Tiffin Aire, Inc. is the company that runs the Seneca County Airport, located at 1778 W US 224 in Tiffin. The company is owned by Brad and Kim Newman, the second generation of the family-owned business. The airport is a unique asset for Seneca County and Northwest Ohio. The Seneca County Airport is a 24-hour fueling station, a propeller shop, an airplane storage location, an FFA pilot examination location and testing center, an aircraft sales location (one of only three in Ohio), a chartered flight provider and more. The business has 33 employees including pilots, front office, and technically skilled positions in the airplane frame and propeller shop. The company was established in 1965 and dedicated in 1968 by Kim's parents, Dwight and Jeanne Gnepper. It began with only three employees, two single engine aircraft, two hangars, and an office. Over the years, the Gneppers expanded the business, selling it to the Newmans upon their retirement in 1989. By 1996 Tiffin Aire offered aircraft charter, flight instruction and rental, aircraft sales, aircraft maintenance, parts and oil sales, and propeller/governor sales and service. Tiffin Aire is one of only 13 propeller shops in the entire country. The prop shop was built in 1997 for $750,000, with another $500,000 in equipment. They service all kinds of propellers, and perform inspections and mandatory "overhauls" every six years. There are no chemicals used to strip the paint from the parts, reducing waste, and all grinding of the blades is done by hand.  They are also able to repair wings, and about once a year, they restore an antique aircraft, like an airplane from the 1940's sent down from Canada that is currently in one of their hangar bays. The airport currently has 18 separate hangars, the most recent built in 2015 for $400,000. There are 52 planes based in Tiffin, and storage at the Tiffin Aire facility includes oil, fuel, service and a private hangar. Brad says a lot of their business used to come from local business owners keeping their own private planes, however, that is not the case today. Over the last several years, they have seen their charter business grow. "We have a great location for people coming into town, or stopping over for repairs," he said. "We've got a great network with the businesses in Tiffin, and customers can walk to local restaurants and stores." One way Brad would like to increase traffic to the airport and to Seneca County is through a runway expansion. The current runway is 4,000 linear feet. In order to entertain commercial flights, it would need to be expanded to 5,000 feet. The closest airport able to accommodate commercial flights is in Findlay, which does not offer as many services as the Seneca County Airport. "We'd all benefit from a longer runway," Brad said. While the runway expansion is in the works, it could be years before the project begins. Another way the airport benefits the community is through the Federal Excise Tax. For every gallon of airplane fuel sold, 21.9 cents goes to a tax fund that can only be used for airport improvements. This tax applies whether you purchase fuel at an airport, or if you purchase a ticket on a commercial airline. Since 1989, Brad has collected $4 million from that fund, which provides a 90/10 split on improvements, saving the county money as well as bringing funds spent by citizens back to Seneca County. Brad attributes the business' success to great community support, and giving back to the community. "I always tried to make my own way and didn't ask too much," he said. "And I always supported our local companies and vocational schools." [gallery ids="https://tiffinseneca.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/20160907_135433-1.jpg|,https://tiffinseneca.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/20160907_135503.jpg|,https://tiffinseneca.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/20160907_135724.jpg|,https://tiffinseneca.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/20160907_135622.jpg|,https://tiffinseneca.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/20160907_135811.jpg|,https://tiffinseneca.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/20160907_135718.jpg|,https://tiffinseneca.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/20160907_140649.jpg|,https://tiffinseneca.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/20160907_141510.jpg|,https://tiffinseneca.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/20160907_140611.jpg|,https://tiffinseneca.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/20160907_141719.jpg|" type="slideshow"]