One fuel supplier, no backup: Juneau pilots want an alternative

Pilots at Juneau's airport have one place to buy aviation gas, it carries what they say is about a 33 percent markup, and if that single supplier goes down, there's no backup.

That's the problem more than 50 general aviation pilots want the airport to fix — and it's why they're disputing a draft master plan that concluded there's no unmet demand for fueling at the airport.

In a signed letter, the pilots asked for a self-serve fuel farm on airport property, arguing it would add a safety backup and inject some price competition. The airport tenant liaison, Nolan Davis, said the users who signed "unanimously want an alternate source of AvGas." Most of them hadn't even known the master plan was in the works — few were aware of the public meeting — which is why their objections landed after the formal comment period had closed. The letter flagged other gripes too, from a shuttered wash basin to hangar flooding.

The comment window is closed, but the plan is still under review, and staff told the airport board they'll attach the letter to the record for the planning team to weigh. The board took no action; its next meeting is Aug. 13.