Aviation View | April 2021

43 AVIATION VIEW APRIL 2021 flying club is adjacent to the old fuel farm and that created a serious conflict between fuel trucks, student pilots, airplanes. Fortunately, the airport has just completed its new fuel farm (physically removed from that location) and the old fuel farm site will now be open space incorporated into the design of the new flight academy. From a ‘green’ perspective, the airport has implemented alternative energy initiatives, taking the terminal off natural gas and replacing it with geothermal well-driven heat pumps which has been very successful. One bank of solar has been installed over a portion of the short-term parking area, creating electricity for the airport and providing under-cover short-term parking. Further work has been on pause for the last few months, but there continues to be development interest in solar generation near the airport. Hall admits, “We don’t have enough geography here to become totally self-powered, we would have to tap into an array that’s off the airport property. That’s our hope for the future, once the economy gets going again and developers start spending money on providing new renewable energy sources.” Taughannock Aviation Corporation is the locally- owned FBO and an integral part of the airport. It offers a full suite of services from the arrival point for general aviation and also does charter work. While the airport does receive occasional deliveries, there is no ongoing cargo service, as such. The reason being a lack of surface infrastructure. As Hall attests, “We’re not on the interstate and most people would want to fly in and distribute from the arrival location. But I think there is a market here and an opportunity when we build the new fire station, in a year or so, to convert the old building into a small package cargo facility – including international because we have Customs. We see that as a specialized growth area, probably built around Cornell and research. BorgWarner has an auto parts factory here and if they need a just-in- I THACA TOMPK INS INTERNAT IONAL A I RPORT