Panama City Airport on hold

I live on the Bay-Walton line and spend as much time in PC as Destin. Panama City has always fought any kind of growth. The current airport is an eyesore. The company that built Rosemary wants to buy the old airport, which Im sure would make it more aesthetically pleasing. This airport is a win-win situation but the rednecks will fight tooth and nail, and I do mean tooth as in 1.

you mean the rednecks in ny? it's a ny judge that has executed the stay of construction. mind you. i'm from ny and there are plenty of rednecks there. but i don't think that's what this is about.

Getting carriers to commit to routes is going to be the issue. As stated above, just because it's built doesn't mean people will use it more. Look for discussions of 'airline guarantee programs' in the future...

SJ, you've mentioned the VPS rumors before, and if they're true, why is the VPS terminal area continuing to borrow millions of dollars for ongoing improvements to the site if it's going to be phased out in 5-10 years?

And why did they just spend millions redoing the terminal?

I love the VPS airport! Wish all the airports I went through were as clean and staffed by such friendly folks.

The issue always seems to be growth. Now we wouldn't need growth if there weren't more people on this Earth. So to sum up your argument AGAINST growth, you've had yourself sterilized right? I mean to still be able to or actually reproducing that would make you a hypocrit right?

As a matter of fact, I've not reproduced and yes, it's partly because I don't think we need any more people. I'm certainly a hypocrite in many other ways, but not this one.

I know growth is inevitable, but there have already been many posts regarding the viability of the current airport. No doubt in 25 or 30 years it will be inadequate. Again, so what? I'd rather have an inadequate airport and preservation of the planned airport site.

People often point the new jobs that will be created. As exemplified by Miami and other large cities with tourist-based economies, they are minimum wage jobs. Bay County has a median per capita income of $18,700, In Miami it's $18,497. The per capita income in the United States is $28,567.

Regardless of our opinions, shouldn't the wishes of the citizens be observed when they voted against it? If we're shooting ourselves in the foot, so be it.

Do Not Miss the old VPS terminal though. No toilets on the other side of security, and once the new terminal was approved they pretty much stopped all non-emergency maitenance on the old building, even after the post- 9/11 delay in construction.

At the end, it had the air of a moderately successful African IMF infrastructure project from the 1970s, complete with cheerfully molding and strangely stained carpets. Once the FAA/TSA made them get rid of the hidden free parking adjacent to baggage claim, the last of the charm was gone.

Curious as to why you think the new PCB airport will have non stop flights around the world. I am not saying it won't. But my gut feeling as is that it wil not have any more service initially than the old airport. The old airport is way underutilized and any airline in the country could add flights now. The problem is not lack of runway or gates but lack of passengers. Again I am not saying flights will not increase as the population increases, but that would have happened at the old airport as well.

No problem with planning ahead for future growth for the region. But as I stated before: air service will increase as the passenger base increases, no just because there is a new terminal and runway.

JMHO,
Flyguy

Why else would you build 12,000 foot runways. Not just for an over run.

The aforementioned 3:00am 747 cargo flights?

you mean the rednecks in ny? it's a ny judge that has executed the stay of construction. mind you. i'm from ny and there are plenty of rednecks there. but i don't think that's what this is about.

No, the rednecks from Panama City that force these issues. I was born and raised in PC, they fight change and progress every time. My grandfather says its been like this as long as hes known, back to the 30 and 40s. You can expect at least 2 to 3 more lawsuits before its all over. PC people fight the beach on everything, they say we are becoming like Destin. I thought that was a good thing.

SJ, you've mentioned the VPS rumors before, and if they're true, why is the VPS terminal area continuing to borrow millions of dollars for ongoing improvements to the site if it's going to be phased out in 5-10 years?

Sorry, did I give a 5-10 year time frame on that? Didn't mean to do so. I cannot remember how far into the future that road is being planned, and have no idea how long it will take to construct. Who know why people spend money on such things as improvements to the VPS airport. If the gov't is involved in the spending, maybe it has to do with giving contracts to friends of the politicians. Or, maybe they are getting Federal grant money to make the updates, since they would be needed within the time period prior the the new road being constructed and open. It could also be that they hope that by spending that money now will make Eglin AFB feel sorry for them and maybe extend their lease for a longer period of time.

Let me reiterate, this road I mention is only a plan at this point in time. Plans do change. While my inside source is very reliable, he could be wrong.

Did just spend three days on business in Antiqua (just above Hugo Chevez) and the bankers we talked with said their islands success was tied to the fact the U.S. Airforce left a long runway for them when they left town. Now several airbus' and 747's fly in each day from London dropping off tourists there while the other islands near by of the same size go wanting.
Also, their beachs and infrastructure do not hold a candle to SOWA.
Airports are true examples of "built it and they will come" because they can't come without it.

Also, their beachs and infrastructure do not hold a candle to SOWA.

Do they allow tourists to sit on the dry sand?


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I wouldn't see Antiqua as a valid comparison because, no matter what the snowbirds may think, December-January-February are simply NOT bikini weather down here.

Unless global warming actually starts causing warmer winters down here, or the alleged Disney theme park gets plunked down in Sunny Hills, this area's never going to have the peak winter tourism season like South Florida does.

Why else would you build 12,000 foot runways. Not just for an over run.

Might want to head on over to the PC airport website, it has the potential and space for 12,000 foot runways, but that is not what will be installed at first.

Buckhead:

If you were speaking with Bankers from the Stanford Group in Antigua, I would take everything they say with a grain of salt...

An airport certainly helps tourism; however, many other factors need be present to drive tourism. You've got to give people what they want when they arrive. High end luxury hotels, fine restaurants, crystal clear waters, etc.. A new airport with bigger runways will potentially attract more carriers, but when I see a Four Seasons in PCB, then I'll be convinced that the area has caught on.

Little Fish

Beachmouse, you got me thinking about that time frame for the new 4lane hwy running from Niceville to the new PCB airport. I just checked the NWFLTA Master Plan Priority List. I see that the new 20 mile limited access 4-lane segment which extends from the mid-Bay bridge in Niceville to Freeport Hwy 331, is on the 5 year priority list. The segment which extends from Freeport Hwy 331 to the new PCB airport, is in the 10-20 year priority list. The new 21.31 mile limited access 4-lane segment extending from the Navarre Bypass to the mid-Bay bridge in Niceville is the first item on the 5 year priority list. As I understand the list, the 5 year priority list is actually in order per line item. The remaining 5-10 year and 10-20 list are not listed in in particular priority list.

I think the critical part of VPS closing to the public will be the completion of the two segments of the new road from Narvarre Bypass to Freeport. From Freeport to the new airport will be a breeze, even though it is only two lanes. There is practically no traffic and no current development. When you get to hwy 79, it will be four lane to the airport. So, VPS might close prior to that last segment of limited access, between Freeport and the new PCB airport, being constructed.

If anyone is interested in seeing the maps or the priority list, you can go to www.nwftca.com

.... PC people fight the beach on everything, they say we are becoming like Destin. I thought that was a good thing.[/QUOTE]

Huh?

.... PC people fight the beach on everything, they say we are becoming like Destin. I thought that was a good thing.

Huh?

Huh?

Panama City fights Panama City Beach on everything. they say we are starting to look like Destin. There, I spelled it out for you. The beach brings in the majority of the tax dollars and PC doesnt want to reinvest anything back into the beach. Hathaway Bridge is more than a bridge, its a line in the sand. West side vs. east side. Go to the PC Newsherald websites Squall line and read the animosity. I see it everyday.

Becoming like Destin is NOT a good thing!

Scooterbug:

Why is becoming like Destin a bad thing? Destin has become quite a town over the past ten years or so. Nice properties, nice restaurants, nice golf courses... My only complaint with Destin is the traffic due to the explosion of growth.

PCB looks much better than it did a few years ago. Personally, I am glad to see many of the old eye sores torn down and am looking forward to Pier Park, The Towne of Seahaven, and other luxury properties that are popping up all over Front Beach road.

Little Fish

Scooterbug:

Why is becoming like Destin a bad thing? Destin has become quite a town over the past ten years or so. Nice properties, nice restaurants, nice golf courses... My only complaint with Destin is the traffic due to the explosion of growth.

PCB looks much better than it did a few years ago. Personally, I am glad to see many of the old eye sores torn down and am looking forward to Pier Park, The Towne of Seahaven, and other luxury properties that are popping up all over Front Beach road.

Little Fish

Of course there are some aspects of Destin which are nice, but having Destin so close to us, we don't need to duplicate Destin. The parts which many find nice are having a good movie theatre and some nice restaurants, but that is about all. No one wants to fight for a spot on the beach, behind three rows of other people's beach umbrellas. No one wants the lack of movement of traffic, all of the crap food franchises, etc.

We already have nice restaurants, so I guess all we are missing is a movie theatre, but I'm just as happy driving to Destin or PCB for seeing a ten dollar movie. ;-)

I know growth is inevitable, but there have already been many posts regarding the viability of the current airport. No doubt in 25 or 30 years it will be inadequate. Again, so what? I'd rather have an inadequate airport and preservation of the planned airport site.
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I am confused by this criticism. The airport is to be built on what is currently an industrial pine farm.

However, the West Bay Sector Plan (which is part of the whole airport relocation deal) sets aside 41,000 acres of land to be donated by St. Joe as conservation land along West Bay.

Because of this; the airport relocation and West Bay Plan are supported by environmental groups such as The National Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy.

You would prefer to see the pine farm stay as it is, and not see 41,000 acres of bay front land be conserved? The conservation land is tied to the airport relocation. If the airport doesn?t move to the West Bay site, then the bayfront land will eventually be developed.

Egg-zachery, Uncle Timmy. St Joe could go in there and harvest the 50,000 acres of Pine Trees, then these people wouldn't be crying as loudly about the airport.

I was referring to the traffic, high rise condos, big box stores, crowded beaches, and the plethora of discount beach supply stores and strips malls when I said being like Destin is not a good thing.

Saw a great bumper sticker last night "If you love 30A, send your friends to Destin." :funn: