Thursday March 28th, 2024 9:15PM

Dawsonville's Mayor thanks Forsyth County leaders for support

After passing a resolution supporting an executive airport in Dawson County, Forsyth County leaders heard more information from the Mayor of Dawsonville.

Mayor Mike Eason says the city plans to purchase the private Elliot Field from former NASCAR Hall of Fame racer Bill Elliot. "It's a 5,700 foot runway. We have several jets based there," he said. "We sell fuel. We actually sell over 20,000 gallons of jet aviation fuel a month at that airport as well as general aviation fuel. It's a very busy airport."

He says Georgia Tech currently uses a hangar there with classrooms for drone research for the military and federal government.

Eason explained that the city does not plan to make it a public airport, but instead allow plane owners to house them there and fly out on their own schedule.

He encouraged Forsyth County leaders to get involved and said, "If you had a hangar there you could rent space on things like that. That might be an opportunity for you to showcase it's a 'Forsyth County regional airport at Elliot Field' on the side of your hangar. Bring some corporate jets, things like that, and it's just a way to be seen up there."

Eason explained the need for this facility because other general aviation facilities in areas like Lawrenceville and Hall County are full leaving many owners without a place to house their plane close to home.

"What we've got now is an over-abundance, particularly on the north side of Atlanta, of people who own aircraft, particularly large jet aircraft, that they want to locate convenient to their residence," Eason told commissioners. "That's what we're hearing from people that live in Forsyth, Hall, Cherokee, Gilmer, and Dawson counties."

The facility began private operations in 1984.
 

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News
  • Associated Tags: Forsyth County, Government, Dawsonville, airport, Elliot Field
© Copyright 2024 AccessWDUN.com
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.