County to Discuss Nut Tree Airport Fairfield Daily Republic, Vacaville CA
County supervisors later this month will vote on long-awaited improvements at Nut Tree Airport. The county plans to realign the current taxiway and build a wash rack, an item airport users say the county has promised but never delivered in the past.
The county plans to use about $1.2 million in grants and $100,000 in county funds to pay for the work. The project will be one of the first approved since a consultant’s report found the Nut Tree Airport, located in Vacaville near the old The Nut Tree site, was in poor shape.
The airport “has numerous weaknesses and threats” but “should be developed and leveraged as an economic engine for the region and not just a recreational facility,” Colorado-based Aviation Management Consulting Group said in an audit.
AMCG’s audit found the airport sells fuel too cheaply, lacks a marketing plan and is being maintained below industry standards. Airport staff and tenants piled trash next to buildings and there is no plan to prepare for a bomb or other terrorist threats.
The airport houses about 250 aircraft. Its budget last year was about $700,000. Wash racks are used to wash aircraft. The wash rack location will be close to areas where future county and corporate hangars are planned. The taxiway realignment is required to meet federal safety standards.
Supervisors plan to discuss the matter later this month.
