By Shanderia K. Posey
Editor
The state’s attempt to takeover Jackson’s two airports — Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport and Hawkins Field Airport — has likely hit its biggest snag to date.
During a press conference today, Rosie Pridgen, chair of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, noted a policy published in the June 6 edition of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Federal Register.
The policy outlines the process for state and local governments to take when considering actions that would impact the ownership, sponsorship, governance or operations of federally operated, publicly owned airports.
According to the policy, an entity must consult with and obtain the consent of the current sponsor of an airport except for instances when mismanagement is evident. The city of Jackson is the sponsor/operator of the Jackson airports. The policy also states an entity should seek technical assistance, review and comment from the FAA early in the deliberative process.
“A failure to consult may cause FAA to deny a proposed change to airport sponsorship and/or operating authority,” the policy states.
Furthermore, the policy states when disputes regarding sponsorships between local and state entities exist, the FAA will work with those parties to address the concerns, but if the concerns cannot be addressed, the FAA will deny the request for changes.
Pridgen described the publishing of the FAA policy as “timely” and noted the general policy affects all airports.
“The FAA is not new in having to address hostile takeover. There are others going on,” she said. “I’m sure they probably found a need to do something … because this is not the first hostile takeover attempt by a legislative body.”
Until the FAA grants approval, the JMAA board will continue to operate, even though SB 2162 goes into effect July 1, according to Pridgen, who cautioned that despite the policy, the fight continues to keep the airports.
More than 10,000 local, state and national supporters have signed a petition against the airport takeover. JMAA officials are seeking additional signatures at JMAAworks.com.
Mississippi Legislators Sen. Sollie Norwood, Sen. John Horhn, and Sen. David Blount spoke during the press conference as well as Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber.
“We can do nothing else but stand up and defend our property,” Blount said.
“We think we are going to win in court,” Horhn said.
Pridgen confirmed a lawsuit will be filed soon.
In his remarks, Yarber said, “The fight has just begun.”
See more on this story in this week’s edition of The Mississippi Link. Shanderia K. Posey can be reached at sposey@mississippilink.com.
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