San Bernardino Int'l Airport Wins Fuel Farm Grant

The Federal Aviation Administration has approved a $4.3 million grant to build a fuel farm at San Bernardino International Airport.

Larger fuel-storage facilities are essential for the airport if it is going to serve regularly scheduled air carriers.

The planned fuel farm would initially hold 150,000 gallons of jet fuel on a two-acre site.

It could later be expanded to 500,000 gallons.

Right now, the airport only has storage for about 36,000 gallons.

That isn't much, considering a Boeing 747 can drink 20,000 gallons.

The fuel farm will be built on the north side of the airfield near a jet-fuel line that runs between the airport and the Kinder Morgan fuel farm in Colton.

Airport officials one day hope to reactivate the fuel line, which would eliminate the need for fuel to be brought in by truck.

"This important connecting line can mean lower fuel costs for airport users," said Don Rogers, interim executive director of the airport.

Eric Ray, airport operations manager, said a construction contract will be ready for bidders in four to six months.

Airport officials are hoping that the total project will be completed by June 2007.

This grant for the fuel farm is being approved under the special Military Airports Program of the FAA.

The airport was recently accepted into the program for a four-year period.

The program is designed to help former military airports.

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