DeKalb commissioners debate PDK hangar pause, nighttime flight limits as airport staff oppose moratorium

Commissioners considered a resolution to pause new hangar development at DeKalb-Peachtree (PDK) Airport and to urge federal measures restricting non-emergency nighttime flights.

Chair Marita Davis Johnson recognized Commissioner Ted Terry, who said the proposal aims to "create a pause" while the county finalizes an environmental and noise study tied to the airport master plan. Terry said the goal is to ensure residents were aware of the scale of recent hangar approvals and to use the forthcoming study to inform any changes.

Airport staff told the committee the county already exercises approval authority over hangar projects and noted the airport operates a voluntary curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. "Most people generally try to follow that," Airport Director Hynes said, noting about "16 flights on average every night, half of those being medical flights." Hynes also cautioned the county against unilateral restrictions on flights, saying "this is not supported" by administration and warning that pursuing FAA-level changes could be costly and legally complex.

Terry acknowledged limitations on unilateral action, telling the committee some options would be impractical: "It might just cost hundreds of millions of dollars" to pursue a method that would require repaying longstanding FAA grant funds. Instead he proposed alternatives, including asking DeKalb's congressional delegation to join the Quiet Skies Caucus and exploring time-of-day landing fees as a potential operational disincentive for repeated nighttime non-emergency operations.

Several commissioners called for review of the airport master plan and the new noise and air-quality study before imposing development limits. Staff said the master plan work dates to a 2020 study adopted in 2023 and that a final draft of the air-quality and noise report has been submitted for FAA review; the FAA has up to two months for its review before the county receives the final report. Commissioners suggested inviting the Airport Advisory Board into further review and including community input before changes are drafted.

No moratorium or binding restriction was adopted at the committee level. The committee discussed possible substitute language (including referencing the Quiet Skies Caucus and clarifying advisory-board involvement) and moved on to other business.