Residents Claim They Were 'Sold Down the River' in PDK Airport Expansion

DeKalb Commissioner Ted Terry organized a town hall meeting on Tuesday, December 9, to address the recent approval of a $45 million hangar expansion at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK). The event provided a platform for residents to voice their concerns and opinions about the decision. The meeting was held at Brookhaven City Centre, where Terry outlined the process that led to the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approving Sky Harbour’s plan to construct eight hangars on the east side of PDK. This development aims to accommodate 16 corporate jets under a 50-year ground lease.

Sky Harbour was the sole applicant to the county's request for proposal (RFP) issued in 2023. The project aligns with the PDK 2040 master plan, which emphasizes airport expansion. However, many residents have raised concerns about increased noise and environmental pollution as a result of the expansion.

According to estimates, the 50-year contract could generate approximately $576,607,163 in revenue. Of this amount, $211 million would go to DeKalb County, $230 million to the DeKalb school system, and $67 million to the City of Chamblee. Despite these figures, the Sky Harbour contract is still being finalized by DeKalb’s Chief Procurement Officer, Michelle Butler. Terry mentioned that the contract has not yet been shared with the commissioners and will be made public once it is completed.

“It’s very important to know what we’ve negotiated,” Terry emphasized.

Larry Foster, a long-time resident of unincorporated DeKalb County, highlighted concerns about the safety of PDK, stating it is the least safe airport in the country regarding runway incursions. With 103 reported incidents, PDK has seven times more runway incursions than other airports. Foster argued that approving the Sky Harbour contract would be one of the most damaging decisions for the airport's impact on the health and wellbeing of nearby residents.

Sky Harbour claims that the number of repositioning flights will decrease by 50%, potentially reducing noise and pollution. The company plans to report its findings quarterly to DeKalb. Beth Schissel, another resident, questioned what would happen if Sky Harbour failed to meet the 50% reduction target.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classifies PDK as a general aviation airport, allowing high volumes of corporate and general aviation jet traffic, along with 10 flight schools, a strong helicopter community, and helicopter flight instruction.

Brookhaven resident Anna Martin expressed her frustration, noting that none of her neighbors want more planes flying overhead. She criticized the expansion, suggesting it caters to wealthy CEOs who prefer private jets over commercial flights. Martin even considered relocating due to the potential increase in air traffic.

Terry proposed a moratorium on all new hangar developments until the PDK master plan is updated and an FAA ban on night flights, except for emergencies. While the current voluntary curfew encourages pilots to avoid takeoffs and landings between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., Terry shared concerns from a constituent who is frequently disturbed by nighttime flights.

“How do we reduce night flights? Can we ban them? Can we turn the voluntary curfew into a permission structure where they must get approval to fly at night?” Terry asked.

Residents were encouraged to attend Airport Advisory Board meetings and report noise violations. However, there was a noticeable sense of discontent among the audience. Foster pointed out that people often refrain from reporting noise complaints because they believe it is ineffective. A woman in the crowd remarked, “It’s a farce.”

Terry noted that neither the airport nor the county currently provides annual general fund contributions to an environmental health and noise impact fund. However, once Sky Harbour begins operations, the county plans to allocate $1 million annually for residents experiencing high levels of noise.

Jamie Dutro, who served on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the PDK master plan, expressed disappointment, saying, “We got sold down the river. We’re the ones who are going to suffer for it. What good is it that you get cancer, but the county’s going to pay for it?”