Month: January 2017

Gulf Shores, Alabama, January 25, 2017:   Jack Edwards National Airport was recently presented with the 2017 Silver Award for airport projects in the Reliever General Aviation category by the American Concrete Paving Association (ACPA).

The project was the construction of a new seven acre commercial heavy aircraft concrete apron to serve the growing demands for commercial charters and air service to Coastal Alabama, serving the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach resorts area.  Coastal Alabama provides over one third of the tourism economic impact to the entire state of Alabama.

Airport Manager Scott Fuller stated “with the process used, it was truly a remarkable operation to witness with the concrete pouring operation itself taking only ten days.”  Mr. Fuller credited the award to the efforts of the airport engineer, Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Canon, and the contractor, A. G. Peltz, who also received awards and were recognized for their contributions.

Multiple projects cited

Gulf Shores, Alabama, November 4, 2015:  Mayor Robert Craft, and the City Council of Gulf Shores recognized the Gulf Shores Airport Authority for “considerable accomplishments“ at their regular meeting held Monday, September 28, 2015.   Mayor Craft cited “reaching its goal of self-sufficiency, new private developments, resolving land use issues” as “some of the reasons this Board needs to be recognized.”

Projects referenced included a new heavy aircraft parking apron and new private developments totaling over $11,000,000 in new construction.  Vic Roberts, Chairman of the Airport Authority, responded that “the Authority could not have accomplished these deeds without the support of the City”.  Airport Manager Scott Fuller stated that the Platinum Air Center and Gulf Air Center projects represent the type of operations we can partner with to transition the airport from a historically resort destination to more of an economic generator for the Gulf Shores, Orange Beach area.   Platinum is constructing a 26,000 square Hangar/Terminal adjacent to the new aircraft apron.  Gulf Air Center is constructing a new 32,000 Hangar/Office and a new T-Hangar facility adjacent to its current operations.

Fuller also stated that by transferring property to the City which could not be developed for aviation use, we were able to create a seed fund for construction of the new airport control tower.  Also underway is the design of an on airport aircraft rescue and firefighting station, currently in progress.

Congressman Bradley Byrne and invited guests will be taking part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the new facilities at the airport on November 20, 2015.