‘No frills’ rural airport to receive rehab
Oxford County Regional Airport is in need of significant rehabilitation as the county prepares for its reutilization.
County Administrator Scott Cole said heating, plumbing and roof problems must be addressed, as a result of neglect following occupancy by Oxford Aviation, the Advertiser Democrat reported.
Oxford Aviation leased space for years, but filed for bankruptcy several years ago and left.
The airport remains open as a “no-frills, self-serve, operational facility in compliance with FAA regulations,” Cole told the paper. Since July, the county has been selling several hundred gallons of self-serve fuel per month to aviators who use the runways.
The county is updating its master plan for the airport and expects to have a better sense of where things are going in 2017, said Cole.
Oxford County Regional Airport is a county owned, public use airport. As such, it is one of 35 public-use airports in Maine; these airports have been called an essential lifeline for both urban and rural regions of the state. From medivac flights to corporate travel, commercial passenger service and simple pleasure flying, airports are a key part of the state's transportation system. The 35 airports have a $2.94 billion economic impact, including a $792 million total payroll, according to a January 2015 report by the FAA. The airports were responsible for transporting 2.27 million passengers and 28,164 tons of freight. They supported 26,657 direct and indirect jobs.
Cole told the Advertiser Democrat he has informally compiled comparative data from other area airports.
“Based on those findings and our own realities, I intend to soon propose some sort of plan to the commissioners for improving oversight at the facility and with the goal of making something happen there,” he said.
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