FAA: Notice of Request To Release Panama Airport Property

August 26, 2010 at 7:43 am | Posted in Aviation Law Current Event | Leave a comment

by Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty

Source: Federal Register

[Federal Register: August 26, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 165)]
[Notices]
[Page 52593-52594]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26au10-118]

———————————————————————–

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Notice of Intent To Rule on Request To Release Airport Property
at the Panama City-Bay County International Airport (PFN), Panama City,
FL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Request To Release Airport Property.

———————————————————————–

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the
release of land at the Panama City-Bay International Airport (PFN),
Panama City, FL under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47107(h).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 27, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this application may be mailed or delivered to
the FAA at the following address: Rebecca R. Henry, Program Manager,
Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando Airports District Office, 5950
Hazeltine National Drive, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32822-5024.
In addition, one copy of any comments submitted to the FAA must be
mailed or delivered to: Randall S. Curtis, A.A.E., Executive Director,
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, 6300 West Bay Parkway,
Panama City, FL 32409.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca R. Henry, Program Manager,
Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando Airports District Office, 5950
Hazeltine National Drive, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32822-5024.
The request to release property may be reviewed, by appointment, in
person at this same location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA invites public comment on the
request to release approximately 708 acres of property known as the
Panama City-Bay County International Airport (PFN) under the provisions
of 49 U.S.C. 47107(h)(2).
On April 19, 2010, the Executive Director of the PFN on behalf of
the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District (Airport
Sponsor) notified the FAA that because of the intended opening of the
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) in Bay County
Florida on May 23, 2010, and the subsequent decommissioning and sale of
PFN, he requested full release of the affected property from federal
obligations. The ECP was opened to commercial airline operations on May
23, 2010, and commercial airline operations were discontinued at PFN.
General aviation operations at PFN are in the process of relocating to
ECP and other airports in the region. The FAA has determined that the
request to release property at PFN submitted by the Airport Sponsor
meets the procedural requirements of the FAA and the release of the
property does not and will not impact future aviation needs in the
region. The FAA may approve the request in whole no sooner than 30 days
after publication of this notice.
The following is a brief overview of the request:
The Airport Sponsor is proposing the release of the entire airport
property and associated facilities with the exception of Goose Island
which will revert to the Bureau of Land Management. The release of land
is necessary to comply with FAA Grant Assurances that do not allow
federally acquired airport property to be used for non-aviation
purposes. The sale and permanent abandonment of the subject property
will result in the lands of PFN being changed from aeronautical to
nonaeronautical use and release the lands from the conditions of the
AIP Grant Agreement Grant Assurances. In accordance with 49 U.S.C.

[[Page 52594]]

47107(c)(2)(B)(i) and (iii), the Airport Sponsor will receive fair
market value for the property, which will be subsequently reinvested in
another eligible airport improvement project, including the financing
of the recently-constructed ECP.
Any person may inspect, by appointment, the request in person at
the FAA office listed above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
In addition, any person may, upon appointment and request, inspect
the application, notice and other documents determined by the FAA to be
related to the application in person at the Northwest Florida Beaches
International Airport.

Issued in Orlando, Florida, on August 17, 2010.
W. Dean Stringer,
Manager, FAA Orlando Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-21209 Filed 8-25-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P