JAA will include runway extension in master plan

The Jacksonville Aviation Authority plans to file its master plan for Craig Municipal Airport, which includes extending the main runway from 4,000 to 5,600 feet, with the Federal Aviation Administration this week.

The move comes after the City Council approved the authority's request to withdraw its application for a comprehensive land use plan amendment that would allow the extension. The proposed amendment had gained narrow approval to be submitted to the state for review, but it was unclear whether it had enough support to gain adoption.

Many residents near Craig have opposed the amendment, which is also opposed by Councilmen Clay Yarborough and William Bishop, whose districts are most affected. Some of them had expressed concern that the authority could attempt to bypass the process for amending the comprehensive plan by going through the FAA's airport master planning process.

Content Continues Below

Authority Executive Director John Clark said the amendment may have put Craig in conflict with the airport's original deed and FAA restrictions.

The FAA is expected to review the master plan, which public airports must submit every five years, and return it with comments to the authority in several months. Once approved by the FAA, the authority's board will consider it for approval, the authority said.

The authority has said the extension is needed to make Craig safer for pilots and will result in less noise for many residents. Opponents say it is a pretense to attract more and larger business and private jets that will reduce their quality of life.

Authority Board Chairman Cyrus Jollivette established an ad hoc committee of board members to monitor the master plan's progress and interact directly with the community. Jim McCollum will chair the committee, which will include Mary Burnett, Ron Weaver and Deborah Pass.