Late last month, the county submitted a preliminary application to the Federal Aviation Administration to reserve one of five slots under the Airport Privatization Pilot Program.
The FAA had 30 days to accept or reject the request... and, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports, has now signed off on the application.
That means Gwinnett will now begin formal studies to determine if privatization of Brisco Field is in the best interests of the county.
"There will certainly be many opportunities for public input along with environmental and economic impact studies," county commission chairman Charles Bannister said. He expects County staff to meet over the next few months with citizens and other interested parties and stakeholders.
The preliminary application identifies the project objectives, describes the planned process and timetables, and supplies current financial and operations statements, but does not commit the county to proceed with a final application. The project schedule in the application indicates that a final application could be submitted by early next year.
Potential private operators will have to demonstrate the financial resources and management capability to improve and operate the airport, according to county officials. If the county decides to continue the process, it would select an operator and negotiate terms before submitting the final FAA application.
Congress authorized the pilot program in 1996 "to explore privatization as a means of generating access to sources of private capital for airport improvement and development." Chosen airports are exempt from repaying federal loans invested in their facilities. If accepted, Gwinnett would fill the fourth of five slots available in the program.
Briscoe Field has a 6,021-foot runway on 500 acres northeast of Lawrenceville. It is capable of handling most corporate jets.
Gwinnett County's Briscoe Field. (Photo courtesy www.airport-data.com)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/5/229630