SARA NEEDS $40K FOR HELICOPTER PARKING

Published 10:00 am Wednesday, November 20, 2019

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The airport is looking to spend $35,000 to $40,000 to repair the helicopter parking apron at the heliport.

The apron was built in 1943, was overlaid in 1971 and the back portion was overlaid in 1991.

When V-22 aircraft park at the heliport it blows asphalt everywhere.

The board is in talks with both Glenn and Lynn Rawls, of the City of Andalusia and the Covington County Commission, about how to fix it.

Lynn is capable of fixing it, SARA director Jed Blackwell said.

“It would benefit us,” he said. “We are asking the county to consider helping us in FY 2020 or 2021.”

Chairman Greg White said it might could be an alternative to spending money to help with the repairs at the twin hangars or an additional service.

“That’s our moneymaker,” Board member Donald Barton said. “When they land, it blows asphalt up.”

Barton reminded the board that when a V-22 lands at the heliport for refueling that purchase 1,000 gallons of fuel each time.