Florida State Guard looks to lease space at TLH for new air base
The Florida State Guard plans to create its own air base on land at the Tallahassee International Airport, according to an agenda item for the Sept. 25 Tallahassee City Commission meeting.
Agenda material shows the new base will mean a $7 million investment from the Guard and is projected to bring in $2.6 million in revenue yearly for the airport, which is operated by the city. That revenue will go into the Aviation Operating Fund.
The hangar facilities "will serve as office space and storage space for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft in support of FSG’s state-wide crisis and emergency response missions," the agenda material says. "... FSG currently occupies facilities in Lakeland ... and recently received appropriations through the General Appropriations Act to expand their capabilities within the state."
The Florida State Guard, which is separate from the Florida National Guard, had been inactive since 1947. It was revived by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022 to "protect and defend the people of Florida from all threats to public safety" and can be activated by the governor only. It's currently headquartered in Tallahassee but is expected to relocate to Flagler County.
State Guard members have been called out for recent weather events and also can be used "to provide support to other states."
The state-controlled force has been criticized by Democrats and activists as the governor's personal and political militia.
In February, DeSantis sent more than 1,000 Florida National Guard members and State Guard Soldiers to Texas to help stop what he called "the invasion at the southern border." They joined Highway Patrol, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and FDLE members already there.
"If we need to stand up and ensure the sovereignty of the country, then we need to do that, so they can count on me to help from the state of Florida," DeSantis said ahead of sending the troops to the border.
Previous coverage: Bill would allow DeSantis to send Florida State Guard outside of the state
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Florida State Guard will build air base in Tallahassee
According to the agenda item, FSG proposes to lease approximately 2.5 acres of airport property to "fund, design, permit, construct or cause to be constructed hangars, office space, and supporting infrastructure improvements on a long-term basis to FSG for aircraft storage and air transportation operations."
It says that that the entirety of the hangar facility improvements will come out to a total of 109,542 square feet and feature three buildings along with parking and an airport apron, an area where the aircraft are refueled and maintained. The city will construct the apron with the Guard building the remaining areas.
The projects were broken down as follows:
Office ? 4,000 square feet
Hangar I ? 15,000 square feet
Hangar II ? 14,800 square feet
Parking ? 15,715 square feet
Apron/Circulation - 60,027 square feet
"All development will be subject to required coordination and associated reviews by the Florida Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure appropriate safety, security and design standards are in compliance with State and Federal requirements," staff wrote in the agenda material.
The news of the project is one of many items in the city's published agenda for their upcoming city commission meeting, which will also feature their final budget public hearing. It also comes after a string of disappointments at the airport, including the recent loss of JetBlue and the collapse of two deals with private businesses that failed to secure financing.
This story contains previously published information. Arianna Otero is the City Solutions Reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at [email protected] or on Twitter/X: @ari_v_otero.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State Guard looks to create air base at TLH airport