[2bohemians]

Thought you might enjoy this short little video of the progress on our new international airport.

Just click the link below to watch the video:

Panama City International Airport Video 1/14/09

This new project is very exciting indeed and an opportunity awaits those who wish to be involved the growth it should stimulate. According to a recent update, the airport is ahead of schedule as of this month. Read the article below to view more specific details about the progression.


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Construction Update - 1/8/09

by NewPFN on January 13, 2009

Construction at the new Panama City-Bay County International Airport continues to run smoothly and is currently about 3 and a half months ahead of schedule. A summary of the contracts underway follows:

Contract 1: Heavy Civil and Airfield Lighting:

* 115 pieces of heavy equipment in operation at any one time with approximately 160 personnel on site.

* 46% of time utilized (360 of 780 days).

* 37% of the 15” concrete paving lanes have been placed on 8,500 linear feet of Runway 16-34.

* On Taxiway D, all lime rock base and the majority of the first 2” lift of P-401 base have been placed.

* 12,902 tons of asphalt base course is in place along the Main Access Road (MRA) and loop road. Curb and lime rock base installation within terminal parking lots now 100% complete. Asphalt base course is in place over 75% of main parking lot.

* 34,888 tons of asphalt base and 20,000 cubic yards of structural concrete have been placed on 8,400 linear feet of Runway 16-34.

* 6,780 tons of asphalt base has been placed on Taxiway D, and the main apron.

* Stormwater drainage pipe installation is now 99% complete.

* Storm sewer installation within the General Aviation Area is now underway.

* Over 5.4 million cubic yards of earth has been moved (98% of total).

* Mass grading within Pond C now 90% complete.

Contract 2: Terminal Building, ATCT and Support Buildings:

* Gulf Power has completed installation of temporary overhead power to the Terminal Building location and site office trailers.

* Installation of reinforcing steel continues along Area’s A and B of the Terminal Building.

* New design of the Air Traffic Control Tower auger cast piles was required due to the original design not meeting the required load test. The original design required 72 piles drilled to a depth of 52 feet. The new design, based on the actual field load tests will require 44 piles drilled to a depth of 70.33 feet and 28 piles drilled to a depth of 80.33 feet.

* Rough-in of electrical and plumbing for the Air Cargo Facility is completed.

* Installation of mat reinforcing steel and dowels for the Air Cargo Facility is completed.

* Installation of the drainage structures for the Airport Maintenance Facility continues.

Contract 3: Utility Contract:

* Contract has been executed and all necessary submittals, insurance and bonds have been received from the Contractor.

* Notice to Proceed is anticipated within the first week of January.

[TEKSRZ]

So when will they start posting hires? Hopefully once it's completed they'll begin to see an uptick but I still think that is a ways off. 5-10 yrs is when they'll start to reap the fruits of their labor on this and not sooner. Hopefully I'm wrong in my assessment.

[beachmouse]

I've been saying all along that the movers and shakers are massively overselling the new airport. They claim hordes of European tourists will shortly be inbound and all will be well with the local real estate market again when a realistic best case first 5-10 years is similar aircraft and passenger volume as Pensacola, which would be about three times where PC is right now.

[2bohemians]

Not sure when the new airport will begin hiring but hopefully it will bring some much needed job opportunities to the region.

Over time, in our opinion, this new airport will change the face of the tourist population ... simply because it will make the area more accessible to everyone. We agree that it won't be an overnight thing. Can't imagine why anyone would think that the airport is complete and poof * magically everything is improved. It will take time, again our opinion, for the airport to start to prosper, we can agree on at least 5-10 years. It has to be running successfully, then people need to use it, then others need to be led here to enjoy our beaches and surrounding region. It's not a fix-all for the current state of real estate - that's a whole other story. However, it may be an opportune time to entertain the idea, if it's your thing, of investing in commercial property / land near the airport in anticipation of things to come.