Atlanta's second airport
Encyclopedia
Atlanta's second airport is an idea being studied by the city of Atlanta, Georgia
. In May 2007, the Federal Aviation Administration
released the report, "Capacity Needs in the National Airspace System, 2007–2025" as part of its Future Airport Capacity Task (FACT2). The report identified Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
and the Atlanta metropolitan area as needing additional capacity by 2025. Following the report release, Atlanta was given a $1 million federal grant
to study the possibility of adding another airport.
Both Delta Air Lines
and AirTran Airways
, which both operate their primary hub
s in Atlanta, expressed skepticism
about building a second airport.
airport, conversion of an air force base or by new construction on a greenfield site.
for $925 per acre. In early 2007 Paulding County purchased 162 acre (0.65559132 km²) of the property for a new general aviation
airport (opened in 2009 as Paulding County Regional Airport
), however Atlanta's second commercial airport could still be built on the remaining property. Paulding County is unserved by either rapid transit
or freeways.
, which was purchased in 1972 from Lockheed
, and was the previous site of the Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Laboratory
(GNAL). The property is currently referred to as the Dawson Forest City of Atlanta Tract, and managed by the Georgia Forestry Commission with a trail
system open to the public. The tract is located approximately ten miles from the end of limited access on Georgia 400 north of Cumming, Georgia
. An area of 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) previously occupied by GNAL was restricted following 1978 testing which found residual nuclear radiation from the experiments performed there. Subsequent studies in 1991 and 1997 found radiation levels to be at or slightly above normal background level
s. The property also encompasses Amicalola Creek, which various groups are lobbying to be designated as a scenic river. The forest has also been proposed for use as a major reservoir
for the city of Atlanta water system.
officials and a Georgia state senator have proposed expansion of the airport, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee
, as a solution to Atlanta's capacity needs. Sen. Jeff Mullis' idea includes a maglev train
to connect Atlanta passengers to CMA. Like the Western & Atlantic Railroad (Georgia
's first state road), it would be built cooperatively by the state with the help of Tennessee
. Chattanooga's airport currently operates at a small portion of its capacity, but additional capacity would be necessary to be Atlanta's second airport. Expansion would be difficult as the property is currently bounded by significant roads, a railroad line and a creek bed.
, located just northwest of Atlanta along I-75, was originally intended as a second airport prior to World War II
. However, Dobbins would only be available if a future Department of Defense
Base Realignment and Closure
commission decided to close the base. As of 2007, no additional BRAC commission is planned.
in hopes of creating a regional airport to northeast Georgia reconstituted itself. The Northeast Georgia Surface and Air Transportation Commission is now planning to create studies for a 20- or 24-gate airport in the region that could provide relief for Hartsfield drawing traffic from Atlanta's northeast suburbs. While the earlier incarnation of the commission narrowed options to the expansion of Gwinnett County
's Briscoe Field, the Dawson Forest site, and a 10000 acres (40.5 km²) site in Jackson County
, the new version will consider expansion of the Barrow County
-based general aviation Northeast Georgia Regional Airport. The facility is extending an existing runway to 7000 feet (2,133.6 m) and although it currently occupies only 450 acres (1.8 km²), there is adjacent undeveloped land for expansion.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. In May 2007, the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
released the report, "Capacity Needs in the National Airspace System, 2007–2025" as part of its Future Airport Capacity Task (FACT2). The report identified Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport , known locally as Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield Airport, and Hartsfield–Jackson, is located seven miles south of the central business district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
and the Atlanta metropolitan area as needing additional capacity by 2025. Following the report release, Atlanta was given a $1 million federal grant
Federal grant
In the United States, federal grants are economic aid issued by the United States government out of the general federal revenue. A federal grant is an award of financial assistance from a federal agency to a recipient to carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a law of...
to study the possibility of adding another airport.
Both Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
and AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of the Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida. AirTran operates over 650 daily flights , primarily in the eastern and midwestern United States...
, which both operate their primary hub
Airline hub
An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travelers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations...
s in Atlanta, expressed skepticism
Skepticism
Skepticism has many definitions, but generally refers to any questioning attitude towards knowledge, facts, or opinions/beliefs stated as facts, or doubt regarding claims that are taken for granted elsewhere...
about building a second airport.
Alternatives
An additional commercial airport for the Atlanta metropolitan area could be created by expansion of an existing general aviationGeneral aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
airport, conversion of an air force base or by new construction on a greenfield site.
Paulding County Regional Airport
In 1975, in anticipation of a second airport, the City of Atlanta purchased 10165 acres (41.1 km²) of land west of the city in Paulding CountyPaulding County, Georgia
Paulding County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 142,324. The county seat is Dallas....
for $925 per acre. In early 2007 Paulding County purchased 162 acre (0.65559132 km²) of the property for a new general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
airport (opened in 2009 as Paulding County Regional Airport
Paulding County Regional Airport
Paulding County Regional Airport , also known as Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport, is a county-owned public-use airport in Paulding County, Georgia, United States. It is located six nautical miles west of the central business district of Dallas, Georgia.It is a new regional airport located along...
), however Atlanta's second commercial airport could still be built on the remaining property. Paulding County is unserved by either rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
or freeways.
Dawson Forest
The City of Atlanta also owns 10130 acres (41 km²) of land located southwest of Dawsonville, GeorgiaDawsonville, Georgia
Dawsonville is a city in Dawson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 619 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Dawson County...
, which was purchased in 1972 from Lockheed
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
, and was the previous site of the Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Laboratory
Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Laboratory
The Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Laboratory, also known as AFP No. 67, for Air Force Plant 67 was a United States Air Force test facility located in the Dawson Forest in Dawsonville, Georgia. It was the site of Lockheed's lab for investigating the feasibility of nuclear aircraft...
(GNAL). The property is currently referred to as the Dawson Forest City of Atlanta Tract, and managed by the Georgia Forestry Commission with a trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
system open to the public. The tract is located approximately ten miles from the end of limited access on Georgia 400 north of Cumming, Georgia
Cumming, Georgia
Cumming is a city in Forsyth County, Georgia, United States. The population was 5,430 at the 2010 census. However, places with a Cumming mailing address have a population of around 100,000...
. An area of 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) previously occupied by GNAL was restricted following 1978 testing which found residual nuclear radiation from the experiments performed there. Subsequent studies in 1991 and 1997 found radiation levels to be at or slightly above normal background level
Background radiation
Background radiation is the ionizing radiation constantly present in the natural environment of the Earth, which is emitted by natural and artificial sources.-Overview:Both Natural and human-made background radiation varies by location....
s. The property also encompasses Amicalola Creek, which various groups are lobbying to be designated as a scenic river. The forest has also been proposed for use as a major reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
for the city of Atlanta water system.
Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport
Chattanooga Metropolitan AirportChattanooga Metropolitan Airport
-Top Destinations:-Cargo:- Accidents and incidents:On November 27, 1973, Delta Air Lines Flight 516, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, crashed short of the runway on approach to the airport...
officials and a Georgia state senator have proposed expansion of the airport, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
, as a solution to Atlanta's capacity needs. Sen. Jeff Mullis' idea includes a maglev train
Maglev train
Maglev , is a system of transportation that uses magnetic levitation to suspend, guide and propel vehicles from magnets rather than using mechanical methods, such as friction-reliant wheels, axles and bearings...
to connect Atlanta passengers to CMA. Like the Western & Atlantic Railroad (Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
's first state road), it would be built cooperatively by the state with the help of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. Chattanooga's airport currently operates at a small portion of its capacity, but additional capacity would be necessary to be Atlanta's second airport. Expansion would be difficult as the property is currently bounded by significant roads, a railroad line and a creek bed.
Dobbins Air Reserve Base
Dobbins Air Reserve BaseDobbins Air Reserve Base
Dobbins Air Reserve Base or Dobbins ARB is a United States air reserve base located in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb about northwest of Atlanta. It was named in honor of Captain Charles M. Dobbins, a World War II C-47 pilot who died near Sicily...
, located just northwest of Atlanta along I-75, was originally intended as a second airport prior to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. However, Dobbins would only be available if a future Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
commission decided to close the base. As of 2007, no additional BRAC commission is planned.
Northeast Georgia Regional Airport
After the announcement of the second airport study, a long-dormant commission created in 1989 by the Georgia General AssemblyGeorgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
in hopes of creating a regional airport to northeast Georgia reconstituted itself. The Northeast Georgia Surface and Air Transportation Commission is now planning to create studies for a 20- or 24-gate airport in the region that could provide relief for Hartsfield drawing traffic from Atlanta's northeast suburbs. While the earlier incarnation of the commission narrowed options to the expansion of Gwinnett County
Gwinnett County, Georgia
, Gwinnett County had a population of 805,321. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 53.3% white , 23.6% black , 2.7% Korean, 2.6% Asian Indian, 2.0% Vietnamese, 3.3% other Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.8% some other race and 3.1% from two or more races...
's Briscoe Field, the Dawson Forest site, and a 10000 acres (40.5 km²) site in Jackson County
Jackson County, Georgia
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population in 2000 was 41,589. Explosive growth is evident with a population of 63,544 in the 2009 Census estimates. The county seat is Jefferson.-History:...
, the new version will consider expansion of the Barrow County
Barrow County, Georgia
Barrow County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 46,144. The 2007 Census Estimate placed the population at 67,139...
-based general aviation Northeast Georgia Regional Airport. The facility is extending an existing runway to 7000 feet (2,133.6 m) and although it currently occupies only 450 acres (1.8 km²), there is adjacent undeveloped land for expansion.