South Alabama Regional Airport saw the highest volume of fuel sales in the last 15 years and possibly in the entire history of the airport, officials announced yesterday.

SARA Co-Director Jed Blackwell told the airport board that it sold 926,123.70 gallons of fuel.

“In 2015, we sold 730,000 gallons,” he said. “2016 was the best year of overall fuel sales quite possibly in the history of the airport, but at least in the last 15 years.”

SARA took in $2.4 million in fuel sales and had fuel expenses of $1.4 million for a net profit of $959,120.

Each year, the majority of fuel sales come from a fuel contract with Fort Rucker in which flight students at the Army post refuel at the local airport.

At the beginning of 2016, Blackwell said that the new UH-72 Lakota helicopters could mean big bucks for the airport.

Combine that with more people stopping in to eat at the heliport café.

Additionally, the airport saw increased general aviation fuel sales as well, selling 51,350 gallons.

“The heliport café staff improved,” he said. “The quality of services overall were good, and I anticipate maintaining that. Our airport staff works hard.”

Board member Donald Barton said that with SARA being able to keep its fuel prices down, he knew of many pilots who would include SARA in their flight plans just to pay the cheaper prices.