Last year, local officials announced the city of Richmond Hill, Bryan County and its Development Authority would each contribute $62,000 for an airport study.
Now, the project has taken the next step as the county approved the establishment of an airport authority. Ultimately, the authority would have to be approved by the Georgia General Assembly.
The board will have seven representatives and eventually, there will be an application process set up for anyone to apply to be a member.
“The airport authority would serve as the presiding governing body over the asset,” said Trip Addison, vice president and treasurer for the Development Authority. “The airport authority can choose to lease out land for hangers or develop the hangers themselves. They have broad latitude in ensuring the operations of the airport are successful.”
There are three small airports within a 1-hour radius of Bryan County in Hinesville, Claxton and Statesboro. But according to Addison, the airport study, which is slated for completion in Q1 of 2025, revealed there is great interest for another in the region.
“There is a demand for an additional airport in our market, separate from Savannah,” said Addison. “It’s truly a complimentary airport. It’s like [Dekalb-Peachtree Airport] in Atlanta and how it supports personal jets. The study is going to be more specific to the need, whether it be the local jets and that kind of stuff from industries.”
Caughey Hearn, who serves on the Evans County Airport Authority, said companies like Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America could utilize the airport to transport parts and supplies to and from as the South Korean automaker already does with the airport in Evans County. Anyone with a small aircraft could utilize the airport as well.
Christian Rushing, chief flight instructor for Savannah Aviation, said the airport will be beneficial for folks who do not want to commute to a neighboring airport, as well as for educational purposes.
“The amount of revenue that it’s going to bring into the city is just astronomical and counties and cities are always looking for ways to increase their revenue to help offset the property tax and sales tax they have to charge their constituents,” said Rushing. “I want to get with the teachers and principals at the schools and build some kind of afterschool program where kids can come out there and learn how to fly or learn how to work on airplanes.”
Addison said the airport would be slightly bigger than Claxton’s. He pointed to other cities such as Greenville, Charleston and Nashville that all have a secondary level airport and that major airlines like Delta and Spirit will not be parking planes or carrying passengers out of this airport. The airport will, however, see smaller aircrafts park and fly in and out.
“That is what this would do, allow Savannah to continue to grow but also allow private aviation to exist in the greater Savannah community and not have to drive an hour plus to Claxton, Statesboro or even down to Hinesville. However, it’s not to detract, to pull planes from anyone.”
Addison said construction of the airport will cost millions but the total figure has not been calculated yet as the length of the runway and other factors have not been determined yet.
“The Airport Authority will have bonding ability and they can decide how much they want to build based on what they can afford from a revenue perspective,” said Addison. “What is a significant story for the taxpayer is an airplane and the hangars are treated just like a home would be. It’s immediately taxable…so that’s significant tax revenue that’s not coming with a significant burden on schools, fire and police. It’s just cash coming to the bottom line that’s subsidizing all the rooftops in Bryan County.”
Addison said aviation fuel cost has not been determined yet and while the cost of that fuel is an important factor, proximity to the airport is more significant.
“Your main driver is access, and in this case, that would be the greater Savannah area and the ability to land close, drop their client or themselves off and get back out,” said Addison. “You also have landing fees.”
Military aircraft or medevacs could use the airport in emergency situations. Addison said one of the goals for the new airport is to accommodate 98% of all aircrafts.
“That would eliminate you’re really big aircraft, your 747, 750, 7c, 17,” said Addison. “It’s all about your landing weight, not so much the length of the runway.”
A timeline for construction has not been set. However, the intent is for the airport to be located in Richmond Hill.
“For us at the Development Authority, this is a very positive thing for our community,” said Ryan Purvis, CEO of DABC. “We believe that in every way and we want to make sure that’s what we’re portraying because it’s a significant opportunity. We call it a can’t miss opportunity. Every county in Georgia wishes they were Bryan County and we don’t want to miss this great opportunity.”