The Hawthorne Industrial Airport is undergoing a number of renovations and improvements after landing a grant of $2.7 million. Friday, June 13

Road and Highway workers pour concrete into pads that will be home for two new fuel tanks at the Hawthorne Industrial Airport. The airport recently received a $2.7 million grant. (Stephen Tool photo)

The Hawthorne Industrial Airport is undergoing a number of renovations and improvements after landing a grant of $2.7 million. Friday, June 13, saw the pouring of new pads for the installation of two new fuel tanks to make the airport more palatable to passing air traffic. While Road and Highway Builders of Reno did the actual contract work, a local entity, Cornerstone Ready Mix LLC provided the cement and truck.

Airport Director Mike Trujillo said the old tanks were outdated and didn’t meet FAA or local specifications. “We were grandfathered in on one. But the other one needed modifications. We tried to do them ourselves, and it started getting to be too costly of a project,” Trujillo said.

Trujillo also said he had been working with the FAA for about five years trying to get some updated tanks.

“The FAA contributes around $150,000 a year for keeping airports up and going. Without it, none of these smaller airports could support themselves.”

Trujillo said this project ran into a few snags with the state fire marshal’s office, he estimates completion of the project by mid-July. He added that delivery on the new tanks is expected June 26. “By then we should have everything ready for the tanks to be set in.”

The airport will provide both Jet A fuel, which is a standard U.S. jet fuel and 100 Low Lead, a commonly used aviation gasoline for smaller, single prop planes.

Trujillo said upcoming projects include an extension of the taxi way to meet FAA regulations although it is dependent on the county providing 6.25 percent matching funds.