Taking flight
Airport project propels facility into prominence

RYAN HARRIS
DAILY POST ATHENIAN
JUNE 10, 2005

A $5 million improvement plan is taking flight at the McMinn County Airport, which Tennessee's top aeronautics official said will propel the local aviation facility into state prominence.

"Once the improvements are complete, Athens will be one of the best (general aviation) airports in the state," said Bob Woods, director of the Tennessee Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. "It has an excellent reputation."

A runway extension project is underway at the airport, located off Highway 30.

The new landing strip will be 5,500 feet on one end, and 6,300 feet on the other. Currently, the runway is 5,000 feet.

"It's going to be an excellent runway and it ought to meet their needs for a long time," Woods said.

Adding more landing space will increase the airport's classification and make McMinn County more likely to receive future federal grants, according to Woods. Less than half of the state's general aviation airports will share the classification with McMinn County, the state official said.

McMinn County is currently slated to receive $2 million directly from the federal government, and an additional $3 million will be channeled through the state.

In addition to the runway extension, the grant money will be used for apron and taxiway construction, as well as to create object free areas which will bolster the airport's safety features.

Additional T-hangars could also be added at the airport.

"We want to be the best, and we are nearing that," McMinn County Mayor John Gentry said.

The county also wants the airport to be self-sufficient, and Gentry expects fuel sales and hangar rentals to lift the airport into financial prosperity.

Twenty county-owned T-hangars already generate $42,000 a year, according to Gentry.

Airport manager Bill Johnson said he could rent 10 more hangars immediately for $175 a month.

Having an adequate general aviation facility will also be a major draw for industries, officials say.

"It used to be that major businesses felt that they had to be located in New York City, or some other big city. But now major businesses can be headquartered in small towns or even rural areas," said U.S. Rep. John Duncan, who has worked with local officials to secure money for the airport improvements.

"I can tell you every business in the country wants to be in a place where they have good access to aviation."

Quality of life is also impacted by a strong aviation program, according to Gentry.

Hobbyists use the airport as much as corporate officials, and amateur pilots can earn their wings at the facility.

McMinn County is a particular draw for airplane enthusiasts because of the International Swift Foundation, a worldwide group of aeronautic mavens who marvel over the sporty Swift airplanes of the 1950s.

The Swift foundation is planning on building a new headquarters and museum at the McMinn County airport in the near future, which could be a million dollar capital investment.

"There are a lot of people who move here because of that airport," Gentry said. "Some people want to live near a lake. Some people want to live near the ocean. Some people want to live near a general aviation airport."

McMinn County will be required to spend some local money on the airport improvement projects.

The county is helping pay its part by recently selling a trailer as surplus property for $10,000, and agreeing to sell a small piece of land to the state for the widening of Highway 30 for $40,000.