Athens Airport Update
Winter 2005

Airport Receives New ARFF Truck

After much planning with Athens - Clarke County (ACC), the Airport Authority and the FAA, the Athens Airport now has much improved Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting capabilities. A new Rosenbauer Panther 4x4 ARFF truck was delivered on January 14th. The new truck is designed to respond in all types of weather conditions day or night. The truck was approved by the FAA because of the unique traffic mix of the Athens Airport. It moves Athens Airport from an index A airport to an index B, which can provide the required fire protection for an aircraft up to 126' in length. Airport fire fighters will be training on the new truck along with fire fighters from the ACC Fire Department.


Airport Projects Update - Check NOTAMS before flying.
  • Fire Station - The new station is complete. Interior furnishings are being installed and the ARFF trucks are now stationed inside. The station is designated Athens - Clarke County Station 10 and a ribbon cutting/open house is being planned for this spring.

  • Road and Parking Lot - This project is [for the most part] complete except for a couple more items. Being installed this spring will be new airport directional signage and landscaping. The Athens Community Tree Council is assisting Athens - Clarke County in the landscaping.

  • Ramp Renovation Project - This project will repave the ramp area from the commercial terminal to the B-hangars. It will finish the taxiway from Alpha to the GSP hangar, add new tie downs near the C-hangars and pave the taxi lane for new t-hangars. The project is being designed now and we hope to have the majority of work complete by September 2006. This project, as was the above projects, is being funded 95% by the FAA, 2.5% by the GA-DOT and ACC.

Tower Under New Management - Effective October 1, 2005 the contract to operate the Athens Tower was transferred from ACC to RVA. Athens - Clarke County has operated the tower for several years and recently worked with the FAA to have it transferred to the national contract operated by RVA. RVA operates several towers in the area such as Gwinnett County, Fulton County and Cobb County.

Gate Operations - An increasing number of vehicles are driving away from the gates before they have closed behind them. Please remember to not drive away with the gate open. It only takes a few seconds for the gate to close. Thank you.

New Employees - We welcome Andy Booth and Kelley Cox to the operations staff. Andy will be working as an Operations Technician and Kelley as Receptionist. We also welcome Jason Forest to our control tower. Jason previously worked as an Air Traffic Controller for the USAF.
Think Safety, Fly Safely!

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