Toccoa Airport Looking at Implementing Formal Policies and Procedures

The Toccoa-Stephens County Airport Authority is continuing to look at a formal set of policies and procedures.

Authority members met Monday at the airport for a called meeting and proposed policies and procedures were on the agenda for discussion.

Toccoa-Stephens County Airport Authority Chair Dennis Bell said that the policies and procedures they are looking at would cover all aspects of the airport and its operation.
Bell said the airport needs standards that everybody goes by that are formally in place with no questions.

“Everything out there at the airport, most of it has been done on a verbal agreement, and we are wanting to see everything in writing to make sure everything has been done complete and that way we have a record of everything that has been done in writing in our files.”

Besides policies and procedures, the Airport Authority is also looking at a set of minimum standards and changes to how it leases hangar space.

The Airport Authority has been asked by the Georgia Department of Transportation about their lack of rules after a complaint was filed against the Airport by a tenant.
Foothills Aviation has filed what is called an informal Part 13 complaint against the Airport and the Airport Authority with the Federal Aviation Administration that the DOT is investigating on the FAA’s behalf.

In its complaint, Foothills Aviation said that it is being unjustly discriminated against after the Airport Authority chose not to renew the company’s lease.

As part of its investigation, G-DOT requested the Airport Authority provide information on its leases and related policies, along with other information.

Bell said that is another reason for getting a set of policies in place.

“However, the FAA does not require that we have minimum standards but highly suggests that we do have them, and also in part by having these it helps the airport to stay in compliance for all federal grants that are available out there.”

According to Bell, a draft proposal of policies and procedures is currently under review b the Airport Authority.

Bell said that proposal could be approved as soon as next month.