Paulding airport authority Chairman Calvin Thompson resigns

PAULDING Airport Chairman Calvin Thompson announced his resignation at the final 2016 regular meeting of the Paulding County Airport Authority (PCAA) in December. Thompson has served as the airport authority chairman since its inception in 2000.
Thompson had considered the move since former airport director Blake Swafford left last year to pursue another opportunity in May. Thompson, who runs a Paulding business, would have ended his term at the end of this year.
In his announcement last week Thompson noted his decision wasn’t only tied to some health issues, but also the idea that the PCAA is ready for some ‘new blood.’ “My main goal was to get that airport built and we did that,” Thompson said.
Thompson has maintained his faith throughout his career and is quick to attribute any successes for the airport to it. “God is in this airport and is guiding it every step of way,” he said.
Under state law the BoC could vote to fill the vacancy with someone to finish Thompson’s term. Paulding commissioners must also fill vacancies of Kerry Tidmore and Ellis Astin whose terms ended on December 31, but both could continue to serve until the BoC approves their replacements.
Added to changing PCAA members, newly appointed Paulding Chamber President Stacy Hamby begins on the PCAA in January 2017. Ms. Hamby replaces Carolyn Wright at the Chamber who retired in May. Thompson stressed he feels that as a project much more is learned through what doesn’t always work out, than what does. “You don’t learn anything by winning; you learn through losses,” he said.
With regard to the ongoing struggle over adding limited commercial service to Silver Comet Field, Thompson admitted to initially -- back in 2004 -- going on record not in support of it, but noted that over time things can change. “Life is about change…and that was back in 2004 and I’ve owned it since I said it. But if you don’t like change, don’t get married, and don’t have kids,” he said.
The move sparked a three-year and still ongoing opposition in the courts from some residents and commissioners, which some have said has been funded by Delta Airlines, who oppose the potential development of a second metro-Atlanta airport, though opposition spokespersons have continued to deny knowledge of the source of funding.
But in the earlier days of the Airport Authority it wasn’t seen as what would become the county’s one central political football. Thompson said that the primary motivation to grow the airport was the desire of local officials to make it successful after the FAA made it possible through its $50 million investment. “If we park one $5 million airplane up there, it does nothing, it just sits there, it will equate to about 35 to 55 homes in ad valorem tax, plus the gas sales and the hangar,” he said.
Thompson said that former longtime Hiram Mayor Dewey Pendley initially advised the way to grow the airport would be best served through sound business decisions made outside the political arena. But it was the sagging economy that finally led to the tipping point. “Private aviation just shut down, it was the worst decline in aviation since the beginning of private aviation,” Thompson said. According to Interim Director Terry Tibbitts litigation for the airport is currently budgeted annually at about $60,000 for last year and is expected to reach or exceed that amount in 2017.
They’ve been fighting us since we tried to bring in a corporate company,” Thompson said. “And I never had a problem with an opposition to commercialization, but it’s the personal attacks and the attacks on the commander and chief of this county I object to.” And while the current Paulding commissioners have continued to state that they support an aviation airport, Thompson said that no suggestions from them for ways to grow the airport have been forthcoming.
But Thompson added that primarily, while he supported to decision to add limited commercial service to the airport, he was not pleased with the way that it was announced in the community. “I didn’t like the way that was done, but once it’s out there it’s gone.”
Thompson feels that Georgia’s aviation profile will eventually change anyway with the size of Atlanta and only one airport to serve it. “Another airport will come whether [Propeller Investments] is here or not. Hartsfield Atlanta is one of the biggest airports in the world without a second, or ‘reliever’ airport,” he said.
Facing incoming Commission Chairman David Carmichael will be the effort to align Paulding commissioners with the Airport Authority board and the PCAA will continue into the foreseeable future to deal with litigation and with the challenge of adding revenue- producing clientele to the Silver Comet Field roster.

In his element at the Salute America Airshow at Silver Comet Field. Thompson served as the airport authority chairman since its inception in 2000.

Thompson says his feeling that it’s time for some “new blood” on the airport authority led to early retirement as chairman. (Photo: R. Grant)