OK, a lot of smart people hang out on the Tripsmarter forums so I'm looking for anyone who can explain to me why we need a new airport! Not that it really matters to me that much except I HATE some of the inacurrate statements that have been made concerning the need to move the airport. For example, "It will bring in larger aircraft".... Not so, as a commercial pilot and Learjet Captain I will assure you that the only thing that drives an airline to fly larger aircraft is how many seats are being filled. If the traffic to and from Panama City only supports a Regional Jet the airlines are not going to fly a Boeing 757 into the new airport.... Even if the runway was 20,000 feet long. Here's another one that irritates me... "The runways at the current airport are too short" .... Too short for what? No Airline Transport Pilot in the world would take off on a runway that was too short for his aircraft. Before each takeoff the crew figures what is called the accelerate/stop distance for the aircraft based on many factors including weight, temperature, etc. They do not take off if they can not comply with these calculations... And I remember in the old days Air Florida flying Boeing 727's into Panama City.... news flash, the runways have not gotten shorter.

I have my own theory about why the airport must be moved.... maybe the land the current airport occupies is so valuable from the development standpoint that it would be worth it for someone to expend the resources to get the airport moved JUST so they could develop the land....

I would so love to hear other opinions on this subject!

BINGO! YATZEE! DING DING DING! You figured it out! I have seen the airport many times, and the land is prime real-estate for businesses and homes alike. You have to remember, when it comes to things like this, it is all about the MONEY! The airport can make just as much money in a different location, and the "deemed" high value airport land can be opened up for sale at top market price. Maximum profit for minimum effort is the name of the game these days, and there is a fast growing population of people who care only about the "Almighty Dollar", and they don't care who's toes they step on to get it.

Who owns the property the airport is own? The county? Who will be responsible for selling it? What is the bidding process? I rode out to the proposed site of the new airport this weekend and it is a long way from downtown Panama City....

I know what you guys are saying is closer to the truth than not, but my question is, "If we must move the airport for whatever reason that wouldn't make sense, why can't our city/county fathers be community/future minded enough to do something for our citizenry?" It makes no sense to me why our community (especially Panama City) doesn't have a 'real' park. This property is a perfect place for an open air theater and a nice place to take your family to have a picnic or listen to some great concerts or host large events. We need to be more vocal about what we really need here. No matter how much a city grows, it must remain mindful of its citizens. We need a great place to play.

I agree with you about the park, but I think we need to determine who the people are whom are going to make the decision(s) and ask them what their motivation is.... I remember back when the county fathers took the "non binding strawpoll" as to if the public wanted the airport moved.... results were an landslide "NO" and that didn't slow anything down.... Ever feel like the common person has no input?

Do you really think they will use this "prime" land for public interest places or multi MILLION dollar business/residential properties? The way I see it, there is far more money in the latter, and that is the direction I think they will take.

The website states the "County" approved the moving of the airport... that obviously was not the "people" of the County... might as well get used to it, we have no say in what is going to happen..... sad, very sad.... read all the updates at the airport website...

http://www.pcairport.com/

Although the current airport land is valuable, I think another major motive was from the landowner of the new location. They also own all the land around the new location... for miles and miles and miles. Rivercamp ring a bell? What better way to increase the value of hundreds of square miles of land than to put a new airport right in the middle of all of it, ensuring major growth and value increases.

St. Joe definitely influenced the decision.. giving the new location property to the county for free, paying for all the land surveys, fighting to get the location approved, etc.

With all that "help", how could the county refuse? Especially if they get to do what they want with the current location.

Plus, it created a LOT of hype.. which has worked fairly well... sparking economic and real estate interest across the country. The new PC airport has been mentioned in USA Today, CNN Money, NYTimes and many other publications.

All things considered, I don't think the new airport is a bad thing... as long as the county keeps its word about it not costing taxpayers one red cent. We'll see, though...

I'm not against progress.... I just want the real reasons revealed and not the same old thing about the current airport is too small or unsafe... that's bull!

Why are we all speculating on this? We all know the genuine truth...The county fathers (County Commission) had their minds made up and had probably already signed the papers when St. Joe offered the property. We all know and understand the value of the current site's property, but at what point do our leaders think that lifestyle has value. If this county had a site like this, we would not just make millions of dollars once, we will make money forever. More people would move here knowing we have forsight. More taxes, more income, more business will result.

Yes, the St. Joe people are smarter than our leadership. They knew we are greedy and would not turn down something 'free'. But, how free is it really? Who will pay for the infrastructure and the roads leading to the new airport? Who will benefit as much as tne NEW communities St. Joe will build once the airport is begun construction?

The citizens voted it down, and the leaders never slowed down. Did they have a choice? What was the true offer they couldn't refuse?

Well said Myron..... now figure out a way we can do what the people want, and not what the big money dictates...

All we need to do is make sure we attend political forums and ask them direct questions when they are running, so when they vote differently we can hold it against them. Then we need to actually VOTE. After that I can tell you that politicians vote different when they are being monitored...Attend meetings.

Well I can promise you that politicans vote different when they are being monitored...Attend meetings. But first we need to attend political forums and ask candidates direct questions when they are on the spot. Then if they vote differently from the way they cammpaigned we can hold it against them. Then we need to actually vote.

Instead on building a new airport they need to do something about the east end of the bridge... it's stupid that you get stopped in traffic on the overpass a mile from the bridge... this isn't New York... there is no where for traffic to go on the east side.... I say, dump the airport and press on with relieving the traffic around the bridge...

BTW - That was a $99 million deal to purchase the 715 acres of the current airport.

Current PC Airport sells for $99 million