b'FUELINGSEZ 5715,000-gallon tanks for Jet A and one 12,000-gallon tank forKEAR also was involved in planning meetings with the airport, Avgas. Self-serve pumps were considered, but airport managementDibble and Argus. We kept all parties informed about what ultimately decided against them for now. The appropriate nozzlesconstruction would be done each day, and what equipment, such and infrastructure, however, were included to make it easier toas high cranes or concrete pumps, would have to be moved install a self-serve station in the future. around, says Gruey.With a firm project proposal and cost estimate in hand, Rose requested and secured a loan from the Sedona Oak Creek AirportMultiple DelaysAuthority, the governing board that manages SEZ. In the past, weSecuring the local permits needed before crews could startalways paid for any maintenance projects with our own money, hedigging turned out to be the biggest hang-up of the entireexplains. This situation was different. We had funds set aside for$4-plus million project.several [other] long-term projects in our master plan. But we had toDibble Project Manager Carmen Rose was point person for the do this one immediately. complex, time-consuming process. I had to work with various The airport, in discussion with the contractor and engineeringofficials from Yavapai County, via the countys consultants, identified tasks SEZ staff could execute to reduceonline portal. I filled in the application on the costs. When the project was eventually executed, Rose savedportal and submitted it. Then I would receive money by using airport maintenance funds and airport personnelfollow-up questions on the portal that needed for all of the painting and signage. to be answered. This process went back-and-forth for several weeks. Eventually, we were An environmental assessment completed by Coffman a fewable to have an in-person meeting with county years prior had already been approved by the FAA, so Argus andand fire department officials, along with most ofCARMEN ROSEDibble were able to quickly begin planning. The two companiesthe airports key stakeholders. That seemed to previously had collaborated on a fuel farm project at Phoenix-Mesaspeed things up.Gateway Airport in 2010.We knew they needed this project done relatively quickly, due to the condition of the old fuel tanks, notes Garrett Gjerstad, one of Argus two project managers on the job. When engineers evaluated monthly fuel usage, it was apparent that SEZ needed to significantly increase its storage capacity, especially for jet fuel (then only 10,000 gallons).GARRETT GJERSTADThey specified two 15,000-gallon tanks for jet fuel storage, connected with independent issue and receipt piping, as well as a sophisticated monitoring system. One tank would be dedicated to receiving Jet A, and the other would deliver it to the fuel trucks. Engineers also specified a 12,000-gallon tank for Avgas, and the relocation of two 500-gallon tanks for diesel and automotive gasoline for maintenance vehicles.One key design feature is an automatic tank gauging system that allows airport officials to remotely monitor fuel levels in each tank. The system also sends alerts about problems with the tanks, such as high or low levels, or fuel leaks. To connect the system, the airport had to install an underground high-speed Ethernet line from the electrical room in the terminal to the fuel facility, a distance of about 475 feet. KEAR was selected as the general contractor through a bid process, and its crews began preliminary surface cleaning and utility work in April 2022. We worked closely with both Dibble and Argus on an almost daily basis, recalls KEAR Project Manager Mike Gruey. Since about 70% of our companys work involves aircraft fueling systems,the construction aspect of this new fuel station was something with which we have a lot of experience.MIKE GRUEYAirportImprovement.comJanuary | February 2024'