Airport Improvements Nearing Completion

The new hangers at the Gilmer County Airport are well underway and completion is scheduled for August 2009. One hanger will provide space for both aircraft and a Fixed Base Operator (FBO). The FBO will be responsible for the day to day operations at the airport. The second hanger will only house aircraft. Both hangers are being constructed to provide low cost maintenance and operation. Natural lighting will be used on two sides of each hanger and the interiors will be painted white to take advantage of natural light. The hanger that will house only aircraft (not the FBO) will not be heated.

Shown in the pictures are both hangers, in their present stage of construction, the automated fuel service, new runway and the search light. Once the hangers are completed and turned over to the County the Gilmer County Airport Advisory Board is planning a grand opening so the public can tour the new facility.

Currently the County is soliciting for proposals for a study that will judge the feasibility of increasing the runway length from the existing 3,500 feet to a length of about 5,000 feet. This will allow much larger aircraft to land at the airport. Companies like UPS could find Gilmer County attractive for distribution centers should they be able to land the larger aircraft.

Even at the existing length there is a list of aircraft owners wanting to base their planes at the airport. Aircraft that are based at the Gilmer County Airport will pay ad valorem tax based on the value of the plane. This will serve to offset maintenance costs of running the facility. In addition, the improvements to date have been accomplished with over 90% funding from state and federal sources making the improvements very cost effective to the taxpayers of Gilmer County.