Airport Relocation "Making Good Progress"

Earlier this month Airport Authority Chairman Joe Tannehill said in a press release the airport relocation project is "making tremendous progress" and if all goes according to plan, the Airport Authority will break ground on the new airport in 2007.

Many people don't realize that the Airport Authority has been working to address the deficiencies as our current airport for nearly ten years now. The Federal Aviation Administration studied the situation for nearly five years before they recommended and approved relocation.

The existing airport does not meet federal safety and design standards - that is an indisputable fact. It is located in a residential neighborhood and is bordered to the west by Goose Bayou, making it very difficult and extremely expensive to bring the existing airport up to federal standards.

In fact, about ten years ago the Airport Authority wanted to extend the runway into the bay - but local environmentalists and Florida DEP wisely objected and killed the runway extension.

Now the FAA's Record of Decision leaves no doubt that relocation is our best option.