Atlanta Journal Constitution on New Airport

The Atlanta Journal Constitution today published a fairly accurate article (registration required) summarizing where things stand with the airport relocation project.

The article quickly summarizes the arguments that are being made by relocation proponents and opponents. There's not much analysis in the article - and no real news.

The article does, however, describe how the new airport could make it much easier (and much more affordable) for Atlanta residents to come to Northwest Florida. To the extent that more Atlanta residents become aware of the relocation project, the article is a positive one for Bay County.

There are a couple of points raised in the article I'd like to address:

1) Not all "environmentalists" object to the project. In fact, many local environmental organizations helped develop the West Bay Sector Plan, which the new airport anchors. It's more fair to say the environmental community is divided on this project.

2) Opponents trot out their "Airport to Nowhere" line in the article. This bothers me on many levels. First, are they saying Bay County and the Panhandle are "nowhere"? This region gets nine million visitors a year. Hardly nowhere. Plus, it's a pretty nice place to live, in my opinion.

3) And while we're on this "Nowhere" issue: If Bay County is nowhere - and the airport is destined to fail, as opponents argue - then why are they concerned about development around the airport? If the airport is successful - and development follows - doesn't that suggest pent up demand? Doesn't it suggest the airport is needed?

4) In the article the NRDC raised concerns about the Ivory-Billed woodpecker (an endangered species) - but the NRDC knows that the habitat around the new site is not suitable for Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers. In fact, the woodpecker's habitat is much closer to Eglin AFB and the low-level military training flights conducted there.

5) Local hobby pilots continue to lead local opposition to the airport. But what many of them seem to oppose is moving the airport to a location less convenient for them. I'm not sure we should stop relocation just to make life more convenient for 100 or so private pilots flying private planes.

Perhaps the best peice of information in the article is a quote from an Atlanta resident who said a new airport closer to the beach could attract his business: "It would cut travel big-time. We would probably go down more often if there were cheaper flights. Right now, it's just too far to drive for a weekend trip."