Inspectors: Airport outdated

Bush Field officials say release of safety report is meant to sway public toward new terminal

Web posted August 26, 2000

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By Justin Martin
Staff Writer

Augusta Regional Airport officials Friday released the inspection reports on the airport's passenger terminal, its gates and the administrative offices.

OTHER STORIES: • Aviation groups come to airport's aid • Aviation commission looks to GAIN • New airport promotions prepare for takeoff • Airport hopes to see funds • Experts push master plan for airport • Airport ignores funding • Board moves to study expansion • Inspectors: Airport outdated • Commission rethinks airport plan • Commission OKs design of new terminal • Airport gets fund priority • City sets sights on airport facilities • City looks to land major airlines • Local leaders discuss airline service goals • Delta jets to depart from area • Airport panel OKs new terminal plan • Growth alarms officials • Augusta's size hurts airport expansion plan • Firms vie for airport plan • More airlines doubtful • Problems hurt Bush Field • Airport business picks up • Augusta airport plans disappointed by Delta

Airport officials admit the release of the information is an attempt to sway public opinion on the need for a new terminal.

``People come in and see the fresh paint and the clean windows and the clean floors and they say, `What's wrong with this place? It looks great,'ƒ'' said interim Airport Director Tim Weegar. ``They don't see what's behind the scenes.''

What visitors to Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field don't see are the outdated wiring systems, the termite-infested walls, the rotting building frames, the lack of a sprinkler system. The list goes on and on.

In addition to a 1998 asbestos inspection, airport officials released a fire code inspection conducted earlier this month by Airport Fire Chief Willie Paulk and a building inspection performed by the Augusta License and Inspection Department.

Asbestos has been found in the floor tiles, in some of the walls and in sections of the gates. Inspectors have told airport officials the asbestos is not causing any problems or health hazards to passengers, but it would have to be removed during any renovation project.

``Basically, it would cost us more money to renovate the existing building than it would if we demolished it and built a new one,'' said David Dorminey, the airport's marketing director.

Fire code violations include an inadequate sprinkler system, outdated wiring installed in 1942, a lack of insulation and outdated circuit boxes.

Even more alarming, the fire chief found the terminal walls and ceilings to be noncompliant with current codes. ``The terminal, originally constructed as dorms, is made of combustible materials. In the event of fire, the walls and ceilings would quickly ignite and burn rapidly,'' Chief Paulk stated in his report.

Inspectors also cited outdated wiring, plumbing code violations and a concern about the strength of the roof trusses.

``The building has a number of problems,'' the building inspectors stated in their report. ``Maintenance personnel have done a fine job keeping the building presentable and reasonably safe.''

The existing passenger terminal originally was three separate structures: an infirmary, a dining hall and a classroom building. All three structures are more than 50 years old, according to a master plan/terminal area study completed in 1995.

The infirmary is now a restaurant/concession area. The dining hall is the ticketing lobby, and the classroom building is now rental car offices.

A public waiting structure was built in 1965. Two waiting rooms were built in 1973, and the administration offices were built in 1987.

As the master plan/terminal area study reported in 1995, ``the connections between these many separate and different roofs has created a maintenance problem for the airport, with constant leaks which are difficult to locate and repair.''

The Augusta Aviation Commission, which serves as the airport's governing body, has suspended the design work on a new $25 million terminal until the first phases of a master plan are completed in the next three to six months.

Several aviation commissioners, most notably Marcie Wilhelmi, Ernie Smith and Jimmy Drew, are advocating a bigger, more costly terminal be built at the midfield of the airport. The two-story structure would cost roughly $50 million.

Other aviation commission members, including board Chairman Ed Skinner, are advocating the airport proceed with its original $25 million project.

Mr. Dorminey and Mr. Weegar said they don't care where the terminal is eventually situated. They just care that it gets built.

Reach Justin Martin at (706) 823-3552.