Rangeley commission prioritizes fuel reliability, fixed-base operator and revenue strategies

Commissioners made revenue and service reliability a central goal for future work at Rangeley Airport. Multiple speakers described repeated problems with the fuel pump and transient pilots avoiding the field because they cannot reliably buy fuel. One commissioner told the group, “I've talked to multiple pilots, local and transient, who won't buy fuel there because they don't really know the status of the pump.”

Members discussed options: (1) encourage a private FBO, possibly by offering a hangar or levers to entice a satellite operator; (2) pursue a town-operated self-service fuel option that would require additional insurance and tank checks; or (3) explore donations or outside funding (Saddleback mentioned by a consultant). Joe noted liability and inspection obligations if the town directly provides fueling; a commissioner added that any landing-fee policy should avoid discouraging small general-aviation aircraft, citing examples where fees drove traffic away.

Speakers also recommended better traffic-tracking to inform marketing and fee structure. Joe and a consultant discussed Airport Solutions/ADSB-based services that feed tracking platforms to show arrivals, weights and aircraft types. One commissioner cautioned against charging fees on smaller aircraft and said some airports charge only for aircraft above about 6,000 pounds; the commission agreed landing fees should target larger aircraft if used.

Why it matters: fuel reliability and an on-site operator directly affect whether pilots visit Rangeley, and therefore the airport's ability to support hangar leases and grow local economic activity. The commission asked staff to compile options, check lease language, and keep an updated list of parties interested in hangar build-outs; Dave Deneen of Gale Associates offered to help accelerate a master-plan update to answer these operational questions sooner.