| Macon Area
Transportation Study memberships By-Laws Citizens Advisory Committee here Caution Macon |
Officials look to civilian use of Robins Air Force Base By MIKE STUCKA mstucka@macon.com March 11, 2015 WARNER ROBINS -- Houston County officials have launched an effort that could put civilian businesses inside Robins Air Force Base and potentially allow the runway to serve both military and civilian customers. It’s far too early to tell if the effort will pan out, but U.S. Air Force officials are interested in learning more, said Charles Stenner, a retired lieutenant general who is CEO of the 21st Century Partnership. Agreements for such partnerships take about two years to complete. The 21st Century Partnership’s proposal was briefly mentioned in a Houston County Development Authority meeting Wednesday, with representatives from the Houston County government and its three cities present. The agreements also would be required for a long-discussed Warner Robins-backed proposal to build a facility just outside the fence. No specific types of developments have been proposed, but Angie Ghees- ling, executive director of the Development Authority, said any proposal would protect the mission of the base. Stenner told The Telegraph he is eager for the project to move forward. “We think we’ve got a start (on getting) a handle on all the things that will be required, and now we’ve got to get on down the road,” he said. The 21st Century Partnership hired Jack Metz about a month ago as a project manager to work on the issues, which the military refers to as civilian-civilian or civilian-military partnerships. Gheesling said similar agreements exist at some other bases, and at Robins such partnerships could help the base weather another round of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, or BRAC, process. “We’re always looking for ways to enhance the mission of the base,” Ghees-ling said. The Warner Robins government has long been talking about what it’s been calling the Georgia-Robins Aerospace Maintenance Partnership, planned for a tract of land just outside Robins’ fence. Gary Lee, executive director of the Warner Robins Redevelopment Agency, said this week that the G-RAMP name is no longer valid but that no new name has been picked. The agency also has discussed creating a civilian freight hub at the site, which ultimately could have about 91 buildable acres, in a civilian-military partnership that could divert cargo aircraft from Atlanta’s busy airport. On-base facilities would need similar partnerships but could also bring lease money and other revenue to the U.S. Air Force. Stenner said such partnerships can turn underused base land into money and also can create synergies through related civilian industries, such as aircraft maintenance and overhaul. Stenner said he has talked with base officials who are receptive, responding with an attitude of “That’s interesting. Let’s keep moving forward.” But with probably two years to go before any agreements could be finalized, Stenner said “nobody can commit to anything until they know what they’re committing to.” To contact writer Mike Stucka, call 744-4251. Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2015/03/11/3632193/officials-studying-civilian-use.html#storylink=cpy |
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From: Richard George [rsgeorge@mindspring.com] Sent: Monday, June 03, 2013 5:03 PM To: Oby Brown Cc: Charles Richardson; Sherrie Marshall; Dr. Greg George; David Oedel Subject: Future of Robins AFB Hi Oby, See my note to Charles Richardson below in which I urge acceptance of the probability that there will be significant mission and personnel cutbacks at Robins AFB in the future, recognizing that overall U.S. military expenditures will and should be drastically reduced. Recommend that the Telegraph explore and perhaps promote a shared civil-military airport at Robins AFB. This has worked well at Charleston International Airport where the joint military installation shares runways with the municipal airport: < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston_International_Airport <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston_International_Airport> >. The 10,000 foot runway at Robins has the potential for eliminating the need to expand the Macon Airport and be a cost effective way to gain maximum use of this major military resource. (To my knowledge, the large B-52 alert area known as the SAC Christmas Tree < http://foter.com/photo/the-big-stick-parked/ <http://foter.com/photo/the-big-stick-parked/> > hasn't been used since the last of the B-52 bombers left decades ago.) Another interesting investigative reporting could make readers aware of the possible favorable consequences to the community in the event the entire base was closed. While the mere mention of what many would call this "worst case scenario" paints a picture of economic disaster, the opposite is true in many cases: < http://www.dod.mil/pubs/reuse042199.html <http://www.dod.mil/pubs/reuse042199.html> >. As this 1999 study indicates, in the long run most communities agree that they're better off today than prior to closure. This enlightening summary is included in the web site above, but it bears careful review: Summary Between 1988 and 1995, the federal government selected 97 major military bases for closure, and 62 of the 74 closures that involve a significant community impact have already occurred, most since 1993. Although many communities feared that the closing of a nearby military base would be their economic death knell, in practice it has been the starting bell for charting a new economic future. Because of extraordinary local leadership, combined with a strong economy and President Clinton’s commitment to help affected communities, closing military bases are becoming engines of local economic renewal all across the country. While the task of remaking the economic foundation of a community is never easy, a closed base can be a community’s single greatest asset in charting a different future. Experience indicates that communities that lost a base in the 1960s and 1970s have used the facilities to create, on balance, more new jobs than were lost. And among post-1988 closures, nearly half of civilian jobs lost have been replaced. A recent Forbes article entitled, "Close a base, create a job," reflects the growing recognition that closing bases can help communities build stronger, more diverse local economies. This PBS report came to similar conclusions: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/military/brac/econ_effects.html While the impact on each base4 is unique, here are some BRAC success stories: < https://www.oea.gov/component/finder/search?q=success+stories <https://www.oea.gov/component/finder/search?q=success+stories> >. Base realignment, closure, growth, and industry adjustment can mark a new beginning for a community. When any of these events occur, local leaders are given the task of either reinventing the base’s usefulness, building new infrastructure, ensuring the mission of the base is maintained, and/or replacing hundreds to thousands of jobs. While it can seem overwhelming, with leadership, cooperation, and creativity, it is possible to meet these challenges and even prosper in such fields such as transportation, education, commerce, industry, new neighborhoods, community support services, recreation, and conservation. < https://www.oea.gov/programs/information/oea-can-help <https://www.oea.gov/programs/information/oea-can-help> > Planning for Economic Redevelopment Military Base Closures: Socioeconomic Impacts Analyst in Natural Resources and Rural Development February 7, 2012 Summary The most recent Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission submitted its final report to the Administration on September 8, 2005. Implementation of the BRAC round was officially completed on September 15, 2011. In the report, the commission rejected 13 of the initial Department of Defense recommendations, significantly modified the recommendations for 13 other installations, and approved 22 major closures. The loss of related jobs, and efforts to replace them and to implement a viable base reuse plan, can pose significant challenges for affected communities. However, while base closures and realignments often create socioeconomic distress in communities initially, research has shown that they generally have not had the dire effects that many communities expected. In some respects, a closed military base shares similarities with other closed industrial facilities such as steel mills, oil refineries, or port facilities. Research and previous economic development experience suggest that converting a closed military base into a source of new competitive advantage is a major community effort. Some bases closed in earlier BRAC rounds have been successfully redeveloped into manufacturing facilities, airports, and research laboratories (e.g., Charleston, SC). Bases also may hold certain advantages for redevelopment that are not shared by other industrial sites. Pricing for the closed bases might be steeply discounted and liability for environmental protection indemnified. Federal grants and incentives also exist to aid community redevelopment efforts. Many communities that developed a comprehensive and realistic plan for economic redevelopment were able to replace many of the lost jobs and restore lost income. The DOD programs for assisting communities with base redevelopment (e.g., the Office of Economic Adjustment) have also played a role in mitigating some of the effects of base closure and/or realignment. Some communities came to regard the closing as an opportunity for revitalizing and diversifying their economies. Other communities found they were in stronger economic shape after several years than they thought possible on first learning their bases were closing. #### Oby, I hope that the Telegraph will pursue these possibilities in a series of articles which will be a definite public service to the community and your readers. Best Dick * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Richard S. George, Quinta del Sol 5276 Zebulon Road, Macon, GA 31210-2136 USA 478 471-1315 <rsgeorge@mindspring.com> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On 4/14/13 6:05 PM, "Richard George" <rsgeorge@mindspring.com> wrote: Charles, This isn't a "Letter to the Editor" -- just a personal note to you. I was disappointed that today's Telegraph's editorial page turned a "thumbs down on the president's budget proposal that calls for a BRAC in 2015 which would impact Robins Air Force Base." This is typical NIMBY thinking -- probably every newspaper in the U.S. which serves a military community hopes for the same exemption for their base. A more appropriate and helpful approach would be to hope that the impact of the next BRAC on Middle Georgia is as painless as possible, recognizing that military expenditures will and should be drastically reduced. The Telegraph would better serve its readers by putting this spending in perspective: 60% of the U.S. budget goes to military spending leaving only 40% to fund everything else. We spend more on our military than the militaries of all other nations of the world combined. This is a revealing summary: http://www.oneminuteforpeace.org/budget. We've know for some time that all of Houston County's eggs are in one basket -- the need for economic diversification has been apparent for a long time. The inevitable adverse impact on Bibb County as well should make our focus not on "if" but "when" and seek steps to mitigate the impact. Sincerely Dick Richard S. George, Quinta del Sol, 5276 Zebulon Road Macon, GA 31210-2136 USA 478 471-1315 <rsgeorge@mindspring.com> |
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Address to Macon
Commission on Tuesday, Jan 20th, 2015 by Dr. Lt Maj
Ash Walker and Dr L Holliday. Lt. Col. Walker
has personally flown into Joint-Use Runways at
Charleston , Pope AFB, and Pearl Harbor Navy base. Airports in US Civilian-Joint-Use with Air Force Bases
The facility is an amalgamation of the Force Charleston and the United States Navy Naval Support Activity Charleston, which were merged on 1 October 2010. A joint civil-military airport, JB Charleston shares runways with Charleston for commercial airlines operations on the south side of the airfield and general aviation aircraft operations on the east side. The term "civil enclave" is rarely used in the United States, which nonetheless has several shared military-civilian facilities, usually referred to in Federal Aviation Administration records as shared-use airports or joint-use facilities. One example is Northwest Florida Regional Airport (a joint-use facility), which utilizes the runway and ATC services of Eglin Air Force Base. Charleston International Airport uses the runways and services of Charleston Air Force Base. Both civil airports, however, operate their own passenger terminals and taxiways. Charleston also has private operators on the civilian side of the field catering to the general flying public. The obverse, a military enclave, is quite common in the United States, though never referred to as such in that country. Many Air National Guard operations take place at smaller regional airports run by civil authorities. Airports containing ANG enclaves include McGhee Tyson Airport, Harrisburg International Airport and Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport among many others; virtually every state without a major Air Force base has military operations present in at least one civilian airport. This is A SHARED-USE airport. the USAF owns and operates all runways and the majority of the taxiways. The Charleston County Aviation Authority operates the civilian terminal and associated taxiways. Westover AFB. Facilities and aircraftThe portion of the Westover complex still under military control covers an area of 2,500 acres (10 km˛) which contains two runways: 5/23: measuring 11,597 x 301 ft (3,535 x 92 m) and 15/33 measuring 7,082 x 150 ft (2,159 x 46 m).[1] A new Air Traffic Control tower was constructed in 2002 and the old tower was demolished. According to Federal Aviation Authority records for the 12-month period ending 26 September 1994, the airport had 38,137 aircraft operations, an average of 104 per day: 81% military, 18% general aviation and 1% air taxi. There were 46 aircraft based at this airport: 35% military, 50% single engine, 9% multi-engine, 2% jet aircraft, 2% helicopters and 2%ultralight.[1] Military facilities are under control of the Commander, 439th Airlift Wing, currently Brigadier General Steven D. Vautrain.[12] The civilian portion of the airport is run by the Director of Civil Aviation, an employee of the Westover Metropolitan Corporation.
Dr Walker gave a
"How-To" manual to Macon Mayor and Clerk re Airports-OEA.pdf |
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Telegraph articles are one-sided: http://www.macon.com/2015/01/19/3540029_officials-macon-runway-expansion.html?rh=1 Officials: Macon runway expansion would bring jobs, not threaten RobinsBy MIKE STUCKAmstucka@macon.com January 19, 2015 The Middle Georgia Regional Airport can lengthen its runway to boost the region’s economy without threatening the nearby Robins Air Force Base operations, the airport’s manager said. Doug Faour, manager of the Middle Georgia Regional Airport, said the airport and base have room for growth without threatening each other because planes are too close. “It would take a tremendous amount of increase in traffic to create any issues at all. I don’t see that happening,” said Faour, who said no projections show any change like that. “What I see is the runway extension bringing jobs that are positively going to affect everybody.” Macon-Bibb County has a proposal to expand the Middle Georgia Regional Airport’s main runway in fiscal 2018. Government spokesman Chris Floore said the latest estimate for the extension -- which would increase its length from 6,501 feet to 8,001 feet -- is about $25 million. Design work, tentatively proposed for fiscal 2017, would help put a better price tag on the measure. A runway expansion would also require a tunnel over Avondale Mill Road, as well as plenty of dirt. The end of the runway looms over a significant drop-off, which would have to be built up to accommodate another 1,500 feet, or nearly a third of a mile. The runway lengthening plan could be aided by discussions in the state government to dramatically boost the state’s transportation spending. A legislative committee said the state’s transportation funding was at least $1 billion a year short, and the committee proposed a slate of ideas -- mostly involving tax increases -- to narrow the gap. Such a runway expansion could also be touted as an investment. The Middle Georgia Regional Airport is home to two major aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul operations, Timco and Bombardier. But Timco, in particular, hasn’t been able to bring in every model of aircraft for maintenance because the runway isn’t long enough. Faour said the runway expansion would allow larger planes to fly in, as well as planes carrying more cargo. Other kinds of aircraft, such as those that need brake repairs, also could benefit from a longer runway, he said. “Aircraft that operate in and out now could go out heavier with more fuel in them, more passengers, more of a load,” Faour said. “Timco would be able to attract additional business if the runway was longer.” The Middle Georgia Regional Airport now has about 18,600 operations -- typically takeoffs and landings -- per year, Federal Aviation Administration statistics show. In contrast, Robins Air Force Base has about 47,400 operations a year. Robins’ sole runway lines up almost perfectly with the Ga. 247 end of the main runway at Middle Georgia Regional Airport, which is nearly perpendicular to a line going to Robins’ runway. Pilots leaving Middle Georgia Regional Airport are advised to contact the tower at Robins Air Force Base. Pilots approaching Robins Air Force Base are warned not to mistake the smaller Middle Georgia Regional Airport runway for the base runway they’re looking for. Roland Leach, a Robins spokesman, said the base doesn’t anticipate any conflicts if Middle Georgia Regional expands its runway. The two air-traffic control towers routinely coordinate their efforts and have a direct line between each other, he said. Bobby Komlo, a retired U.S. Air Force major who spent several years working on airspace issues for the J-STARS aircraft, worries that increasing plane traffic at the airport or base could put a cloud over Robins’ future. “This would be years down the pike, that if it grew too big it could start muscling out Robins and the air operation,” he said. Other bases have lost in the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, or BRAC, process because of airspace conflicts. Komlo said such changes could happen if either airport got a big increase in traffic by taking more cargo traffic from somewhere else. Officials have discussed using Middle Georgia Regional Airport for more cargo, and Warner Robins Redevelopment Agency members discussed seeing if Robins’ main runway could begin to allow civilian aircraft, allowing FedEx or UPS jets in. Komlo acknowledged any such changes aren’t likely anytime soon. “Even if the runway magically expanded today, it would take years for the kind of air traffic that I envisioned to materialize and impact Robins,” said Komlo, an instructor pilot. To contact Mike Stucka, call 744-4251 ... Comments: Bob Farquhar · Jack of all trades at Houston Hardware & Garden Center Since Robins already has runways of sufficient length as well as cargo handing and maintenance facilities, it would seem more practical and cost-effective to partner with the base. Bob White · Top Commenter · UGA When the flights do not have to be subsidized by the government it would make sense to expand the airport but not until. ... NASA/JPL-CALTECH AND USDA Macon-Bibb County hopes to lengthen the main runway at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport, in the top-left corner of this aerial photo. The airport is relatively close to -- and almost in line with -- the runway at Robins Air Force Base, which is seen in the bottom-right corner. ... http://www.macon.com/2015/01/21/3541937/high-paying-jobs-await-a-runway.html ... High paying jobs await a runway extensionJanuary 21, 2015There are some things that make so much sense that it’s wished a snap of the fingers could make it so. That is the case of the runway extension at Middle Georgia Regional Airport. Upon further review, according to the airport’s manager Doug Faour, some of the obstacles that could be important don’t exist. The airport, and the city-county that owns it, would like to extend the runway’s length by 1,500 feet. The addition would allow larger planes and aircraft with heavier payloads to land at MGRA. That’s where the jobs come in. Well-paying jobs. Timco and Bombardier operate maintenance and repair facilities at the airport now, but the type of planes that can land and take off at the airport is limited. The larger jets in the fleets of air carriers, commercial and passenger, such as the Airbus A-350 and Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, not to mention Federal Express’ 660 aircraft and UPS’s fleet of 300, don’t have enough real estate. A longer runway opens the airport, not only to repair and maintenance, but cargo. As airspace becomes more crowded in Atlanta, large shippers such as FedEx and UPS are exploring opportunities -- and those opportunities are not all in the air. Middle Georgia Regional is almost ideally suited with access to Interstate 75 via Ga. 247. Atlanta’s highways are choking on the city’s success and time sensitive carriers don’t want to be caught in the traffic. Extending the runway is not without hurdles. There is a fairly steep drop off at the end of the runway and tons of dirt would have to be brought in along with a tunnel over Avondale Mill Road. The only issue there is cost. If you can build a runway that crosses Interstate 285 for Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, crossing Avondale Mill Road should be a snap. With all the positives, what’s holding up the project? Bulldozers should be hard at work by now. First, leaders had to find out if increased air traffic would affect Robins Air Force Base. It won’t for the foreseeable future. The base and the airport control towers communicate directly now to handle any issues that may come up. Funding the project -- that may run north of $25 million -- is the biggest obstacle. The runway extension was one of the projects on the failed T-SPLOST list, and it was not included in the last SPLOST that allocated funds for economic development -- funds that immediately bore fruit with the Tractor Supply distribution center. While the state understands its transportation infrastructure lags $1 billion annually of what’s needed just to maintain the state’s roadways, airport runways have not been part of the conversation -- until now. Maybe state, federal and local sources can be found to at least get the design phase moved up from 2017. ............COMMENT: A better idea is Joint-Use of the Robins AFB runway. Leave the two smaller runways in Bibb for niche work better suited for their sizes. Think regionally. Save the taxpayers Millions and Millions $$$. Strengthen the mission of the WRAFB. See notes here: http://www.macon-bibb.com/MATS/Airport-Notes.htm Thank-you. |
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9-26-2014 Erick, I read your editorial in today's Telegraph where you say middle Ga needs a longer runway to attract industry. We already have the longest runway on the Eastern Seaboard (over 2 miles long?) located on the southern border of Bibb County. We need an open discussion between influential persons such as yourself and citizens who are knowledgeable and interested in transportation issues such as this. My dental colleague, Dr Ashley Walker deploys often to dual-use military-civilian runways such as the one at Charleston, SC. He has seen both sides of several of these facilities, and it is he who reminded me of the extraordinary capability of the Warner Robins runway that is greatly under-used. Lee Ballard has written numerous articles in the Telegraph about the advantages of dual-use runways. All the CAC members combined have attended MATS meetings for many decades. David Oedel has written numerous articles on transprtation issues. Sarah Gerwig is Chair of P&Z and she has a vote on the MATS Policy Committee. Robert Reichert is Chair of MATS - I will create a webpage to post all ideas, and another webpage to post our consensus ideas linked to the MATS page. Looking forward to discussing this with you all. - Lindsay Lindsay D. Holliday, DMD (H) (478)742-8699 3091 Ridge Ave. Macon,GA 31204 Office 478-746-5695 360 Spring Street 31201 cell 478-335-3452 http://www.hollidaydental.com www.Facebook.com/lindsay.doc.holliday |
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| - Subject: MATS - Airport as a joint-use facility - efficient, regional cooperation Brilliant ideas from Lee Ballard -- A a joint-use Airport facility could save our region a ton of money we could then use for other transportation needs. Hope our MATS (Macon Area Transportation Study) members will give this idea serious consideration. MATS should return us (the Public Taxpayers) a detailed report of this consideration. ... BALLARD: Transportation planning: Area’s Achilles heel, Part II By LEE BALLARD Special to The Telegraph February 21, 2014 http://www.macon.com/2014/02/21/2949515/ballard-transportation-planning.html The Telegraph’s Feb. 10, report, “Plan includes civilian flights into Robins” by Mike Stucka was an attention grabber. Exactly three years ago, I pitched the same notion via The Telegraph’s Your Say feature. Here’s an excerpt from the Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, piece, “Transportation planning: Area’s Achilles heel.” “Macon officialdom ostensibly abandoned pursuit of scheduled airline service; yet the idea recently surfaced for a high-speed rail line to the Middle Georgia Regional Airport and possibly to Warner Robins. Currently neither location is planning for connecting air passenger service. Any future BRAC -- as happened in 2005 -- will likely evaluate public transportation. Airline service disappeared shortly after the last BRAC round. “Houston County officials can smartly pick up the air passenger baton by seeking approval from Air Force officials to convert Robins Air Force Base to a joint-use facility -- civilian and military aircraft sharing use of the base runway -- perhaps using the proposed G-RAMP area for a terminal. “Two other close by Air Force installations provide examples. The Air Force and Charleston County, S.C., share the Charleston Air Force Base runway. The county operates the civilian terminal and associated taxiways. A similar arrangement exists at the Northwest Florida Regional Airport located on Eglin Air Force Base.” In 2011, then Macon Mayor Robert Reichert said he would “like to talk about forming an airport authority to run the (Middle Georgia Regional Airport) facility, involving other communities so it’s not seen as just ‘the city’s airport.’” His collaboration thought was quickly carried away on an omnidirectional political wind. Also in 2011, former Warner Robins Mayor Chuck Shaheen made a plea for the Georgia-Robins Aerospace Maintenance Partnership (G-RAMP) project stressing the need for Middle Georgia cities and counties to take on a regional outlook for the future, “We got to build a bridge and think regionally. Otherwise, we’re going to be a one-city state (a reference to Atlanta) and we’ll get left behind.” Then in Dec. 2012, during a meeting to discuss an update of the Middle Georgia Regional Airport Master Plan, the 21st Century Partnership’s director, retired Maj. Gen. Robert McMahon, said, “There’s a lack of ‘regional vision’ that prevents people outside Macon from seeing that the airport can benefit them, perpetuated by divisions between surrounding cities and counties.” Presently, Bibb County officials want to lengthen a Middle Georgia Regional Airport runway. Houston County desires a similar extension for its airport, seeking a Level III regional facility. And Houston officials want to use part of Robins as a civilian air terminal. And they are contemplating business operations similar to that envisioned by Bibb officials for its airport -- aircraft maintenance and Fed-Ex/UPS air cargo. The base certainly needs to keep its lengthy, underused runway busy. However, one can only sit and ponder the implications, especially for the Macon airport. My thought was for an alternative to Atlanta’s international airport, relieving its passenger load. The MGRA Master Plan is overdue. Will the plan take into account the need for regional cooperation? A recent Telegraph editorial observed, “the threat of not having a regional approach to attracting industry and good jobs is the constant enemy.” Middle Georgia, with its prolific network of roads, rails and airports, has the potential to become the hub for a huge portion of all the goods moving within Georgia. Presently, Middle Georgia is simply a region that most transporters must transit through on their way to/from Atlanta’s inter-modal centers, Savannah’s seaport and points in Florida. The region’s airport planning must not conflict and it should be linked to the planning for other transportation assets -- inland ports, inter-modal centers, industrial mega-sites and an expanded foreign trade zone. A pooling of resources could ensure Middle Georgia is not, as former Mayor Shaheen lamented, “left behind” in Atlanta’s dust. ... ... The contract for and control over the update to the MGRA Master Plan was not under the purview of the MATS, yet another transportation planning disconnect. Apparently, the MATS Policy Committee will not be part of the approval process for the final version of the Master Plan—due late last year. Therefore, the MATS needs a major overhaul of its span of control—to include approval of airport planning formerly done by the City of Macon. FAA funding should be administered via the LRTP and TIA processes, just as GDOT, FHWA and FTA funds are presently managed. I still think the Policy Committee should be the District Commission. No official has stated how six commissioners, not on the Policy Committee, will have a say in transportation planning, if at all. Apparently, the majority of commissioners are locked out—unable to vote—while a few ew bureaucrats on the Policy Committee vote for/against transportation projects. What's wrong with this picture? |
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| About air cargo operations at MGRA: The GDOT, as far as I can tell, has not endorsed the idea. The Statewide Freight and Logistics Plan, 2013 update, identified and evaluated port, rail, highway and air cargo projects, presumably including Middle Georgia Regional Airport. The only projects recommended by the plan include, "Air Cargo: Add cargo warehouse capacity in Atlanta, and lengthen airport runway in Albany." This statement virtually denies GDOT financial support for both air cargo and runway lengthening at the MGRA. Minus state funding, Macon-Bibb might have to cough up big bucks at a time when the buck supply is slim to none. There are other sources--like the FAA which places little emphasis on county airports. Political intervention...who knows? So, the Robins AFB joint use idea suddenly looks more attractive. My guess is that the foot-dragging release of the MGRA Master Plan update is connected to the GDOT's 2013 stance. A lot of foot-dragging is present Houston County and Warner Robins, too. Fri, 26 Sep 2014 From: "LEE BALLARD" <lee31216@gmail.com> |
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| To: info@mg-rc.org From: Holliday Dental <teeth@mindspring.com> Subject: Airports - Share the Robins - WRAFB - Military runways as modeled in Charleston, SC. Cc: Jim Thomas <jpthomas@mbpz.org>,Greg Brown <gbrown@mbpz.org>, Ken North <knorth@mbpz.org> Middle Georgia Regional Commission (MGRC) 175 Emery Highway, Suite C Macon, Georgia 31217 (478) 751-6160 (478) 751-6517 Dear Sirs: My Kiwanis Club is looking for someone with Regional Planning knowledge to speak in April about the possibility of sharing Airport Runway facilities. Please contact me. Thank-you, - Lindsay bcc to MATS ... ... Date: Mon, 03 Mar 2014 09:25:50 -0500 To: Jim Thomas <jpthomas@mbpz.org> Ralph Nix <rnix@mg-rc.org> just now suggested to me that you might be a starting point to find an appropriate Speaker for the Kiwanis. ... ... From: "LEE BALLARD" <lee31216@gmail.com> Subject: Re: MATS - Airport as a joint-use facility - efficient, regional cooperation Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2014 22:47 Doc, Apparently the local agency deeply involved in the joint base concept is the 21st Century Partnership. The program is known as the Public/Public & Public/Private Initiative (P4). I've attached some slides from the Partnership's 2nd Qtr meeting. The 3rd and 4th qtr meetings have not been posted. https://21stcenturypartnership.com/meeting-minutes.cms They don't reveal much. Slide 26 shows "Joint Use Airfield"ť as an initiative and the "partner"ť is Warner Robins. Laura Mathis, MGRC, has been doing a quarterly Partnership briefing on BRAC issues that could be connected, too. So, you might try to pry some info out of them. Lee B. ... link to the minutes: https://21stcenturypartnership.com/meeting-minutes.cms The joint-use comment is in the 2nd qtr. minutes. ... Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 11:27 Subject: Civlian counterpart to airport joint operations From: Ash Walker <ashwalker10@gmail.com> To: Lindsay Holliday <teeth@mindspring.com> No problem--if Dr Holliday is from the commercial side there they may want to contact someone here from The Civilian side. Mr Sean Tracy would be a good start 843- 767-7132 But they can always call me Smitty Larry L. Smith, DAF, GS-12 Airfield Manager JB Charleston SC 29404 DSN 673-3028 -- Ash P. Walker, Lt. Col., USAFR, DC 315th AMDS/SGD 106 Arthur Drive Charleston AFB, SC 404 567 0358 ... ... |
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