AVweb's latest "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Highland County Airport (KHOC) in Hillsboro, Ohio.
Dr. Andrew Hesketh discovered the charm and welcoming atmosphere of this GA-friendly airport on a recent stopover:
I was returning from eastern Pennsylvania (Pennridge/KCKZ) in my 1956 BE35 to my home base near St. Louis, Missouri (Alton Regional/KALN), and, with predicted headwinds, I knew I needed to plan a fuel stop. A quick check with AirNav's fuel prices provided Highland County Airport (KHOC) selling fuel for under $5/gallon. After a three-hour flight, I landed at Highland and taxied up to the self-serve fuel pumps. First, there is no FBO at this airport — but you would not know it. One of the local pilots, came out, introduced himself, made sure I was O.K. with fueling the plane, and then helped push the plane to a parking spot. The airport building was aged but clean inside with very friendly people doing what most GA pilots do on a Saturday morning — telling flying stories or making plans to go flying. They had an honor system to purchase soda and snacks, which I took advantage of to ward off the hunger pangs. I am sure if I wanted more for lunch there would have been arrangements made to take [me] to a local eatery. One person even provided a piece of paper for me to copy my IFR clearance on when I realized I had left all my writing paper in my Bonanza. I left about 30-40 minutes after arriving, pleasantly surprised at this small yet thriving airport in souteastern Ohio — thriving because the local pilot population wants to make it a place that you want to visit. Low gas prices are a plus, [but] the friendly people make it a winner.
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