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The DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) is located on a part
of the old Camp Gordon, a World War I Army training base.
(Our History)
The airport is classified as a a general
aviation reliever airport for the Atlanta
metropolitan area. A reliever airport is a general
aviation airport which reduces air carrier airport
congestion by providing service for the smaller general
aviation aircraft. The term "general aviation"
encompasses the entire spectrum of aircraft and aircraft
related businesses and services including the most
sophisticated corporate & business jets, aircraft
charters, training aircraft, helicopters, aircraft
maintenance and refurbishment, and personal aircraft
used for business and recreational purposes.
The airport lies on about 700+ acres of land
in the northeastern part of DeKalb County. The airport currently
is home to 3 fixed wing and 1 helicopter fixed based operators
(FBO’s) and hosts 125 aviation-related tenants. There are about
590 aircraft of all sorts and types based on the field.
 The
airport has averaged about 228,000 operations (take-offs &
landings) per year over the past 30 years. The DeKalb-Peachtree
Airport is the second busiest airport in the State of Georgia
in its number of operations only behind Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport. PDK's location only 8 miles
from the heart of downtown Atlanta makes it the airport of
choice for those operators of corporate, business, and general
aviation aircraft visiting the Atlanta metropolitan area.
PDK's MISSION STATEMENT provides for the operations of a business-oriented airport
in a safe, efficient, and fiscally responsible manner.
It also stresses the importance of preserving the quality
of life of the community, recognizing a partnership between
residents and general aviation and general aviation
interests.
As a financially self-sufficient enterprise fund of the County, PDK benefits the
local & regional economy in a number of important
ways without using any property tax funds whatsoever.
In addition to the direct employment created on the
airport property, there are the indirect benefits of
visitors being attracted to the area, travel and operating
cost savings for area businesses and the jobs which are
attracted to the County specifically because of the airport.
There are 762 aviation-related jobs at
the airport. Additional "indirect" benefits to
the County include $14 million in visitor spending, $50
million in travel and operating cost savings and 3,600
jobs created by non-airport businesses which have indicated
they would leave the County if the airport were to close.
A "multiplier effect" also
exists which indicates that the airport, in aggregate,
is responsible for an estimated 7,300 jobs in DeKalb
County and generates $130 million in personal income for
DeKalb County residents. This represents approximately
2% of total County employment and economic activity.
In terms of economic output for the County (the total
dollar value of all goods and services produced), the
airport is directly and indirectly responsible for
$819 million of the gross product in the County. The
airport is also the 3rd biggest taxpayer of property taxes
within the County.*
 Based
on the 1993 Airport Master Plan, land was acquired and
converted to compatible use in the Runway Protection Zone
or RPZ located north of the Chamblee-Tucker Road on the
approach path to Runways 20 Left. The FAA encouraged this
conversion of residential and commercial land uses and
participated in the project with 90% matching funds. ( more info)
Additionally, in 1997, the Airport's
Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 150 Noise
Compatibility Study received approval from the FAA. The
study encompassed noise abatement and land use strategies
to reduce noise impacts on incompatible land uses
surrounding the airport. The land acquisition program was
a completely voluntary program for the occupants. (more
info)
* Cost Benefit Study of the DeKalb
Peachtree Airport, Final Report, RKG Associates,
Durham, NH, Dec, 1997
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