OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — A project to bring a general aviation airport to Oak Ridge is in its final phase, undergoing review by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Billy Stair is a consultant that's been involved for several years on the ongoing project to build a general aviation airport on the former K-25 site on the Oak Ridge Reservation.
As of this point, he said it's entirely up to the FAA to provide the initial approval for the plan -- which was submitted to them back in September.
"We could get a response back today or in a couple months. We don’t control it," Stair said. “If the dominoes fell our way, it’s possible construction could start before the end of 2020. Or it could likely be 2021.”
The airport would serve as a hub for corporate jet traffic in the area by having am extended 5,000-foot-long runway.
Major customers who would make use of the airport would be many of the corporate entities in the area such as Coquí Pharma, a pharmaceutical group that's acquired land adjacent to the airport site. They would expect to do 400- 500 flights a year when the airport opens.
Other potential users would be contractors for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12.
Stair said Knoxville Downtown Island Home, which is also a general aviation airport, currently can't accommodate many corporate jets as the runway isn't long enough.
Stair believes the Oak Ridge airport could serve as a place for Cirrus Aircraft customers to practice flying their new aircraft.
The funding for the project is unique, as federal funding typically covers most of the costs. In this case, though, Stair said the state provided $18 million more to see the airport created, and it's possible they may contribute more.
Sen. Lamar Alexander also secured some $3 million from the Appalachian Regional Commission to help with funding.
“We think we’ll be able to hopefully provide something around 60 percent of the project as opposed to 10 percent of it," Stair said.
The Metro Knoxville Airport Authority is partnering up on the project.
