The Blairsville Municipal Airport was inducted into the Georgia Airport Association this year, leading to its inclusion in the Georgia Airport Association’s Annual State Legislator Airport Tour. Originally set for May, the tour had to be rescheduled to Sept. 23 due to spring storms.
As part of the yearly tour, lawmakers are flown to several stops around the state to allow them to check out various airport facilities, learn more about their destinations and how each airport in the tour contributes to the overall economic and managerial success both locally and in Georgia.
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Along with Union County, some other stops of the day included Whitfield County, Walker County and Habersham County, the latter of which the group was due for departure after wrapping up their Blairsville visit.
Legislators who flew in included District 53 State Rep. Deborah Silcox and Blairsville’s own District 8 State Rep. Stan Gunter, and they were joined by Congressional District 11 State Transportation Board Member Jeff Lewis, who previously served in the Georgia House.
In addition to state-level leadership, local dignitaries included representation from the Blairsville City Council, the Union County Commissioner’s Office, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Union County Fire Department, Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce and more.
Notably, Union County aviator W.C. Nelson, after whom the Terminal Building is named, was also in attendance.
Airport Manager Dan Firebaugh gave a presentation that included general statistics about the airport, highlighting what project management and progress has looked like over the years – and what is anticipated to change in the future.
Blairsville KDZJ is a Level III Airport, meaning it serves the surrounding counties despite being a municipal airport. Additionally, the airport serves a variety of purposes outside of the tourism it is often cited as facilitating.
Police and military use, for example, has ramped up with exercises, in some cases resulting in good publicity for the airport. Training by the U.S. Army Rangers always draws a crowd to watch as parachutes float down from a mighty Chinook helicopter.
“A lot of people don’t realize what an airport can do to a community if it is serving all different kinds of industries,” noted Firebaugh.
When it comes to bringing in visitors, however, Firebaugh said the most successful event in the airport’s history was the Wings and Wheels Car Show and Fly-In on July 28.
Despite a few hiccups – there were so many attendees that people had to line up on the highway to get in, and many guests complained about the heat – the event will likely return next fall due to its overall success.
Regarding future additions, Firebaugh said a parallel taxiway has been added to the improvement plan and will hopefully become reality in the next five to six years. Along with that, the runway might face an extension of another 500 feet.
The airport is also in active negotiations with “a group of investors” who want to open a hangar for flight training and a maintenance center in Blairsville.
Following the presentation, Firebaugh led legislators and local dignitaries on a brief bus tour of the airport. Upon their return, the state officials enjoyed a lunch catered by the Blairsville Restaurant before departing on their jet to continue the tour.
