Flying High

richard b. russell airport Flying High

Tucked away in Northern Armuchee, lies a gem in Rome and Floyd County. The Richard B. Russell Regional Airport has a deep and rich history in the Rome-Floyd area that stretches back to 1942.

Initially, the mere 670 acres of land that the airport operated on was used as a Navy Auxiliary Base. After being deeded back to Floyd County in 1945, the airport was used by various airline services that worked out of Russell Field. In 1971, the Board of Commissions voted to rename it from “Russell Field” to “Richard B. Russell Airport” in honor of Senator and Governor Richard B. Russell.

Today, Richard B. Russell Regional Airport is a key impactful and entertaining part of the Floyd County community. The airport offers a variety of uses that aviation lovers, businesspeople, and everyday citizens can take advantage of and enjoy. The airport’s capacity can tolerate a wide variety of civilian and military planes. The largest non-military are the Gulf Stream 650 and the Global Express, with both planes holding around 12 people. For the military aircraft lovers, the airport can host a wide vary of planes and helicopter including: C130s, C17s, Black Hawks, Huey, and Cobra Ships. The airport also offers an assortment of entertaining events that everyone can enjoy such as, the Wings Over North Georgia Air Show featuring the Blue Angels. For the adventurous types, you can enjoy being flown over Floyd County in a plane by an expert pilot.

An exciting project at the airport is extending the runway to 7,010 feet. “The extension of Richard B. Russell Airport runway was approved in the 2013 SPLOST by the voters in Floyd County. Phase 1 of the extension project has recently started with grading and drainage being underway and hopefully completed in late fall

of 2021. Phases 2 & 3 will take place in 2022 with ILS upgrades and new base and paving allowing RMG to become the longest runway in the Atlanta, Birmingham, Chattanooga triangle. The 7010 ft grooved runway when completed will be a great opportunity to grow not only Floyd County but the entire NW GA region. We will continue to either meet or exceed many of the insurance requirements that help local tenants, industry, and visitors in providing efficient air transportation to Rome and Floyd County,” commented Floyd County Manager, Jamie McCord.

The extension may remove insurance barriers for the aircraft of companies wishing to conduct business within the Floyd County community. This allows larger planes to come to the airport and bring business with them. John Carroll, the Airport Manager, emphasized the importance of this extension saying, “By giving them an opportunity, Floyd County can be on their radar. Now, whenever somebody comes in, whenever they are shopping for a place to land, they have those boxes checked and marked off. They have access, whether roads and/or an airport.” The expansion of the

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airport will bring an array of economic expansions and job opportunities for the residents of Floyd County. Carroll describes the airport’s function as such, “We are a gateway. Airports are a gateway into their communities, and that is exactly what we are. It is all about jobs, bringing jobs.” The airport is an open door for new jobs and new businesses prospects.

While Carroll highlights the importance of the airport and its contribution to bringing new jobs, he also says that it can be an important catalyst in growing businesses already operating in the Rome and Floyd County area. He says, “I’d like the businesses of Rome and Floyd County to know that we are here to utilize us, to see if their business can be expanded using aviation. It’s not just about bringing jobs in, it’s about growing businesses that are already here, giving them the opportunity to expand outward.” With the expansion of the runway, Rome and Floyd County can look to the air for new possibilities and growth.