Press Releases

Press Release
From: Sonya Overton, Marketing Manager
Submitted On: 18 December 2019

COLUMBUS, GA December 2019- New improvements will begin at the Columbus Airport thanks to the $9.7 million dollar grant received from the FAA, $650,000 grant awarded from the State of Georgia and the $3.5 million dollar grant that was approved by the Department of Transportation who awarded five airports in the state of Georgia grants that totaled up to $12.6 million dollars for Georgia airports. “The robust economy is enabling more passengers to travel by air therefore the current administration is investing billions of dollars in Americas airports which will address safer airport operations, fewer airport delays, and greater ease of travel for air travelers, said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.”

This is part of a $485 million federal investment in Americas airports. All three grants will be used to fund terminal building modifications that are expected to start first quarter 2020. The renovation will be the first modernization since the current terminal’s completion in 1991.

The Columbus Airport plays a vital role in supporting the region with 622 jobs with an impact of $70.1 million in economic output for the local and regional economies as reported in the DOT’s last economic development study. The airport is a public use airport in Columbus Georgia located at 3250 W. Britt David Road servicing the community with commercial airline and general aviation service.

Press Release
From: Sonya Overton, Marketing Manager
Submitted On: 27 March 2018

COLUMBUS, GA March 2018- On April 9, 2018 the Columbus Airport Commission will celebrate its 50th year of service to the Chattahoochee Valley residents. The Commission, created by an Amendment to the Georgia State Constitution on April 9, 1968 is tasked to oversee the operations & development of the airport & its facilities. The Commission is composed of five (5) members, appointed by the Columbus Council.

The Commission and staff are spending the entire month of April celebrating Commissioners past and present as well as the achievements of 50 years’ service with promotions and giveaways for travelers at the Columbus Airport.

The airport is a public use airport in Columbus Georgia located at 3250 W. Britt David Road servicing the community with commercial airline and general aviation service.

POC for this release:
Sonya L. Overton
Marketing Manager-Columbus Airport
Columbus, GA 31909
www.flycolumbusga.com
706-324-2449

Press Release
From: Sonya Overton, Marketing Manager
Submitted On: 22 November 2019

COLUMBUS, GA November 2019- In October 2019 the Columbus Airport solicited proposals from qualified aviation consulting firms to provide professional planning, engineering, architectural, and construction administration services in connection with the Airport Capital Improvement Plan. Nine bids were received, and the top three scoring firms were invited to give a presentation to the selection committee. Based on results of the presentations & interviews the contract was awarded to Holt Consulting Company.

Holt Consulting Company is a multi-discipline engineering firm with offices in Georgia and South Carolina that provides planning, design, and management services for transportation infrastructure. HOLT’s relationship-based culture coupled with responsive communication and action makes them the consultant of choice for state and local governments.

Holt Consulting Company currently contracts with several (DBE) Disadvantage Business Enterprises (Aulick Engineering, LLC, Environmental Resource Solutions, Taffy Pippen Consulting, LLC, RE Appraisal Group, Inc and Key Engineering Group.) as well as local Columbus, Georgia businesses to include Moon, Meeks, Mason & Vinson, Inc. who has worked on several projects with the airport, Peach Engineering and Hecht, Burdeshaw Architects, Inc. who designed the original airport terminal.

Columbus Airport is committed to meeting the air transportation and economic development needs of the community, its customers and partners while exceeding expectations for safety and quality service. The airport is a public use airport in Columbus Georgia located at 3250 W. Britt David Road servicing the community with commercial airline and general aviation service.

Press Release
From: Sonya Overton, Director of Marketing & Air Service Development
Submitted On: 10 February 2022

COLUMBUS, GA February 2022- Friday, February 11 at 6 p.m. the Columbus Airport along with responding fire departments: Columbus Fire EMS, Fort Benning, and CussetaChattahoochee County Fire Department and other agencies will perform a downed aircraft emergency exercise.

The participating emergency responses teams plan to mock an emergency aircraft crash that catches on fire with possible mock casualties in a wooded area in the Columbus, Georgia region any additional details due to the responding firefighters are not yet known.

The exercise will consist of an initial radio call from a helicopter advising of possible trouble. It will later escalate to verified trouble after the last transmission, ATC will report a loss of radar contact somewhere around Spencer High School located at 1000 Fort Benning Rd, Columbus, GA 31903.

“Exercises like these are common in our industry, as aircraft safety is our priority, we rely on our community partners to assist in these types of scenarios keeping us all on our toes.” Says Chief Andre Parker of the Columbus Airport. “These exercises are crucial to ensure that all departments understand what to do and how to respond in an emergency.”

The airport is a public use airport in Columbus Georgia located at 3250 W. Britt David Road servicing the community with commercial airline and general aviation service.

Press Release
From: Sonya Overton, Marketing Manager
Submitted On: 12 August 2019

COLUMBUS, GA AUGUST 12, 2019- August 1, 2019 marks the 75th anniversary for the Columbus airport, the hometown airport of the Tri-city area to include Columbus, Georgia, Fort Benning, Georgia and Phenix City Alabama. The airport has grown from a small one room terminal originally located off Victory Drive in South Columbus to a two-story terminal that sits in the center of Columbus providing access to the world on a global scale from the Tri-city community.

Airport Director, Amber Clark stated: “We have achieved this milestone through the hard work and dedication of our vendors, our community and our culture of customer service that exists throughout the entire airport. We have dedicated ourselves to 75 years of setting the standard as the hometown airport known to provide airport services and amenities with a personal touch. Throughout 2019, we will be taking a look at where we began, what we have achieved, and what our plans are for the future focusing on our branding: FOWARD WITH FOCUS”

Beginning August 1, 2019 through July 31, 2020 we will be celebrating 75 years of service by enhancing passenger experiences with Feedback Now that focus on “real time” customer feedback, upgrading the terminal with a terminal modernization project and partnering up with local partners in order to gift the CSG Experience through various promotions.

Columbus Airport is committed to meeting the air transportation and economic development needs of the community, its customers and partners while exceeding expectations for safety and quality service. The airport is a public use airport in Columbus Georgia located at 3250 W. Britt David Road servicing the community with commercial airline and general aviation service.

To All Media Outlets – Distribute Freely – Immediate Release. I have attached a press of inductees for the 29th Annual Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinement Banquet. Event to be held Saturday April 30th, 2022, banquet will be hosted at the hangar of Lance Toland in Griffin Georgia. Onsite film crews can be accommodated at this event. This is quite a large and prestigious gathering in
the Statewide aviation community. Full biographies are included within the attached release.

Regards,

Jimmy Norton
Board Member / Media Relations
Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame
www.gaaviationhalloffame.com
770-609-8997 Office
404-625-2114 Cell

Heather Turner
Museum of Aviation
(478) 327-5276
hturner@museumofaviation.org

Press Release
From: Sonya Overton, Marketing Manager
Submitted On: 27 March 2019

 March 27, 2019—As the country celebrates Women’s History Month in celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society it comes as no surprise that the Columbus Airport Commission announced Amber Clark, C.M. as the first woman in Columbus Airport History, Airport Director of the Columbus Airport (CSG) on November 13, 2018. 

 Under the new leadership of Clark who has over 10 years’ experience in the airport industry and currently acts as the Chief Executive Officer responsible for the overall administration at the Columbus Airport, she also oversees a dynamic management team that is 67% women who come with 94 years of combined experience, all providing a great contribution to the Airport. 

Lorrie Brewer, Chief Accountant oversees Budgeting Operations and Input, maintaining Airport Construction Projects Financial Data, Payroll, Accounts Receivables and Payables. Lorrie is currently working on Financial Planning for the upcoming Terminal Rehabilitation Project. 

Brandy Burkett, Human Resource Manager maintains and enhances the organization’s Human Resources by planning, implementing, and evaluating employee relations and Human Resource policies, programs, and practices. Brandy is currently working on improving Payroll Practices, Building New Platforms, Training Analysis and Software Updates. 

Sonya Overton, Marketing Manager budgets, plans, develops and implements all marketing activities internally and externally. She handles all duties from Community and Media Relations, Advertising and Sales, Market Campaigns, Communications, Marketing Strategies and Air Service Development. Sonya is currently working on Air Service Development, 75th Columbus Airport Anniversary Campaign, 10th Anniversary Flightways Columbus Campaign and Community Involvement. 

Michele Renfroe, FBO Manager manages an FBO staff of fifteen personnel. She monitors FBO accounting software programs, budgets, Capital Improvement Projects, manages hangars and leases for all General Aviation customers. Michele is currently working on future focused projects to include Hangar Rehab, Nata Safety, Quality Control and Customer Service training. 

The Columbus Airport Commission employs over 50 employees, 35% female. The team is committed to meeting the air transportation and economic development needs of the community, its customers and partners. 

POC for this release:
Sonya L. Overton, Marketing Manager-Columbus Airport
Columbus, GA 31909
www.flycolumbusga.com
706-324-2449

Press Release
From: Sonya Hollis, Marketing Manager
Submitted On: 23 October 2017

COLUMBUS, GA October 2017– The Columbus Airport Commission is the proud recipient of the 2017 Georgia Airports Association Project of the Year Award for the rehabilitation and completion of project Runway 13/31 which involved removal and replacement of old pavements, installation of new runway lights, guidance signs and installation of a new lighted wind sock at the midpoint of the airport and electrical work.

The award for Commercial Service Airport and General Aviation Airport are presented on behalf of the Georgia Airport Association (GAA) by the GAA Board of Directors for a project that significantly improves airport capacity, improves safety and shows innovation or of such magnitude that its principles can be applied to numerous airports in the state, required/demonstrated extraordinary resourcefulness or any combination of the above.

The airport is a public use airport in Columbus Georgia located at 3250 W. Britt David Road servicing the community with commercial airline and general aviation service.

POC for this release:
Sonya L. Overton, Marketing Manager-Columbus Airport
Columbus, GA 31909
www.flycolumbusga.com
706-324-2449

Press Release
From: Sonya Overton, Director of Marketing & Air Service Development
Submitted On: 06 September 2022

COLUMBUS, GA February 2022- Thursday, September 8th 2022 at 1:30 p.m. the Columbus Airport’s Public Safety Department will perform a live gunshot detection emergency exercise at the Columbus Airport with AmberBox Gunshot Detection system.

The exercise will consist of a live gunshot using blank ammunition in the airport terminal and administrative offices where the systems will report as Airport Police respond to the alert. “Passenger safety is our priority; we rely on our Public Safety department and Amber Box partners in these types of exercises keeping us safe and up to date on any threats that could happen at any time.” Says Amber Clark, Airport Director of the Columbus Airport. “These exercises are crucial to ensure that all departments understand what to do and how to respond in an emergency.”

AmberBox Gunshot Detection is the market leader in active threat detection. Being the only third generation technology solution, AmberBox provides instant gunshot detection and notification to police and Airport Public Safety. The real-time response platform delivers event data, with the ability to view precise gunshot location and timing, perpetrator movement, weapon classification, and the option to respond immediately with pre-programmed security feature integrations. AmberBox Gunshot Detection enables first responders to arrive on scene faster, equipped with the vital information needed to contain threats and mitigate casualties.

The airport is a public use airport in Columbus Georgia located at 3250 W. Britt David Road servicing the community with commercial airline and general aviation service.