NEBRASKA CITY – The Nebraska City Municipal Airport expects a new fuel farm this spring to build on momentum for unprecedented air traffic.

Kyle Gress of Blue Line Aviation LLC said the airport is waiting on arrival of a 15,000-gallon tank for Jet A fuel and a 10,000 gallon tank for AVGAS, a low-lead fuel for piston aircraft.

The new self-service fuel farm will increase the airport’s fuel service capacity and convenience.

Gress: “Pilots can come in and get their own fuel. They don’t have to have us fuel it for them if they don’t wish. They can come in any time of the night or day, weekends, holidays anytime that we may not be here.”

Fuel sales at Nebraska City are five times higher than before Blue Line Aviation took over as fixed based operator in 2021. The Corporate Aircraft Association’s members voted Blue Line Aviation LLC  as one of five preferred fixed based operators in Nebraska and the association’s fuel map highlights Nebraska City among the lowest prices in the nation.

 

Gress said fuel sales were just over 14,000 gallons in 2017, but rose during the flood year of 2019 to exceed 26,000. They remained in that range until 2023, when they rose to 94,000. Sales rose again last year to 119,000 gallons. 

Gress: “That draws in a lot of aircraft from all over the country and across the world actually that stop in here for fuel.”

He said the new fuel farm fits the Nebraska City Airport Authority’s vision for growth and the mid-country location is handy for coast-to-coast air traffic.

Gress: “They come in an relax for a little while, while they get fueled and away they go. It works out well. People really like it here.”

A federal grant is paying 90 percent of the $1.5 million fuel farm project.