The Privatization of Briscoe Field by Cheri Anderson

The Privatization of Briscoe Field

By: Cheri Anderson

A major topic in Gwinnett County right now is the move to privatize Briscoe Field. The airport is currently losing money and could continue to lose money over the next few years. In early 2010, Gwinnett County filed an application with the FAA to privatize the airport. I am in favor of this and think that the benefits to this county could be tremendous.

A new privatized Briscoe Field could be a money maker for Gwinnett County. Right now, the airport is losing money and will probably continue to do so. But a privatized Briscoe Field would take the burden away from the Gwinnett County taxpayers. Bringing in small commercial flights could bring in a new stream of revenue. Currently, if the airport makes a profit that money must go back into the airport. But if the airport was privatized Gwinnett County would be allowed to use those profits for other county needs. Every dime of profit would not have to be pumped right back into the airport. This would create a huge benefit to the taxpayers.

There would also be a financial benefit to the surrounding area, Gwinnett County, and the neighboring counties. New hotels, car rental companies, and more would move into the area creating new jobs. Currently traveling businessmen and women must fly into Atlanta into Hartsfield Jackson airport, which is the busiest airport in the world, or the Peachtree-DeKalb airport. Traveling by car to Gwinnett County easily adds another hour to the travel time. If Gwinnett County had commercial flight service, then these travelers could fly directly into Gwinnett saving time and money. And if they decided to stay in Gwinnett for a few days, then the money stays in our county and not in the city of Atlanta.

Picture a family wanting to take a trip. Currently, they would have to drive an hour into Atlanta through traffic to take a flight out of a busy and congested airport. Once there they would have to pay to park their car there for the duration of the trip. Believe me, there is no one who will drive you to the Atlanta airport if you live in Gwinnett. I don’t even think my mom would agree to that one. But if there was an airport in Gwinnett, they could probably find someone to drive them to the airport, thus saving themselves the parking fee. With a county as large as Gwinnett it doesn’t make sense that these families would have to drive an hour to get to an airport. Gwinnett County should have a commercial airport for its citizens.

There are some people who complain about the noise commercial planes would bring in. But, according to the stats, the airplanes that would be brought it would not be louder than the planes currently flying out of the airport. They also complain that their house prices could drop. But in other communities where small commercial airports are located, like the Westchester, NY airport, the housing prices are actually rising. The opponents claim that most of the Gwinnett County residents are against the airport privatization but surveys that have been taken have shown otherwise.

I support the plan to privatize Briscoe Field and will be watching along with the rest of the county to see what happens next.

http://www.flybriscoe.com http://www.betterinformedgwinnett.com/ignorance-the-greatest-enemy-of-progress-in-gwinnett/ http://www.gwinnettforum.com/2011issues/11.0809.htm http://www.betterinformedgwinnett.com/airport-noise-argument-lacking-in-common-sense/