A New Horizon For the Gulf Coast; It’s a Bird, It’s Superman, Nope, It’s Big Planes
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media
April 20, 2025
GULF SHORES Ala.
For the first time in the history of Baldwin County Alabama, large passenger planes will be crisscrossing our skies and descending upon the Gulf Coast at least a dozen times a day during the inaugural months of the new Gulf Shores International Airport.
The new airport initially will be offering flights to six destinations from one airline provider but officials with the airport say a second airline will be added in the upcoming months increasing both the designations and the frequency of flights from the new airport.
It’s both an exciting time for the area and a time for pause.
Everywhere that you turn, you can easily see the substantial growth in Baldwin County and it’s predicted that the area will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. Great news for some, not so much for others.
The State of Alabama currently has six commercial airports and seventy-two general aviation airports, including five in Baldwin County.
The Jack Edwards Airport was originally an outlying field (Canal Field) for Naval Air Station Pensacola.
The U.S. Navy sold it to the state of Alabama in 1977 and the new airport was named for U.S. Rep. Jack Edwards.
In 1983 the state sold the airport to the city of Gulf Shores to be used for general aviation.
A new terminal was built in 1998 and a runway extension was completed in 2003 allowing corporate jets to be able to land and take off from the airport.
And while smaller general aviation planes have been flying in and out of the airport for years, their footprint on the area has been minimal and that includes their noise pollution.
And, general aviation mainly flies during the day, allowing residents to sleep peacefully at night.
Having a commercial airport in our community is indeed exciting, especially for business travelers who regularly travel to Mobile or Pensacola to board a plane. And, the new airport will no doubt boost tourism, bring in more visitors, and will ultimately provide additional revenue for the county.
All of this sounds great and will be a great asset to residents and visitors but with growth and nuance comes considerations and often include a give and take that frequently affects those who do not have a voice.
Commercial planes are loud, give off heavy air pollution, and fly low during landings and take-offs.
A commercial plane may have to circle an airport once, twice, or even three times while it waits for the runway to be available, especially at a smaller, airport.
They also fly low during certain weather conditions.
The bottom line is that the airspace above Baldwin County is going to change and in time, with the addition of more airline providers, air traffic will become noisier and planes will be flying in and out of the airport day and night.
The landing pattern at the new Gulf Shores International Airport will take these planes over the beautiful beaches and across the communities along State Highway 181, State Highway 59, Baldwin Beach Express, and other communities surrounding a large swath or area in Baldwin County.
Part Two-Baldwin County Lies in the Middle of Airline Growth
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