🇺🇸 Athens Ben Epps Airport

Athens–Ben Epps Airport (IATA: AHN, ICAO: KAHN, FAA LID: AHN) is a publicly-owned, public-use airport located three nautical miles east of the central business district of Athens, Georgia, in Clarke County,. The airport is named after Ben T. Epps, recognized as Georgia's first aviator, who established the airport in 1917, making it the first civilian airport in Georgia,.

Type of Facility and Operations:

• Classification: It is a Level III airport in the Georgia aviation system, designated as a commercial airport and an FAA Part 139 airport. This certification means it is required to accept scheduled and non-scheduled air carrier aircraft with 30 or more seats, or scheduled air carrier operations with 10-30 seats,.
• Operations: The airport is open 24/7, 365 days a year, with a control tower operating from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily,. For the 12-month period ending April 30, 2023, it had 39,471 aircraft operations, with 92% being general aviation.
• Services: It offers fueling facilities (Avgas & Jet A fuel), aircraft maintenance/repair shops, an avionics shop, and Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) certified staff and equipment,.

Notable Features or History:

• Historical Significance: Established in 1917, it holds the distinction of being Georgia's first civilian airport.
• Runways: It has two asphalt paved runways: 9/27, which is 6,122 feet long, and 2/20, which is 3,995 feet long,. A 600-foot runway extension project was completed in September 2015 to accommodate larger aircraft, primarily for the University of Georgia.
• Economic Impact: The airport operates at a profit and is self-sustaining, receiving no funds from the Athens-Clarke County General Fund. In 2020, its total economic impact was $27.8 million, supporting 332 employees.
• Commercial Service History: While primarily used for general aviation, it has had commercial passenger service in the past, including US Air (1970-2003) and Pacific Wings/Seaport (2008-2014),.

Current Status:

• Athens–Ben Epps Airport is operational and ranks as the 8th busiest airport in Georgia based on the number of visitors in 2020,.
• It serves as a regional airport for Northeast Georgia, supporting business and community needs.
• As of FY2023, the airport exceeded financial and operating performance measures. There is currently an active construction notice at the airport.

*Sources researched: accgov.com, nfdc.faa.gov, en.wikipedia.org, airnav.com*