OWLS HEAD — The Knox County Regional Airport, owned and sustained by the citizens of Knox County — as well as federal aviation funding and donations — is seeking nominations for volunteers to sit on its Public Advisory Committee, or any of its subcommittees, to help strengthen ties between local communities, the airport manager and Knox County government. Application deadline is March 29.

"Anyone who is interested in being part of the committee or subcommittees is welcome to apply," said airport Manager Jeff Northgraves.

The three subcommittees are Environmental/Public Relations, Operations/Maintenance and Business Plan.

The nine-seat APAC has been tasked to facilitate airport communications to and from local communities and citizens, as well as provide aviation, environmental and business advice for airport management. Committee members represent a variety of backgrounds, from piloting to environmental engineering, but they also include community members, who represent constituencies divided into three districts within Knox County.

District 1 seat represents Owls Head, Rockport, Rockland and South Thomaston; District 2, Cushing, Friendship, Thomaston, St. George, Warren, and Criehaven Plantation; and District 3, Appleton, Camden, Hope, Isle au Haut, Matinicus, North Haven, Union, Vinalhaven and Washington. Other seats are designated for those representing the Knox County Flying Club, commercial pilot, environment, nearby citizens of Owls Head or South Thomaston; the business community; and airport business.

The County Commission fills these seats for staggered three-year terms. This year, there are four seats up for appointment. They include District 1, District 3, the flying club and commercial pilot.

According to Northgraves, several representatives have expressed interest in getting reappointed; the seat representing District 3, however, is being vacated by Jim Kierstead.

The airport, sitting on 538 acres of Owls Head land, serves the Knox County Flying Club, the Owls Head Transportation Museum and other visiting privates planes; it is home to Penobscot Island Air, a charter/air taxi that provides mail, passenger and medical evacuation service to the islands of Penobscot Bay; and to Cape Air, the commercial air service to and from Boston.

The airport is currently updating its master plan, through a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration and with the help of Stantec Consultung Services. The plan is expected to be finished by April 2014. Under discussion is the need for more hangars, and reviewing design criteria for a 20-year planning period.

The airport has a longtime presence in Owls Head. Built during World War II, and known then as the Ash Point Naval Air Station, it was one of several naval airports that were located along the coast. On Dec. 4, 1968, the City of Rockland turned operations over to the county. Today, it has two runways, one 5,000 feet in length, the other, 4,000 feet.

An instrument landing system was installed and the county constructed a new terminal in 2010. Just recently, the airport began recording its unicom (universal communications) frequency

The various functions of the airport employ approximately 75, with more hired during the busier summer months.

Knox County commissioners will make appointments during their April 9 meeting.

Nominations should be emailed to Northgraves, or any current member of the APAC, by March 29. The APAC will compile these nominations and provide recommendations to the county commissioners. Citizens interested in becoming a member of the APAC should notify their town office or organization as soon as possible. In addition, requests to be considered for appointment may be submitted to Knox County Administrator Andrew Hart prior to April 4 or directly to any commissioner prior to April 9.

The APAC normally meets the second Monday of each month, in the airport manager's office, at 4 p.m.

Current members include Gray Smith, South Thomaston; John Curtis, Thomaston;  Jim Kirstead, Camden; Bill Jones, Hope; Pennie Alley, South Thomaston; Bill Maddox, Rockland; Shane Burns, Appleton; Dale Flint, Union; and Kevin Waters, South Thomaston.