I think it is needed, the where & how big are the questions. What ever happened to the property in Dawsonville that the city of Atlanta owns? It was proposed as a second airport, I think the state is now looking at using it for a resivoure [sp?]?

The other airport in New York is spelled LaGuardia

I really think Atlanta needs a second airport. It might bring down airfares around here. I've always lived where there were other airport options. When I was in Boston, you could fly into Providence, RI or Manchester, NH. In Upstate NY, there was another airport about an hour, hour and a half away. You could price shop. But where would it go here in Metro Atlanta? There's strong opposition to Briscoe expanding and I don't see any other community welcoming a major airport with open arms.

The reality is the airline industry is consolidating to larger hubs, regional airports are losing carriers. Aviation analysts forecast 100-125 regional airports will lose carriers in the next 5-8 years nationwide. We're down from 7 major airlines to 4, almost all the regional carriers are gone. But some people think its a great time to start a new airport?

I'm selfish enough to want another one closer to where I live, but I do have sympathy for homeowners who moved into an area without an airport only to find one might come along. However, if not Briscoe, now might be a good time to find land that isn't too close to a populated area and at least earmark it for the project. That way anyone looking to relocate would know in advance they might one day be under an airport.

I don't think It is needed, especially aroung such a high residential area as Gwinnett County. If this is something that needs to be done then they should put it south of the Atlanta Airport in a more rural area.

If your definition of major international airports is associated with Metropolitan Statistical Areas (i.e. big cities) then there are bunch of big cities that only have a single international airport; Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Boston (Manchester & Providence are 50+ miles/1+ hours from Boston) - including ATL that's 6 out of the top 10 MSAs. Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis/St. Paul, San Diego, St. Louis, Denver, Pittsburgh, and Portland, OR are all top 25 MSAs without a 2nd int'l airport. Propeller wants you to believe Atlanta is the only major city without a 2nd airport - but it's just not true. But I'll play along.

No, ATL doesn't need a 2nd airport anytime soon. Its 2011 operations/flights were less than 2004. Check it out in the FAA ATADS website.

But if you need a 2nd airport in Atlanta, it'd have to be at a greenfield site like Dawsonville or Paulding County where ATL already owns land.

Another thing to consider many northeastern cities with multiple airports have a larger population base than Atlanta. And most of there passengers are arriving and departing rather than just connecting to another flight. 70 percent of Hartsfield passenger are connecting, Briscoe would never take this business from Hartsfield.

Most cities with two airports have this situation because the original airport began in the 1920s. When the city out grew the original airport, a second airport was built.
When Atlanta out grew the original airport in the 1950s, it was closed, and Hartsfield was built. Because additional property has been acquired it has prevented Hartsfield from becoming obsolete.

Compare Hartfield to JFK or many other airports that are an odd jumble of terminals. Hartsfield was is very organized and well laid out.

ATL doesn't "NEED" a 2nd airport, but it would be nice. Although, at this point everybody will say "not in my backyard" and that's what Gwinnett is doing. Not only do we not want it in our backyard, but I would expect that the main Atlanta airport doesn't want Gwinnett to expand because it would really screw up the flight pattern into the ATL air space. How many have sat out at night and watched the planes line up heading down 316 and 85 as they head south to land?

In the past there has been discussion about Chattanooga being the 2nd airport, but really that's 1.5 hours away and often socked in with fog at random times so that wouldn't work.

Macon? Well, sure, but that's on the south side and the population concentration for Atlanta is mostly north so not many would drive through town to go toward Macon.

From the north side of Gwinnett how many have just gone up to Greenville to fly out of there? That's NICE! You should try it sometime.

Yes, it would be nice to have another airport, but at what cost? And what is the real reason for it? ATL can still expand. There is talk of adding a 6th runway. (http://tinyurl.com/ATL-6th). So, why is there such a push for a 2nd airport? GREED! Local Governments want the revenue that comes with the possibility of growth around having that airport in their backyard. With little respect for what the people desire the real focus to be on.

Not in my backyard...without there being a really good reason.

Lets be factual ladies and gentlemen:

New York has 5 airports which include - JFK, La Guardia, Newark, White Plains, Islip

LA has 5 airports - LAX, Newport, Long Beach, Burbank, Ontario

Chicago has 2 - O'Hare & Midway

Dallas has 2 - Love Field and DFW

Philadelphia has 2 or 3 depending on how you count it - Philly, Atlantic City, Newark

Houston has 2 - Hobby and George Bush

Washington has 3 - Reagan National, Dulles and Baltimore Intl'

Miami has 3 - Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach

Atlanta has 1 - Hartsfield

Boston has 3 - Logan, Manchester - Boston and Providence.

The above are the top 10 metro areas in order of size in the U.S. Just saying.

NIMBY

Barrow and Gwinnett residents both say no. Sometimes you just have to anger a portion of the population to get things done.

@Jeremiah Please let us know what primary / office you have qualified for... OK?

Mr Regan, come now. Let's stop with the rhetoric and simply step aside and let the citizens of Gwinnett (the 800,000+ residents) vote on this issue in July. In other words, put the issue to a vote rather than have 500 or so NIMBY citizens decide the fate of the County or the 5 BOC members. If it passes, there's an airport. If it doesn't pass, then there is no airport. Is this too difficult of a concept for you to understand?

Why is Briscoe the only consideration? What about these other municipal airports?
1. Covington Municipal Airport
2. DeKalb-Peachtree Airport
3. Fulton County Airport / Charlie Brown Field
4. Cobb County Airport / McCollum Field Kennesaw
5. Cartersville Airport Cartersville
6. Newnan-Coweta County Airport Newnan
7. Cherokee County Airport Canton / Ball Ground
8. Paulding County Regional Airport Dallas
9. Clayton County Airport / Tara Field Hampton
(former Henry County Airport / Morris Field)
10. Falcon Field Peachtree City

Ken , why did Athens quit Commercial flights ?

If we do need one it should locate in middle/central georgia with rail linking to metro Area. Plenty of land out there and they need the economic boost . kinda like the Jacksonville airport.

Kevin...I've thought about that too...especially with the rail link. My first and only real question though is the economics of it...if the airport could sustain itself...it would be that much farther from the north metro area...having to go basically right by Hartsfield...It would be an interesting study for sure.

wouldnt work without the rail , Im not sure of the numbers that come from there to Atlanta for the airport.

@Ken Clark -- thank you for the update and the link concerning the other municipal airports.

ATL airport top officials do not want the 2nd airport in the North or North-East or East of Atlanta. Why? It is pure GREED (money is the root of all evils) to have monopoly and wants to dominate on one airport for the whole Atlanta area ignoring the convenience, unwanted stress, traffic, air pollution, accidents, revenue to other county, etc., and even causing deaths to these travelers stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. Do metro atlantans from the North, North East and East have to suffer and risk their lives to commute all the way in this violent traffic in a poorly designed road network system of hwys and byways to catch the plane every time? City of Atlanta will dance accordingly silently with 1st airport which will not support the 2nd commercial airport in Gwinnett. Gwinnett Briscoe Airport was an ideal location. Besides politicians & city of Atlanta lobbing against it, DELTA is totally against the expansion of 2nd airport. Practically thinking - Is it the convenience of the people to catch the flight easily with less commute in this long traffic or should be the Atlantans punished every time as victims for this GREED for money attitude from the ATL airport officials and its supporters ? City of Atlanta and surrounding parties will be just silent and support the existing airport only arguing or suggesting why not put 10 runways and expand the ATL airport?

Don't you feel ashamed of boasting that ATL airport is the busiest in the world? It is not true. That title has to go to CHICAGO airport because they have 2 airports and then look at the traffic count in ORD.

On the other hand a good % of blame goes to Gwinnettans too who do not want the airport blaming on quality of life and noise pollution. This will certainly help and stands in the favor of the FIRST airport top officials as well as the city of Atlanta which makes their job easier against the 2nd airport. Gwinnettans do not know how much decibel sound has increased at present due to the day by day increasing traffic noise from engines & road (especially from highways), video games, TV’s turned on, phone talk, various entertainment sounds, etc. is hitting their eardrums every second of their life. But when the jet is airborne that is a noise pollution. Actually, the new jets are way less noise than the older jets. Just go to an airport watch and listen to the Airbus A380 (which can accommodate 555 passengers) takes offs and landings. It will be hard to believe your ears and eyes. It is less noise compared to the existing pipers and the Cessna’s operating from the Briscoe airport. In Briscoe airport, it is not the A380s or B777's jets but ONLY approved for the small -medium jets B737 or A320s.

It is people's ego, ignorance and rebellious attitude towards modernization backed by out dated thinking of some officials in Gwinnett county that knocked out a fantastic opportunity to have a 2nd airport very soon in all aspects who had sent a letter to Federal Aviation that Gwinnett county people does not want an airport no matter even it takes 2 hours or more sitting in the rush hour polluting the air which the Gwinnettans have no problem or stupid enough to accept and breath that highly polluted air and risk their own lives forever? Why not as an alternative, go further 5-10 miles down on Hwy 316 East where there are acres of nice flat farming lands to construct a 2nd airport? This will avoid people who are whining about a jet in their backyards. That is a very good possibility but who will come forward to make it happen?

Jim, I agree with you totally in this point of view. Nothing wrong to have a green field airport if gwinnett airport does not work. What I understand is Propeller wants a quick rich approach eyeing only on "Profit Dollars". That is not a healthy approach. My strong gut feel is the green field airport if built in just 5-10 miles from Briscoe it will be very practical to meet the urgent needs of travelers from North & Eastern Suburbs + that airport will make huge profit which will provide ample employment, small business growth, lot of revenue for the county and of course taxes for IRS and GA State. After all, it will gain lot of attention from gwinnettans who had opposed this airport in the first place, later on saying it worked out well and they will support this new airport and think positively !

REPLY- why don't you just move to College Park or Hapesville?"

Appreciate your response Jim, If you suggested a choice, how about me give you some more choices? Also, some points to think!
1) Why don't you move to a place where jet sound can't be heard so you can live peacefully?
2) We were all born as babies and if no growth what it would be like? Growth is a natural thing we all have to accept. We grow size wise and older.
3) Does it make any logic that a major city like Atlanta should have only ONE airport and should be in the South side of the city? Also, not to have any other commercial airports in future on other side of the city (here it is North)?
4) Do all air travelers have to stay in Clayton & Henry counties?
5) As a city grows leaps and bounds so does the need for another airport arises? No logic or excuse for anyone to say that I bought my house 10 years or 20 years back thinking that another airport will not come or the existing private airport not be upgraded to commercial airport?
6) City's growth becomes more important when compared to people's personal likes, preference, demands and wants. Those who are against another airport are basically stopping or hindering the growth of that city.

Think logically!

I have no problem with Dawsonville to have the 2nd airport. But from Briscoe it is another 25 miles approx right? Distance wise, it is getting more far for people from Norcross, Alpharetta, Snellville, Grayson, Loganville, Dacula, Buford, Suwanee, Lawrenceville, Winder, Athens, Cumming and areas next to I-575 and I-75 corridor. Personally, I don't mind traveling to Dawsonville to catch the flight in shortest time with less hazzle. If the city of Atlanta bought that land it should have been developed 10 years back and it is not too late ! We need another airport !

Get a Federal & State grant instead of having Gwinnett county spend all $550M tax payers money. If grants are approved for 70-80% then county has less to spend. Keep in mind there is a return coming in the form of taxes and other forms of income from day 1 to the county when the airport starts operating which will offset the money spent by county slowly and later on faster.

Correction..

Distance from Briscoe Field Airport, Lawrenceville, GA - Dawsonville, GA

It is a 1 Hr drive and distance is 43 miles+ approx. (not 25). Basically, it is almost the same distance to Hartsfield. No traffic that is the only benefit. Having the 2nd airport in Dawsonville would that be practical or not? Personally, with this updated info, I do not think it is worthwhile. Gwinnett Briscoe is better or build an airport close to Briscoe focusing towards the north-west area to accomodate people from Alpharetta, Cumming, Buford area. Officials of gwinnett county should have brought another piece of land (1000 acres) 20-30 years back visualizing the need for a commercial airport. Now there are lot of resident homes and it is quite tough to buy that much land.

The State doesn't have money for aviation grants and do we really think we can rely on the FAA to provide near unlimited funding for a second airport?

Income is not guaranteed from day one, again read about MidAmerica near St Louis and Branson MO privately built airport funded by CitiGroup. CitiGroup at one point was threatening foreclosure.

But ATLANTA city is way bigger city than St. Louis and Branson. Let us compare apples to apples. Atlanta is situated geographically positioned great and is also the big capital city of South-Eastern united states. Compare with Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Mississippi, Virginia. There is no other city like Atlanta in growth wise. Also, look at the job market, fortune companies, housing development and tourist attractions. This city is still growing in fast pace compared to any other cities in South East USA. If Briscoe is not ideal let us work out something that makes more sense and fits into the FAA AMAACS recommendation !

That is the curse of Atlanta and the politicians/rulers who have not properly lined up the job market, very poor road net work, lack of proper mass transit, lack of not giving enough tax breaks for fortune companies to move to Georgia - eg. BMW, Mercedez Benz, Nissan, Honda to name a few of nice companies who wanted to open their biz. But the so called politicans and the ruling party did not study it properly and turned their backs against them. So what happened? They went to our neighboring states and were well received by the Governor, Mayors and the politicians who knew the value of every job and its growth consequences for a better economy.

There are a lot of other fortune companies who are not welcomed graciously in Georgia due to this politicians and the old mind set thinking of residents in Atlanta. There is no other place like ATLANTA in this country that is best suitable for jobs, housing, quality of life, tourism, weather, etc,. But who killed it and still killing? The politicians and the negative minded people who do not want modernization of Atlanta. If this city was in the hands of right people, Atlanta would have been the BIG APPLE of this country and not New York. That is the growth potential for this Atlanta but very sad to see this city going through. If this city had the right set up we would need one regional airport each in 4 sides of the city. No need to worry about the 75% of in transit passengers. We can just leave the Hartsfield for them!