Albany, aviation company working on deal to manage airport’s fixed-base operations

ALBANY — Southwest Georgia Regional Airport has a new hangar facility and a new general aviation building under construction, but a new contract for the company that manages those facilities is currently in limbo.

Eagles of America has managed fixed-base operations at the airport, which is owned by the city of Albany, since 2010, but the two sides have been working without a contract for some time.

The Albany City Commission has been negotiating and held discussions on the issue, but the two sides have not reached a deal, Commissioner Chad Warbington said.

With the large hangar space, the airport is something of a jewel in the city’s crown, the Ward IV commissioner said, adding that it holds the prospect of bringing in large numbers of hunters in search of the bobwhite quail for which the region is known. Former Vice President Dick Cheney was a reported repeat visitor to the area during his time in that office, and the sport brings in travelers from all over the country.

Some of the $10 million price tag for the hangars, which encompass a space the size of 1.5 football fields and include office space and restrooms, came from federal COVID relief funds.

Some of the planes that make use of the facilities cost in the range of $20 million to $30 million. Warbington said he thinks there is a big opportunity to increase the number of planes that use the facility and even for some owners to set Albany as their home base, which could bring in more property tax dollars.

“Moving forward, we have a tremendous facility out there,” Warbington said. “It totally puts Albany on the map. It has a significant economic impact to our community … a lot of businesses, a lot of these plantation owners, it’s just a big part of our economy.”

The two sides do not have a timeline for when a new contract could be in place.

“We just want to make sure we negotiate a deal that is best for both parties,” Warbington said. “We’re going back to the drawing board. We’re trying to negotiate something in the short-term to get everything opened up, and sometime down the road we’ll put a bid out.

“Eagles has always been a good partner. They’ve been providing services. We’re just trying to meet in the middle.”

There has been little progress made in recent weeks, but the two sides are still working, said Albany attorney Chris Cohilas, who is representing Eagles of America owner Alan Mathis. Mathis also manages fixed-based operations at Moultrie Municipal Airport in his hometown.

“We’re absolutely fortunate and blessed to have somebody like him in this community,” Cohilas said. “We’re in a back-and-forth process. Things have been progressing.

“I feel like things are going well, and I don’t want to jinx anything, but hopefully we’ll get something done.”

The general aviation terminal is scheduled to be completed by the end of the month. The 5,600-square-foot facility will join the nearby hangar complex, giving an entirely fresh start for general aviation operations.

The cost of the general aviation terminal is about $6 million, and with the hangars coming in at a little more than $9 million, the total cost for both is $15.6 million.

The project was paid for with about $1.3 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funds, along with state grants and local special-purpose local-option sales tax dollars.

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]