Officials in McCook, Nebraska, say they are close to restoring aircraft fueling services at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport (KMCK) after Red Willow Aviation, the lone FBO on the field, declared bankruptcy on November 15. The long-standing FBO, which last changed hands in 2022, also provided aircraft maintenance services at KMCK, which features a 6,450-foot primary runway.

City manager Nate Schneider told AIN that the company immediately ceased all operations under the terms of the liquidation bankruptcy, leaving the airport in a tough situation.

“The bankruptcy trustee, they control all of the assets, which includes the buildings that were owned by Red Willow Aviation and all the equipment,” he said, adding that the city is working to hammer out a lease agreement with the bankruptcy trustee to allow for the use of the buildings and the equipment so it can restart aircraft fueling operations.

In the meantime, the city has had to establish its own insurance for the FBO and retained the location’s certified fueling staff as independent contractors. At a legislative meeting last night, officials approved rarely used city council contingency funds to pay for its operation.

As for the future of the FBO, Schneider expects the city will eventually issue an RFP for a new operator, but until then it will have to wait until the bankruptcy winds its way through the legal process.