b'GENERAL AVIATIONX06 85on Tuesday, this place is packed, andcurrent ramp is simply no longer large we generally have live music by a localenough, Peacock notes. guitarist who also sings, says Peacock.Recent updates have included a new In addition, the taco truck operatorturf runway, which intersects its paved donated a playground-style airplane forcounterpart. The airport also completed a children to play on.$1 million drainage improvement in 2019 to help it better handle Floridas rainy Facebook Figures Prominently season. Every time it rained, the ground Posting fuel prices and announcingwas saturated, recalls Peacock. [The planned activities on Facebook has beenairfield] had stayed closed for most of instrumental to the airports growth. Onthe summer when we experience heavy Taco Tuesdays, we fill up the ramp in norains. The FDOT grant paid for the design time and we have lines at the fuel pump and then construction to raise it up. Now, sometimes seven planes deep, Peacockthe runway has a good top and is solid.reports. We even have planes parked all over the grassy areas. More Traffic MeansMore BusinessDespite an increase in fuel sales, the airports 12,000-gallon fuel tank offersAn increase in traffic sufficient storage for the time being. Theat the airport has airport is, however, considering bringingboosted activity at Jet-A fuel to the property and extendingWingman Aviation, an its 3,700-foot asphalt runway to attractindependent aircraft larger aircraft.maintenance shop on the field. When Construction of a new ramp is alreadywe started in 2009, in process, funded by a grant from theKEVIN DAUGHTREYthis place was pretty Florida Department of Transportation. Thequiet, recalls owner Kevin Daughtrey. The first thing Peacock did when she moved to the airport terminal building was lower fuel prices and increase the airports presence on Facebook. Next, she began thinking about ways to attract pilots, and Taco Tuesday began. We decided if we brought in a taco truck and lowered the fuel prices by 10 cents a gallon on that day, it would bring in activity during the week, she explains. And boy has it!Peacock thought the lunch idea would attract pilots, but never dreamed it would be so popular. Most Tuesdays, more than 100 airplanes fly into the airport. It seems like every general aviation pilot inPROTECTING YOUR RUNWAY Florida has been here on a Tuesday, sheIS OUR BUSINESS.remarks. While we started it with onlyRunway pavement degrades over time due to everyday usage and a taco truck, we now have a barbecueweather exposure. Crafco offers a variety of industry-leading repair truck and a burrito truck and an ice creamsolutions that are engineered to withstand the constant impact from large smoothie vendor. aircraft and the changing climate to deliver long-term performance.Customers eat their treats at an areaTo learn more, visit Crafco.comnear the ramp with about 25 picnic tablesREPAIR SOLUTIONS TO HELP YOU TAKE OFFand a large oak tree that offers shade from the hot Florida sun. At 12 noon AirportImprovement.comMay | June 2023'