State's First New Airfield In 33 Years

The first new airport in the state of Georgia in 33 years is open for business.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports the Paulding County Regional Airport -- located in Dallas, GA, northwest of Atlanta -- officially opened Friday, but was already winning acclaim a year earlier. In 2007, the airport won the US Department of Commerce’s “Excellence for Innovation in Economic Development” award.

The design includes a 10,000-acre pod system intended to enhance commerce and industry in the region. Over the last two years, the state has given $3 million to Paulding County for the project through the Airport Aid program at the Georgia Department of Transportation.

"Companies far and wide can now look to Paulding County for operations that require the connectivity and direct access this new airport will provide," said Georgia Governor and active pilot Sonny Perdue. "This has truly been a team effort, from our elected officials in Washington, our federal agency partners and state and local leaders who all committed to working together to see this project complete."

PUJ has one 5,500' x 100' runway, 13/31. Runway 13 is equipped with a localizer and glide slope, providing Category 1 ILS capabilities for low-visibility and low-ceiling approaches. GPS-WAAS approaches are also available on both ends.

A brand-new FBO and passenger terminal is expected to open in mid-2009, according to the airport's Web site.

For the moment, the non-towered airport is so new that it's not on the current sectional chart. Dallas is 28 nautical miles from Hartsfield Jackson International, on a heading of 317 degrees. PUJ sits under the 8,000-foot shelf of Atlanta's Class B airspace.

FMI: www.pauldingairport.com/