Airport transitions all fuel storage to above-ground tanks in proactive move to reduce environmental risks and prevent service disruptions.
The West Michigan Regional Airport (WMRA) announced the completion of a brand new above-ground fuel farm.
The fuel farm’s new $1.2M structure and design increases safety, reduces environmental risk and triples the airport’s jet fuel storage capacity. The airport’s FBO, Avflight Holland, provided the upgrade.
The previous fuel storage tanks, which resided underground, were installed in the late 1970s and have passed their projected service life.
Fuel farms are groupings of connected fuel storage tanks used for housing and dispensing large quantities of fuel. Despite their age, the underground storage tanks (UST) continuously passed annual safety inspections, but the increased potential for environmental hazards led to their preemptive replacement.
“Our tanks well-exceeded their service life. Over time, the risk of a UST experiencing damaged lines, corrosion and other issues increases,” said Jim Storey, interim airport director at WMRA. “Underground tanks are difficult to maintain, and it can be hard to fix potential leaks without removing the entire system. With expert counsel, the team determined the safest option for our visitors, partners and employees was to install a new system. We’re grateful for Avflight’s continued investment in the airport!”
As a general rule, environmental organizations, like the EPA, recommend above-ground storage tanks instead of USTs due to the ease of identifying and fixing leaks or component failures. Avflight initiated the planning process in 2023, engaging with engineering firms and evaluating the best areas on-property to build the new fuel farm. The FBO finalized plans and broke ground in August 2024.
Along with the above-ground tanks, new area concrete was poured to create a circular drive. This setup allows for easier access to the tanks for fuel deliveries and transportation to the tarmac. The new storage system holds approximately 30,000 gallons of jet fuel and 10,000 gallons of avgas.
