About
NEW HANOVER COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Number of members: 7 appointed by the Board of County Commissioners
Terms of Office: 4 years – In accordance with Session Law 1989-404, appointees may not serve
more than two consecutive terms and cannot be reappointed until at least two years have expired
since the end of their last term.
Statute or cause creating Authority: General Statutes Chapter 404, Senate Bill 410; NHC Board
of Commissioners approved expansion from 5 to 7 members on September 15, 2014.
Purpose: The Airport Authority constitutes a corporate and politic body that has the power and
authority to: (1) purchase, acquire, establish, construct, own, control, lease, equip, improve,
maintain, operate, and regulate the Airport for the use of airplanes, and other aircraft, and all
facilities incidental to the operation of the Airport; (2) to purchase, acquire, own, hold, lease and/or
operate real or personal property; (3) to acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise and to hold lands
for the purpose of constructing, maintaining or operating the Airport and to make contracts and lease
agreements, to charge and collect fees, royalties, rents; (4) to make rules and regulations as
necessary for the proper maintenance, use, operation and control of the airport or airport facilities
owned, leased, or controlled by the Authority; (5) to provide penalties for violation of such rules and
regulations; (6) to sell, lease, or dispose of any property, real or personal, belonging to the Airport
Authority with sale of real property requiring approval of the County Commissioners; (7) to purchase
insurance; (8) to deposit or invest and reinvest funds; and (9) to operate, own, lease, control,
regulate, or grant to others the right to operate a business on the Airport premises, and to issue
revenue bonds.
The Airport Authority shall make an annual report to the Board of Commissioners setting forth in
detail the operations and transactions conducted by it. The Airport Authority employs persons
whose services may be deemed necessary by the Airport Authority.
Vacancies will be listed on the New Hanover County website.
Airport Authority members list:
| Current Members | Term | Appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Thompson, Chair | 2nd term | 6/16/25-6/30/29 |
| Faison Gibson, Vice Chair | 2nd term | 6/15/26-6/30/2030 |
| Wanda Copley, Secretary | 1st term | 6/19/23-6/30/27 |
| Nick Rhodes, Jr., Past Chair | 2nd term | 6/17/24-6/30/28 |
| LeAnn Pierce, New Hanover County Commission | N/A | 1/9/23-Undesignated |
| Andrew Jones | 1st term | 9/8/25-9/8/29 |
| Brian Eckel | 1st term | 6/15/26-6/30/2030 |
Meetings, Agendas, Minutes
The New Hanover County Airport Authority holds its monthly meeting each first Wednesday of the month in the Executive Conference Room at ILM at 5:00pm, unless otherwise noted in the meeting schedule. The current Fiscal Year’s meetings and agendas are posted below. Minutes are generally approved by the Airport Authority in the month following the meeting and will be posted once approved. For a complete archive of Airport Authority meeting notes, please visit NHC’s Website.
Review the 2026 meeting schedule (amended 1.13.26)