The Peachtree City Airport Authority honored its outgoing chairman at its final meeting of 1999, recognizing seven years of service to the city's aviation community.

Robert Patterson was presented with a card and a framed aerial photograph of Falcon Field at the Dec. 8 meeting. Patterson thanked the authority, airport manager Jim Savage, the mayor and council of Peachtree City, and the many others who are regular attendees of authority meetings for their part in the airport's success.

“My mission has been to have the best general aviation airport in the United States,” said Patterson, who served 33 years in the U.S. Air Force. “I think we're pretty far along on that.”

While he acknowledged that not all of his goals have been reached, he said that the facility is on its way to eventually becoming fully self-sustaining, with no financial support from the city being necessary.

“Peachtree City is a special place,” Patterson said. “It needs a special airport.”

He added that he would soon be joining the audience members at authority meetings, and he noted the approach of the year 2000 by commenting on how far the aviation industry has come in the 20th century.

In other business, Savage reported that hangar identification signs on all of the T-hangars and private hangars in Hangar Area A have been installed. This should make it easier for tenants, visitors, airport staff and emergency personnel to locate the units from a distance. The total cost was less than $500.

The South Hangar project is on hold due to some issues involving the acquisition of 2.21 acres of land from Peachtree City Holdings, Savage said. In question is the ownership of Stallings Road and who will participate, and at what financial level, in the eventual paving of the road.

With the holidays and winter weather imminent, it may be necessary to delay the start of the project until late February or March, depending on when an agreement is reached. Douglas Warner, the authority's attorney, is continuing to work with PCH to reach an agreement, Savage reported.

Construction of the hangar on lot D24 has begun. This is the last short private hangar that can be built in Hangar Area A until a short taxiway is added near the airport beacon, according to Savage.

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