Interim Assistant Airport Manager Gavin Dishon presented the Airport’s budget request for the coming budget year, noting the facility is working toward becoming totally self-sufficient.

Among the accomplishments he touted to the board is that the airport now has clean fuel tanks and all employees are being properly trained. There are now locking devices on the fuel tanks to ensure a fuel spill, like the one last year that cost the city nearly $750,000 in clean up, will not happen again.

Dishon pointed out there are scores of businesses that are either located at the airport or that regularly use the airport, making Tullahoma an air hub. He added that the airport did $21 million in business revenue and had direct operations from 36 states. He also noted that the Vanderbilt LifeFlight base at the airport is the number one LifeFlight operation in the state due to Tullahoma’s central location.

Fuel sales are the top revenue source for the airport, he revealed, adding they have adjusted their fuel margins to eliminate losses. The projected revenue through fuel is just short of $1.4 million. They have also enacted new fees including an overnight free, facility usage fee and call-out fee.

“This keeps us competitive and ensures no money is left on the table,” he said, adding they are also tweaking the hanger revenue area.

Dishon revealed that he is the only full-time employee at the airport as the areas of manager and service specialist remains vacant. They presently have some part-time employees who are making $15-18 per hour.

“With new fees and practices we believe we can be self-sufficient in the next two years,” he said. “I want to be sure our airport is raising the bar far enough to be in the running for the airport of the year in 2027. “Aviation is an industry that should be self-sustaining.”

Dishon told the board that the airport, to him, is much more than just an airport. Dishon pointed out that while he has been employed with the airport for the last five years, he grew up there. “The place is much more than a business, it’s a home.”