Why Salinas is seeing a boom in airborne military visitors
A Blackhawk search and rescue helicopter from Naval Air Station Lemoore sits at Salinas Municipal Airport Monday. refueling business there has seen a big uptick in military aircraft refueling so far there this year.
JOE SZYDLOWSKI
Salinas residents have been scratching their heads on social media after noticing an increase in military-grade planes and helicopters landing at the Salinas Municipal Airport.
They're not imagining things.
With increasing frequency, military pilots are refueling at Jet West in the airport, said Ryan Gauger, the company's general manager.
"Due to our runway length, we see mostly helicopters and smaller military aircraft," Gauger said. "We've seen some fighter jets, but not many."
Salinas airport General Manager Brett Godown said the airport's increase in military hardware stems from Jet West's refueling operations. The airport leases the fuel pumps and hangar to Jet West, Godown said.
He's noticed the increased military presence.
Those planes began stopping by when Jet West first acquired the contract with the Department of Defense, which was renewed for four years in June, to provide fuel to military aircraft, Gauger said.
A search-and-rescue helicopter from Naval Air Station Lemoore at the airport led to the contract, he said. It often is parked at the airport but couldn't refuel there without that federal contract.
"They reached out to me and that's how the whole thing started," he said.
The helicopter stays at the Salinas airport during military exercises at sea in case someone needs rescuing, said Lydia Bock, public affairs officer at Lemoore. She said she couldn't comment on specific contracts because those are handled in Washington.
Before Jet West's contract, branches of the U.S. military would purchase roughly 20,000 to 30,000 gallons of fuel annually, Gauger said.
In the first year of the contract, the government's demand for fuel rose to about 50,000 gallons, Gauger said.
He's expecting this year's total sold to be just under 100,000.
"Literally, Salinas has been put on the map," he said. "As word gets out, and crews know they can come in and get fuel, they've been coming in more frequently.
Any military aircraft, including those of the state's National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard, can refuel at Jet West, he said.
How many military aircraft are out training fluctuates, but some may use Salinas to refuel on their way back, Bock said.
"Whenever you're taking aircraft on the road, so to speak, you're only authorized to land at an airfield that has contract fuel," she said.
Government agencies get a discount by buying in bulk, Gauger said. He declined to discuss the contract's financial specifics.
However, the city receives 13 cents for its airport enterprise fund for every gallon purchased, Gauger said.
It also allows pilots from around the country a taste of Salinas, such as grabbing a meal in town or a hotel room for longer training, he said.
"I think this helps Salinas spread the word as a nice place," he said. "In many cases these are people who've never been to the area before."
Joe Szydlowski is the public safety and local government reporter for the Salinas Californian. Contact him at (831) 235-2360 or jszydlowski(at)thecalifornian.com.
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