My older brother received his pilot's license at age 16, flew Medevac helicopters in Vietnam, then he worked for the Federal Aviation Administration. Currently, he's the Director of Flight Safety Operations for a major airline. In my opinion, this more than qualifies him as someone whose opinion would matter on this subject. He lives in another state, so he has no financial interest in the privatization/expansion of Briscoe Field.
On a trip down to Savannah with my brother back in February. I told him about Briscoe possibly becoming privatized, and asked him what he thought about it. I said I expected residents there would not be happy about it.
He said that not having an airport because are afraid planes will crash is as ridiculous as not building roads and highways because a car might run off the road. He also made the point that people have to live near busy highways and train tracks, too. There will be noise. It's just a fact of life. He said the growth and economic boom it would bring to Gwinnett County would be incredible - We would even feel positive effects of it here in Snellville.
Still, I really sympathize with the homeowners in that area of Lawrenceville, and I can understand why they are upset. I guess Gwinnett is having growing pains.
Opposition to Gwinnett airport expansion gathers steam
Atlanta Journal Constitution
By David Wickert Anyone who wants to buy Gwinnett County's Briscoe Field faces some big hurdles: federal regulations, contract negotiations, ...
