Palaca airport manager reports major FAA projects, new generators and surge in activity at untowered 28J

An airport manager briefed the Palaca City Commission on April 9 on capital, safety and compliance work at the city‑owned 28J airport and said the facility’s profile is growing.

The manager said state‑level and Federal Aviation Administration inspections have been recent priorities and that the airport addressed several items raised by inspectors. Work this year has included repainting runway markings under an FDOT grant, tree removal at runway ends that penetrated imaginary surfaces, and installation of emergency generators for the fuel farm and the terminal.

The manager described a multi‑phase capital program: phase one for a city‑owned, roughly 14,000‑square‑foot jet center (bids received), a second phase to expand capacity, and a Federal Aviation Administration‑backed taxiway E project that would support long‑term ground leases with corporate operators. "We are the eighth busiest untowered airport in the state of Florida," the manager said, citing about 105,000 operations in 2025.

He also briefed the commission on compliance items (FAA Part 13 inquiry and land release processes), the need to update legacy commercial agreements with current tenants and plans to retain an outside airport compliance expert. Looking ahead, the manager raised planning for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and noted the potential need to include charging/pad provisions in future comp plans.

Commissioners asked about noise complaints, zoning and community outreach as activity grows. The manager said state and federal agencies will follow up on safety and operational expectations and that staff will return with further details as projects progress.

What’s next: Staff will continue FAA/FDOT coordination, complete procurement steps for the jet center project, and proceed with compliance and tenant‑agreement updates.