Airport manager warns of steep Jet A price spike, cites 74% drop in Jet A sales and says zoning legislation approved

Airport Manager Lori Curless told the Crawfordsville Board of Aviation Commissioners on March 18 that fuel-market instability had sharply increased Jet A acquisition costs and depressed sales, and she briefed the board on regulatory and operational developments.

Curless said that "Jet A dealer acquisition costs have increased $1.55/gallon in just the last 3 weeks." She reported that 100LL avgas sales are slightly up compared with the prior year while Jet A sales are down 74% year over year. Curless warned the combination of higher acquisition costs and local economic uncertainty — plus the completion of county development projects — make it likely that 2026 fuel sales will be impacted.

She updated the board on project work including the snow removal equipment grant closeout and perimeter fencing and announced Airport Day is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.

Curless told the board that state legislation requiring zoning within five miles of an airport was approved; she said she has begun coordinating with the mayor and will work with the county to ensure compliance. The minutes do not name the statute or provide a citation.

She also confirmed that the transfer of aircraft rental, flight school and aircraft maintenance operations to Starlin Air LLC was effective March 1, 2026, and described the transition as seamless to date.

No members of the public spoke during the meeting and no legal, clerk-treasurer, or engineering reports were presented.