CHARLOTTE, NC– The City of Charlotte is claiming a big win in the on-going battle for power over Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.
Friday, a Superior Court Judge tossed key questions back to the Federal Aviation Administration, putting a strain in momentum on the new airport commission.
As the game of tug-of-war continues, two key questions still need to be answered: Is the new 13-member airport commission an agency of the city? And if so, does it have the authority to run the airport on the city’s behalf?
Superior Court Judge Robert Ervin says ruling on those questions does not bind the FAA to anything.
“If I answer those questions, it doesn’t mean anything,” says Ervin.
Meanwhile the FAA is waiting for the court’s ruling before it can give the commission the ‘go-ahead’ to oversee the airport.
“The fact that we’re having this disagreement and the FAA can’t figure it out, to me, proves this legislation was not well thought out,” says Charlotte City attorney, Bob Hagemann.
Hagemann says the Judge’s move is a victory for the city. Councilman Andy Dulin agrees.
“The city had a good day, I believe,” says Dulin.
In July, the city filed a lawsuit to block the commission from taking over the airport because it says the Legislature’s creation of an airport commission is unconstitutional.
Former Aviation Director Jerry Orr disagrees.
Orr and his attorney, Richard Vinroot, say despite the legal back-and-forth, they’re confident the commission will come out on top.
The commission is set to hold its first meeting next week. The battle over the airport heads back to court in early December.
