You’ve seen it from the top floor of a Buckhead skyscraper or caught a glimpse of it while white-knuckling your steering wheel on I-285. A sudden flash of silver, a low-humming engine, and then a small jet dips below the tree line. That’s not Hartsfield-Jackson. Not even close. It’s Atlanta Dekalb Peachtree Airport, or "PDK" to the locals, and honestly, it’s arguably the most interesting patch of asphalt in Georgia.
People think of airports as sterile, fluorescent-lit purgatories where you wait four hours for a delayed flight to Orlando. PDK is the opposite. It’s a 700-acre relic of World War I history—specifically the old Camp Gordon—tucked right into the middle of Chamblee and Brookhaven. It’s the second busiest airport in the state, trailing only the massive international hub to the south, but it doesn't have a single commercial terminal. No TSA lines. No $15 soggy sandwiches. Just pure, unadulterated aviation.
Why Everyone Is Talking About the Eastside Expansion
Right now, in early 2026, the airport is at a massive crossroads. If you’ve been following the local news, you know things have been... heated. DeKalb County recently greenlit a massive $45 million expansion on the airport’s east side.
The deal is with a company called Sky Harbour Group. They’re basically building a "home-basing campus" for business jets. Think of it as a luxury valet garage but for Gulfstreams. The logic from the airport’s side is pretty straightforward: they want to stop "repositioning" flights. Basically, planes fly into PDK, drop off a CEO, and then have to fly somewhere else to park because there’s no room. That’s two extra takeoffs and landings for no reason. By building eight new hangars on 13 acres, they're hoping to keep those planes parked on-site.
But, and it’s a big but, the neighbors aren't exactly thrilled.
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The Noise Tug-of-War
Living near Atlanta Dekalb Peachtree Airport is a bit of a trade-off. You get a cool, "urban-lite" vibe in Chamblee, but you also get the roar of a Citation CJ4 at 7:00 AM.
Commissioner Michelle Long Spears has been one of the loudest voices asking for a pause until the environmental and noise studies—expected to wrap up in the summer of 2026—are fully digested. There’s a lot of skepticism. Will more hangars actually mean fewer flights, or will it just invite bigger, louder jets?
To try and play nice, the county just launched the "Plane Noise" app. It’s exactly what it sounds like. If a pilot decides to ignore the voluntary 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM curfew, you can report it instantly. Whether those reports actually change anything is the million-dollar question, but at least the data is finally being tracked in a way that doesn’t require a paper trail from 1985.
PDK by the Numbers (Wait, don't skip this)
- 700+ acres: The footprint of the airport.
- 209,000: Roughly the average number of takeoffs and landings every year.
- 6,001 feet: The length of the main runway (3R/21L). It’s just long enough for most mid-sized corporate jets but too short for a Boeing 747.
- 600 jobs: What the new Sky Harbour expansion is projected to bring to the area.
- Zero tax dollars: The expansion is privately funded, which is a rare win for the public purse.
Where to Actually Watch the Planes
If you aren't a corporate lawyer or a flight student, why should you care about Atlanta Dekalb Peachtree Airport? Two words: The 57th.
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The 57th Fighter Group Restaurant is a legendary Atlanta staple. It’s designed to look like a 1940s European farmhouse. You walk past vintage Jeeps and WWII-era memorabilia, and you sit on a patio that is literally feet away from the taxiway.
They have headsets at the tables. You can actually listen to the air traffic control tower while you eat your prime rib. It’s nerdy. It’s niche. And it’s one of the best date spots in the city if you want something that isn't just another beltline brewery.
If you want something lower-key, there’s the Downwind Restaurant and Lounge. It’s located right above the terminal building. It’s got a playground next to the viewing deck, so you can let the kids burn off energy while you watch a MedEvac helicopter pull in.
The Business Reality
We have to be real about the money. PDK is a "reliever" airport. Its entire job is to keep the small stuff away from Hartsfield-Jackson so Delta can run its operation smoothly.
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Major Georgia players like Waffle House, Southern Company, and Quikrete keep their flight departments here. It’s about 8 miles from downtown. If you’re a business owner, being able to land, hop in an Uber, and be in a meeting in 15 minutes is worth its weight in gold. The economic output is north of $370 million annually.
What’s Next for PDK?
If you’re a resident or someone looking to move to the Chamblee-Brookhaven area, keep your eyes on the Master Plan 2040. This isn't just about hangars. We’re talking about runway safety improvements and potential tech upgrades to the control tower.
The tension between the airport's growth and the residential sprawl of North DeKalb isn't going away. It’s a delicate dance. On one hand, you have a massive economic engine; on the other, you have thousands of people who just want to sleep through the night without a turbine spooling up in their backyard.
Actionable Tips for Visiting or Living Near PDK
- Check the App: If you live in the area, download the "Plane Noise" app. It’s the only way the county gets a real map of where the sound is hitting hardest.
- Visit on a Weekday: If you want to see the "big" business jets, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are peak times for corporate travel.
- Monitor the 2026 Study: The full environmental impact report is due this summer. That will be the deciding factor for whether future expansions get the green light or hit a wall of litigation.
- Use the Park: The PDK Playground and Picnic Area is free. It’s located at the end of the runway on Clairmont Road and is genuinely one of the best free activities for families in DeKalb.
The airport is more than just a place for "rich guys in suits," as some critics say. It’s a historic site, a massive employer, and a window into how Atlanta actually functions behind the scenes. Whether you love the sound of engines or hate the traffic it brings, Atlanta Dekalb Peachtree Airport is staying put, and 2026 is shaping up to be its most transformative year yet.