“They’ve got some pretty big expansion plans,” said Hunter Walker, Santa Rosa County administrator regarding Milton Aviation Partners looking to increase their lease to include additional property at the Peter Prince Airport. According to the memo Archie Collum, Senior Partner with Peter Prince Aviation Center (PPAC), sent to the commissioners, “More than 60 percent of the leased area was lost meeting state and local development requirements. Currently, the investors have split the flight training school to operate nine aircraft in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This cost the county the economic impact of eight full-time employees.” According to Collum, Lifeguard Air Ambulance is also in negotiations with PPAC to stage emergency aircraft there on a 24/7 schedule, which will also require maintenance and fuel from the airport. The memo also includes a map indicating PPAC’s anticipated expansion, including parking for five aircraft, three helicopter pads, as well as a third building to act as a Lifeguard facility.
Walker said actions by the commission would be to direct staff to work with PPAC on an agreement. County commissioners moved to approve the request at the last county commission meeting.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Peter Prince needs to expand