FAA, State DOT And Pilots Fight To Keep Pine Mountain Open

The fight against a developer's efforts to close Georgia's Pine Mountain Airport is gathering momentum. Now, the FAA and the Georgia Department of Transportation have joined the AOPA in trying to keep the GA airport open.

As ANN reported Tuesday, the AOPA sent a representative to testify against attempts by the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation to shut down the airport in order to build a five-story hotel.

The Pine Mountain Airport (PIM) is the only GA airport in Harris County -- an area where the population is rapidly growing. In spite of that, Callaway Foundation CEO Edward Callaway told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, "I really do feel the hotel is quintessential to reinvigorate the gardens." He said investors in the $20 million hotel and wellness center will pull out of the project unless the airport is shut down.

The FAA, which granted the airport $13,275 for a study in 2003, takes a pretty dim view of Callaway's argument. The administration "views this airport as an important part of the national aviation transportation system," said the FAA's Chris White. "We expect that airport to remain open for 20 years from the date of the last grant. The county government would be obligated to adhere to the obligations."

No, White said, the county can't get out of those obligations by paying back the federal money spent on PIM. He said there's never been a case where the FAA has gone along with a payback scheme when it involved closing down an airport.

The Georgia DOT agrees. "We've identified the Pine Mountain airport as being in the state's best interest," said Edward Ratiganm, chief of aviation programs for the Georgia DOT. He, too, was quoted by the Ledger-Enquirer. "The FAA has determined it's in the national interest. Airports fill a vital transportation role in the state."

The AOPA based its argument on financial interests.

"What makes the Callaway Foundation proposal to close PIM almost surreal is that dozens of other communities, particularly those reliant on tourism, are literally competing to attract an 'on site' airport," said Roger Cohen, AOPA vice president of regional affairs. "For the county to consider destroying a 5,000-foot runway literally within three-wood distance of a world-class golf resort defies all economic logic."

The land for the airport was originally donated to Harris County by Callaway, with the provision that, if the airport ever ceased operations, Callaway would get the land back. Callaway also operates the airport. 18 months ago, Callaway Director of Business Development Ralph Callaway told county commissioners the field was running a $71,000 annual deficit. He said, if the runway wasn't improved and the entire field fenced in, PIM might be ordered shut down.

FMI: www.aopa.org, www.callawayonline.com, http://harriscounty.georgia.gov