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Portage County airport manager warns FAA unlikely to approve non‑aeronautical uses; board approves airport grants
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Summary
Portage County’s airport manager told commissioners that recent FAA compliance‑manual changes make it unlikely the agency would approve converting aeronautical land to non‑aeronautical uses such as a helicopter/ground‑ambulance facility, and the board voted to accept state aviation grants and AWOS reconstruction bids to keep capital work progressing.
The Portage County Board of Commissioners heard a detailed update from the county airport manager about recent Federal Aviation Administration guidance and the implications for local lease terms and non‑aeronautical uses.
The airport manager (Agency official, S6) said the FAA’s compliance manual was fully rewritten in February 2026 and that new language makes converting aeronautical land to non‑aeronautical uses — for example, a ground ambulance or helicopter facility — “very, very unlikely.” He told the board an FAA review of any land‑use change application would likely take “6 months to a year” and that the agency’s response would probably be negative: “But you’re still gonna get a no,” he said.
Why it matters: The county has been reviewing a lease and potential on‑airport ambulance/heliport operations that previously were not clearly covered in the airport master plan and airport layout plan. The manager recommended terminating a lease the county inherited because it lacks provisions such as a “use it or lose it” clause and could jeopardize grant assurances if non‑aeronautical uses were allowed without FAA approval.
Board action and airport funding: Commissioners voted to accept an Ohio Department of Transportation Office of Aviation matching grant for the Portage County Regional Airport and approved bid awards tied to reconstructing the airport's AWOS (automated weather observing system) project and other capital improvements. The board's acceptance of state aviation funds means some capital projects can proceed without a local match requirement, the airport manager said.
Economic development context: The manager described local economic momentum at the airport — an active paint shop tenant, interest from a flight school anticipating growth to about 20 aircraft, and a growing hangar wait list — and said the airport saw a 33% increase in aircraft operations in 2025. He said staff will continue applying for hangar‑development grants after a recent application was denied by the state.
Next steps: The manager will draft a written response to the FAA letter of inquiry and share the response with the board. Commissioners asked to receive a copy of that letter and confirmed they want to proceed with actions that preserve grant assurances and airport compliance.
The board approved the grant acceptances and AWOS bid award during the meeting; the airport manager’s FAA correspondence will be circulated to commissioners for review.
