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Cherokee County Industrial Development Authority
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Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport Skies, Runways Remain Full
The Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport is open for business-and thriving! And according to Donnie Free, general manager, the airport adds to its full agenda over the coming year a parallel taxiway and eight new hangars. Free said the additions were made possible through a 100-percent funded $5.5 million grant through the Federal Aviation Administration. The taxiway project should start in the spring, and the hangars should be completed in early 2021. have them all leased,” said Free. “We have a lot of renters from Georgia, including the Cave Springs, Cedartown areas, and also local renters as well.”
In 2000 when representatives from Centre, Piedmont, and Cherokee County formed the airport authority, pooled their efforts, and carried the Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport project to completion in 2006. Complete with a 5,500-foot runway, it was the first federally funded Alabama airport since 1992. The airport is located on some 300 acres of property off Highway 9 south of Centre.
Free is pleased that the Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport has lived up to its mission and then some as he listed some of the services provided. “We are getting more and more business,” said Free. “We have a full-time flight instructor here that gives flight lessons. We have a mechanic who works on planes. He certifies our airworthiness and does minor repairs.”
The Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport is host these days to Georgia Tech Research. It has a certificate of authorization with the FFA to fly their drones and experimental aircraft. With Georgia Tech Research Institute, Mark Pettey said Georgia Tech has had the arrangement with the Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport for about a year. “We absolutely love it,” said Pettey. “You have lots of space, it is clear and open, and you have a great eye line to watch the traffic. It is about an hour and a half from where we live and is not too long a drive when we need to make the day trip, and everyone here has been more than accommodating.”
Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport also has a fuel service open 24 hours a day, which is thriving, he said. The airport has a lounge with snacks, showers, and restrooms to accommodate incoming pilots.
Gene Littlefield, who has been doing maintenance work on the planes for approximately two years. Littlefield said he started working with planes in 1986. “I always loved to fly,” said Littlefield. “I started taking flying lessons, went to Cedartown Airport, and the guy said, ‘I need help.’ From that point on, I started my learning career. And I am still learning. You can never know it all.”
Flight Instructor Jeff Creel came to the Centre-PiedmontCherokee County Regional Airport from Fort Payne. He has been with the C-P-CC Airport for almost a year and a half, having taught students from 12 to 72 years of age. While he has had many students, Instructor Creel estimated he has had 12 to 15 complete the course and earn their pilot license. “Many of them take about five lessons, and you never see them again, just like everything else.”
Creel has two planes of his own based at the airport. “I was ten years old when I got my first airplane ride,” said Creel. “I have been stepping in holes ever since looking at airplanes fly over. I was 26 or 27 before I could afford to take lessons and learned to fly. I am 60 now, so that is quite a while. I am here every day. I can’t stay away. I can’t think of anything I would rather do,” said Creel.
Manager Free expresses his appreciation to all those who have pulled together to make the Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport a success. “With 22 based aircraft here, that is good for an airport this size,” said Free. “We have a facility with a good runway, fuel, flight training, and a maintenance shop. Those are your basics.”
Above, Top: Pictured are eight new hangars now under construction at the Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport.
Above, Lower: Pictured is one of the T hangars at Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport. Opposite, Top: Pictured is a full shop of planes awaiting repair at the Centre-PiedmontCherokee County Regional Airport. Opposite, Far Left: The Centre-Piedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport is also in the fuel business and is doing well. Pictured is the fuel station at the airport which has many local visitors and those from other areas. Opposite, Center: Gene Littlefield performs maintenance work on planes at the CentrePiedmont-Cherokee County Regional Airport and has as much work as he can handle. Pictured is Littlefield with a 2006 Cessna 182 owned by a resident of Summerville, Georgia who completed her flight training at the C-P-CC Regional Airport. Opposite, Far Right: The Centre-Piedmont-Regional Airport is current host to Georgia Tech Research Institute which has made arrangements to test fly its drones and experimental aircraft at the airport. Pictured is Mark Petty with Georgia Tech with the Osprey.
Lee Hubbard, Chairman
Centre Representatives
Bobby Allred and Jay Jordan
Piedmont Representatives
Brent Morrison and Terry Conway, Co-chairman
Cherokee County Representatives
Andy Ellis, Treasurer and Grant Ratliff
Manager, Secretary
Donnie Free
Sponsors
Bill Baker, Mayor, City of Piedmont Tim Burgess, Chairman, Cherokee County Commission Mark Powell Mansfield, Mayor, City of Centre
