Airport director: FAA classed Project Wing as mixed use; county to consider lease amendment and 100,000‑sq‑ft apron

Troy Anderson, the airport director, briefed the board on an FAA recommendation that the Project Wing ground lease be amended because the operation includes both aeronautical and non‑aeronautical uses. Anderson said the resource sponsor has agreed to build a roughly 100,000‑square‑foot apron to create a clear aeronautical use footprint and allow parking of large aircraft (he described capacity for aircraft up to 737 size). He explained the purpose of the FAA 7460 obstruction clearance process and said the county will need completed permits and FAA signatures before vertical construction is approved.

Anderson outlined the business model described in the amendment: the sponsor will refurbish aircraft components, return usable parts to market, and recycle obsolete aircraft on site. He said the lease terms for an 80x80 corporate hangar under discussion would begin rent once a certificate of occupancy is obtained, with rent escalations of 3% annually and the building reverting to the airport at the 30‑year mark. Anderson said the sponsor would bear infrastructure costs (surveying, grading, utilities) and that the airport’s runway load limit (about 100,000 pounds) will govern what aircraft can operate there, requiring compliance through lease terms and airport enforcement.

Anderson said staff and the county attorney have negotiated small changes that remain with the resource sponsor; if the sponsor agrees to the changes before the board’s next meeting staff will bring the amendment forward for approval, otherwise the item would be deferred to the December meeting. He characterized the permitting and FAA coordination as a multi‑step process and said the county will continue enforcing FAA, GDOT and local airport regulations as construction proceeds.