Paso Robles council hears airport spaceport update; staff seeks FAA grant for terminal remodel

Paso Robles City Council members heard an update March 17 on airport operations and plans that could advance the city's spaceport ambitions and airport facilities. Airport Manager Mark Skandelis told the council the airport has established an internal working group and will soon issue an RFP for a consultant to complete a license application and support launch operations. "That is a rocket engine," Skandelis said while showing photos of recent tests. "That's about 5 pounds of thrust."

Skandelis described an "ARJETs" (Rocket and Jet Engine Test Site) at the airport, two existing engine-test sites and work to add a third. He said the airport can currently support ground operations and engine testing and that the consultant work would be a next step toward conducting launches off the runway. He also summarized recent security improvements: new restricted-access signage at every gate, installation of Knox emergency-access boxes, and plans for roughly 600 feet of new chain-link fencing and an electronic gate in an initial phase.

On connectivity, Skandelis said staff plans to extend existing fiber to create a campus-grade wireless link across the airfield to support remote gate control and cameras. He described the system as converting fiber into a citizen-band radio signal to provide broad coverage across the airport rather than a conventional Wi‑Fi network.

Skandelis reviewed four branding themes from public logo workshops (landscape/vineyards, space, oak trees, and typeface) and said the airport will return to the Airport Commission with full renderings. He also outlined grant activity: a master-plan grant (four of six chapters complete), a taxiway-Alpha reconstruction design grant tied to the pavement management plan, and a terminal remodel grant application for $1,400,000 the city intends to file with the FAA; if the FAA funding is not secured, Skandelis said the airport enterprise fund would phase the work over future budget cycles. "We were able to put together a grant application for $1,400,000 to cover the cost," he said.

Council members and members of the public asked about power and lighting for proposed public‑space features related to Sensorio and downtown events. Skandelis said the lights are expected to be LED and that costs would be borne by the airport enterprise fund rather than the general fund. Residents asked whether the small terminal could accommodate retail or a gift shop; Skandelis said the existing terminal space is limited but expressed interest in selling airport-branded merchandise once a logo is finalized.

The update concluded with questions about timing for the taxiway reconstruction and confirmation that the FAA has approved the city's aviation-forecast assumptions used in the master plan. The council did not take formal action on the presentation; staff will return with follow-ups and, if awarded, grant agreements for council approval.