Airport pulls $11.5M New College land sale request

Sensing that the Federal Aviation Administration’s recently released guidance regarding uncertainty of future airport needs to accommodate vertical take-off and landing vehicles will result in denial, the Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority has withdrawn its request to sell 30 acres to New College of Florida.

Submitted Jan. 9, the airport authority announced Tuesday it will no longer seek the request for release of land from the FAA as guidance released by the agency the day prior to submittal suggests the needs to accommodate electric take-off and landing (eVTOL) and drone aircraft as that technology further develops are currently unknown.

In April, the FAA denied the proposed $11.5 million land deal without citing the updated guidance — a decision the authority promptly appealed. It had been waiting a decision on that appeal.