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Most people travel through an airport without ever thinking about fuel. They expect their flight to be on time, the aircraft to run safely, and everything to “just work.” Behind the scenes, that reliability depends on fuel infrastructure — and on the people who design it.

For more than three decades at C&S, Bill Frye has been one of those people.

If you’ve spent any time around airport fuel projects, there’s a good chance you’ve heard his nickname. Inside — and increasingly outside — the company, Bill is known as “the fuel farm guy.” He didn’t give himself the title, but it stuck, and over the years it’s become synonymous with a body of work that airports across the country rely on every day.

Why Fuel Infrastructure Matters

Fuel systems are critical to airport operations in ways passengers rarely see. Bill explains that airport fuel facilities include aviation fuel for planes, as well as fuel for ground service equipment (e.g., snow removal vehicles), emergency generators, and even heating plants that keep facilities running.

But aviation fuel facilities — specifically jet fuel and avgas — are especially significant. They are not only safety‑critical systems, but also major revenue generators for airports. In recent years, Bill has seen more airports take ownership of their fuel facilities rather than relying on third‑party operators.

“That gives airports more control and more revenue,” he explains. “But it also means they need to get it right.”

That’s where Bill and his team come in.

A Career Built One Fuel Facility at a Time

Bill joined C&S nearly 35 years ago, starting out doing spill prevention plans for heating oil and fuel storage facilities. Those early projects often uncovered systems that were out of compliance — and clients needed help fixing them.

“That naturally led into design and construction support,” Bill says. “And it just kept growing.”

What began as regional work in the Northeast expanded across the country. Today, Bill and his team focus primarily on aviation fuel facilities — from New York and Florida to California and the Great Lakes region, where demand has surged. Over the years, they’ve worked at more than 60 airports, many with multiple fuel facility upgrades, totaling close to 100 fuel facility projects.

Somewhere along the way, Bill became the person people called when fuel farms were involved.

The nickname officially stuck years ago when a colleague jokingly introduced him as “the fuel farm guy” while presenting him with an internal award. It followed him into industry conferences, client meetings, even his business cards — stamped enthusiastically by his family.

“I tried to get people to call them ‘fuel facilities,’ because it sounds more dignified,” he laughs. “But the industry calls them fuel farms.”

Why Fuel Farms Require Specialized Expertise

At a high level, a fuel farm is made up of tanks, pumps, piping, and systems that receive fuel from delivery trucks, store it on site, and move it safely into aircraft.

But what makes aviation fuel facilities unique — and challenging — is that they must address three equally important elements at the same time:

• Environmental protection
• Fire prevention
• Fuel quality

“All fuel facilities deal with environmental protection and fire safety,” Bill explains. “But aviation fuel facilities add a third piece — fuel quality. A plane can’t just pull over if something’s wrong.”

Fuel must be filtered, water must be removed, and the product must meet strict standards before it ever reaches an aircraft. In the industry, Bill says, the fuel must be “clean and bright.”

Designing systems that balance all three priorities — while complying with complex fire codes, environmental regulations, and airport-specific constraints — requires deep experience. It’s not something every engineering team is equipped to do.

How the Team Makes a Difference

Bill credits much of the success of the fuel farm practice to collaboration — both within the team and across the company.

Fuel farm projects often require close coordination with aviation planners, engineers, fire marshals, environmental regulators, and airport operators. Interpreting fire codes alone can be challenging, especially since different jurisdictions have very different levels of experience with fuel facilities.

“Some fire marshals work with huge fuel facilities every day,” Bill says. “Others may be seeing one for the first time. There’s often an educational component.”

He also takes pride in how the fuel farm team works across C&S’s regional offices, bringing in colleagues who may not normally work on these systems and giving them the chance to tackle something new.

“We hire really good people,” Bill says simply. “And when we bring teams together, everyone grows from it.”

Impact You Don’t See — But Depend On

Fuel infrastructure is largely invisible to the traveling public — and that’s exactly how it should be. When it’s working properly, no one notices.

But Bill knows what’s at stake.

Reliable fuel systems keep flights on schedule and reduce disruptions. Carefully designed fire prevention and containment systems protect airport workers and surrounding communities. Conservative design approaches reduce environmental risk and long‑term liability.

Just as importantly, airports trust Bill and his team with systems that cannot fail. That trust has also helped open doors. Fuel farm projects have often led to broader aviation work, introducing new airports to C&S’s full aviation practice — a partnership that benefits both.

Looking Ahead

Bill is realistic about the future of fuel infrastructure. Petroleum isn’t going away any time soon, especially in aviation. But how fuel systems are designed, regulated, and integrated will continue to evolve — alongside sustainability initiatives and new technologies.

The team stays engaged through industry organizations, continuing education, and active involvement in professional groups. And perhaps most importantly, Bill has spent time ensuring the next generation is ready to continue building this area of practice when he retires in July.

Looking ahead, Bill is confident. Confident in the people, confident in the work, and proud of the legacy being passed on.

“It’s been a good career,” he reflects. “I really enjoy what I do, and who I do it with.”

For an industry built on safety, trust, and behind‑the‑scenes precision, it’s fitting that fuel infrastructure is powered by people like Bill.