed at addressing growing operations and fuel sales, improving pavement and lighting, and positioning the airfield for additional hangar development. The director said the Taxiway Echo extension is central to east-side traffic flow and future development, while pavement and ARFF investments affect safety, regulatory compliance and the airport’s ability to host larger aircraft.

Director’s summary and finance: The director reported roughly 1,000 more operations year-over-year and described a four-year trend of 5–8% annual growth. He told the board, “That’s pretty healthy,” in reference to the increase in operations and fuel sales. On Taxiway Echo, he said, “This is an FAA grant. It’s a 90 10 project,” and estimated the total project cash-flow requirement at about $4,000,000 with typical FAA drawdowns meaning the city would need to front roughly $400,000–$500,000 at points during construction.

ARFF truck and other capital items: Staff intend to replace the airport’s ARFF truck, a 1998 model, with a newer Oshkosh vehicle quoted at about $1,300,000, using remaining COVID-era funding that expires this year. The director said the likely lead time from order to delivery is about 18 months. He emphasized the replacement would improve the airport’s ARFF index and capacity to serve larger aircraft.

Pavement and hangar plans: The board heard that a North GA apron mill-and-overlay is scheduled under two grants — federal funds to cover the main apron and state funds to cover areas adjacent to private hangars (federal rules limit paving close to privately owned hangars). Work will include crack sealing, a seal coat and refreshed taxiway markings. Separately, a phase of Eastside Improvements would fund engineered dirt work and concrete to enable roughly four additional box hangars, increasing capacity by an estimated 24 aircraft; the design documents will go to council next month and staff tentatively expect an April groundbreaking if approved.

Other operational notes: The director reported one self-serve fuel hose reel has been electrified and parts are available to electrify the second; staff are considering a relocated aircraft wash pad; and the Defense Logistics Agency fuel contract (military fuel sales) is being reactivated with fuel vendor Titan, which could restore some military and aerial firefighting operations. He also explained the airport is undergoing an FAA Part 139 inspection this week and described the audit as a paperwork and field review that can result in letters of correction for deficiencies.

Public comment and board business: A public attendee and several board members offered praise for airport staff; one board member said the airport “feels like it’s a great harmonized airport right now.” The board asked staff to continue work verifying a 127-person hangar waiting list; the director said verification is in progress and no one has been removed so far. The minutes for the prior meeting were approved by voice vote (exact tallies were not recorded in the transcript), and the board then adjourned.

Next steps: Staff will submit design documents for the Eastside phase to city council, prepare the grant packet for the Taxiway Echo extension, and return with financial details on capital projects; the ARFF truck purchase and pavement projects are expected to appear on future meeting packets for formal approval.