Dear Editor, The recent passage of comprehensive air traffic control modernization funding couldn’t be more timely for rural airports like Everett-Stewart Regional.
Just recently, we announced that Air Evac will establish a headquarters at our airport, bringing 15 new full-time jobs and additional parttime positions to Obion County.
This expansion, which includes constructing a new hangar and living quarters, demonstrates exactly why reliable aviation infrastructure is so critical for economic development in Northwest Tennessee.
Companies like Air Evac choose locations based on aviation access and operational efficiency.
When air traffic control systems work smoothly, it creates the foundation for business growth, emergency services, and regional connectivity that rural communities depend on.
The $12.5 billion investment in controller training, upgraded technology, and modernized systems will help ensure that smaller airports can continue attracting these kinds of economic development opportunities.
As economic development professionals, we see how aviation infrastructure drives growth in rural areas.
A recent independent study shows that Everett-Stewart Regional Airport contributes in excess of $16 million to the local economies of Obion and Weakley counties — a significant increase from the estimated $11 million shown in our 2019 study.
Our airport supports everything from emergency medical services to business operations, agriculture, and tourism.
However, we’re concerned about renewed discussions around privatizing air traffic control.
For rural regions like ours, privatization could shift resources toward major metropolitan areas, potentially leaving smaller airports with reduced service or higher costs.
Air Evac’s decision to locate here was based partly on dependable aviation infrastructure—exactly the kind of access that could be jeopardized under privatization.
Tennessee’s rural communities need a voice in aviation policy through the oversight of our elected officials.
We should be strengthening the public framework that supports economic development, not experimenting with privatization schemes that could undermine our progress.
Don Coady serves as manager at Everett-Stewart Regional Airport in Union City.
Lindsay Theobald serves as CEcD and CEO at Obion County Joint Economic Development Corporation in Union City.