Air traffic control tower going up at Jack Edwards Airport; $6.3 in grants paves way; Elite Airways schedules services

Air traffic control tower going up at Jack Edwards Airport; $6.3 in grants paves way; Elite Airways schedules services

The Airport Authority of Gulf Shores recently broke ground for the new air traffic control tower facility at Jack Edwards National Airport (JKA). The project is slated to be completed by July 30, 2021.
The groundbreaking event included tours of an Elite Airways CRJ 700 and an announcement made by John Pearsall, CEO of Elite Airways, of the intent to begin providing the residents of Gulf Shores with scheduled service in early 2021 pending FAA and TSA approval.
The airline’s routes connect underserved communities with popular destinations that include New York City/Newark, White Plains and Albany NY, Portland ME, Asheville NC, Myrtle Beach SC, Orlando-Melbourne, Sarasota-Bradenton, and Vero Beach FL, and the island of Bimini in the Bahamas.
The new tower was made possible through $6.13 million in grant funding from both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Cares Act secured by the joint efforts of Senator Richard Shelby and Congressman Bradley Byrne. The $700,000 in local Airport Authority funding set aside for the tower construction will now be reallocated to a future terminal project at JKA.
JKA currently ranks as the second busiest airport in operations (landings and takeoffs) in Alabama and will rank in the top 40 of 256 Federal Contract Towers nationwide once the tower is in operation.
The airline’s routes connect underserved communities with popular destinations that include New York City/Newark, White Plains and Albany NY, Portland ME, Asheville NC, Myrtle Beach SC, Orlando-Melbourne, Sarasota-Bradenton, and Vero Beach FL, and the island of Bimini in the BahamasMore info: flyjka.com.
“Jack Edwards National Airport serves the thriving business and tourism market in Gulf Shores, South Baldwin County and the communities along the Alabama Gulf Coast,” said Mayor Robert Craft. “This full-service airport is an outstanding asset creating jobs and diversification opportunities for new and existing businesses. JKA is vital to the development and continued economic growth of the area and provides a transportation hub for anyone traveling for business, recreation or relaxation.”