Falcon Field is receiving more than $500,000 in grants from state and federal authorities for improvements, it was announced at Wednesday night's regular monthly meeting of the Peachtree City Airport Authority.

The funds, which are from the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration, are for the second phase of the taxiway and taxilane project for hangar area B, airport manager Jim Savage reported.

This will allow the purchase of 2.13 acres of additional land needed for the project, as well as the construction of taxiways for lots B-6 through B-10 and updating the airport's master plan, Savage said.

Official appraisal documents on the land have not yet arrived, but it apparently is in the $35,000-per-acre range. A formal offer to purchase the land for $77,350 has been extended to Pathway Communities, Savage said, and that entire amount is included in the FAA grant.

Construction will begin as soon as the airport has title to the land, hopefully within two weeks, Savage said.

In other business, the Airport Authority approved a six-month for slightly more than $600,000. That figure allows for a fixed base operation from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. instead of the previous hours, 6 a.m. until 10 p.m.

The new budget includes lease increases of 15 percent for all areas except hangar D, which has 20-year leases. Those rates will go up 3.5 percent, which is the consumer price index-related hike allowed under those leases. The other leases are of the 30-day variety and can change virtually anytime.

One tenant pointed out that he has been paying 51 cents per square foot per year and is now being raised to 58 cents, while prices for the hangar space not yet constructed are being listed at 45 cents. Authority chairman Robert Patterson said that he understood his concerns, but the lease rates would stay as they are and he suggested that the tenant take a space in the new area when it is completed.

The budget was approved by a 3-1 vote, with Patterson, H.E. Buffington and Catherine Nelmes in favor. Susan Cates voted against it, and David Good was not present at the meeting.

An office lease with Enterprise Rent-A-Car was approved unanimously. The car company will take nearly 600 square feet of space at the airport under a three-year lease and pay for any improvements to the office that it deems necessary.

Savage said that Enterprise has already proven to be much easier to work with than Thrifty, which had a previous agreement with the airport and shared space in the main terminal.

A contract with MilerTronics of Melbourne, FL, was renewed for maintenance of airport navigational equipment. Nelmes inquired as to why a local company could not be used, and Savage replied that he could not find a suitable one. The contract has a bailout clause with a 90-day notice if necessary.

Tom Barnes of the Wings Over Dixie air show gave a detailed report of the success of that event, held last month. He said that a $100,000 profit is expected from the 1999 show, compared to only $6,600 from 1998.

The show was much more successful this year because of better marketing and lower expenses, Barnes said. He cited examples such as using school buses for shuttling patrons from the parking lots at Starr's Mill High School at a savings of about $15,000 over last year, when motor coaches were rented.

Also instrumental was the handling of food sales. Last year a commercial vendor was brought in, and Barnes said that vendor got most of the profits. This year all of that was turned over to various local civic organizations, and they made about $50,000 for a number of charitable causes. One group just sold drinks all weekend and made $8,000.

Wings Over Dixie has become a community event, and the organizers intend to capitalize on that for next year, Barnes said. Resources such as the International Council of Air Shows and the FAA, both of which produce manuals and other materials to help organize such events, will be utilized.

While there were areas in 1999 that need improvement, such as security and cleanup, planning has already begun for next year and that should be a big plus, according to Barnes.

One challenge being looked at for next year is improving the parking situation. About 4,000 cars paid to park at the airport and Starr's Mill this year, Barnes said.

Patterson suggested that businesses between the airport and the high school be looked at. Barnes said that Panasonic was approached in 1998, but said no because of liability concerns.

The Snowbirds, an aerobatic team from Canada, is already being recruiting to perform at Wings Over Dixie in 2000, Barnes said. He has been working with the Canadian consulate in Atlanta and has enlisted U.S. Rep. Mac Collins to put in a good word as well.

Barnes acknowledges, however, that the chances are not great, since the team only performs five or six times a year in the United States and Wings Over Dixie is a small event compared to many in this country.

The 1999 show cost about $130,000 to put on, with about $80,000 in sponsorship money expected from AirTran, Compaq computers, and a number of other companies. The cost for the 1998 show was about $153,000.

After Barnes' presentation, the Authority voted to approve the use of the airport for the 2000 show, provided that the airport is not stuck for any expenses.

The airport's Internet access has been converted to Newnan Utilities, Savage reported, and that company will soon be hosting the Falcon Field Web site. The new fiber-optic line is much cheaper than the old ISBN line — about $1,000 worth — but not yet faster, as it is supposed to be.

Patterson asked if the Web site is getting enough hits to be worthwhile. Savage replied that it is getting more cost-effective, now at $200 or so per month instead of the $1,500 per month it cost before. “We need to keep an eye on that,” Patterson said.

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