About the Authority

The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority was established pursuant to the Metropolitan Airport Authority Act of Tennessee and all amendments thereto. The major purpose of the Authority is to plan, establish, acquire, construct, improve and operate one or more airports within the City and Shelby County (the “County”). The Authority has the power to issue bonds to accomplish any of the purposes authorized by the Metropolitan Airport Authority Act of Tennessee. All bonds shall be payable solely from the revenues, income and charges of the Authority and such bonds shall not constitute an obligation of the City or County.

Based on the financial accountability the City has over the Authority, the Authority is considered a component unit of the City under the criteria set forth by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (“GASB”).

The Authority prepares an annual budget on the basis established by the 1973 General Revenue Bond Resolution dated June 15, 1973, as amended and restated, for all accounts and funds established by those agreements and resolutions, except construction and debt service funds. The annual budget serves as the foundation for the Authority’s financial planning and control. All appropriations, except open project account appropriations, lapse at the end of each fiscal year and must be reappropriated.

The Authority owns Memphis International (the “Airport”), Charles W. Baker, and General DeWitt Spain Airports. Charles W. Baker Airport (“Baker”) is located south of Millington, Tennessee and General DeWitt Spain Airport (“Spain”) is located just north of downtown Memphis. Both Baker and Spain Airports serve general aviation and are considered reliever airports for the Airport.

The Airport occupies about 4,300 acres of land in Shelby County and is 13 miles by road southeast of downtown Memphis. The Airport is 99.9% unaffected by impassable weather and handles all types of aircraft. The Airport has four runways equipped with precision instrument landing systems suitable for use by large aircraft and a surface movement guidance system allowing the Airport to operate down to a 300 foot runway visual range. The terminal building has 85 gates to accommodate passenger aircraft and includes a Federal Inspection Station (“FIS”) for clearing international flights and associated passengers.

One of the tools the Authority uses for long term planning is the Master Plan, which is updated every 7 to 10 years. The Master Plan specifies the physical improvements that are needed to meet projections of future demand. It consists of a technical report that specifies the logic and reasoning for proposed capital improvements as well as large scale drawings that illustrate the physical layout of the improvements. The Authority’s most recent update of the Master Plan provides a flexible and cost-effective guide for the future development of Memphis International Airport through the year 2015. Capital improvements recommended by the plan are demand-driven. This means that although there are a large number of projects proposed by the plan, only those that are needed as a result of actual increase in demand will be constructed. The Authority initiated an update to this Master Plan in June 2007 and will be complete and available during first quarter of 2010.

The Authority also prepares Multi-Year Financial Plans, which are updated annually. This plan contains the first year of the proposed annual Operating Budget and the Capital Improvements Budget and the remaining two years reflecting fiscal projections developed through a combination of historical trends, contractual and other known commitments, anticipated changes to future revenues and expenditures and other reasonable assumptions. The Capital Improvements Budget contains not only the current fiscal year, but also the ensuing five fiscal years.

For financial and other reports about Memphis International Airport, please click here.


	Welcome About MSCAA Bond Offerings Purchase Overview FAQ Contact About the Authority History Authority Leadership About the Authority The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority was established pursuant to the Metropolitan Airport Authority Act of Tennessee and all amendments thereto. The major purpose of the Authority is to plan, establish, acquire, construct, improve and operate one or more airports within the City and Shelby County (the “County”). The Authority has the power to issue bonds to accomplish any of the purposes authorized by the Metropolitan Airport Authority Act of Tennessee. All bonds shall be payable solely from the revenues, income and charges of the Authority and such bonds shall not constitute an obligation of the City or County. Based on the financial accountability the City has over the Authority, the Authority is considered a component unit of the City under the criteria set forth by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (“GASB”). The Authority prepares an annual budget on the basis established by the 1973 General Revenue Bond Resolution dated June 15, 1973, as amended and restated, for all accounts and funds established by those agreements and resolutions, except construction and debt service funds. The annual budget serves as the foundation for the Authority’s financial planning and control. All appropriations, except open project account appropriations, lapse at the end of each fiscal year and must be reappropriated. The Authority owns Memphis International (the “Airport”), Charles W. Baker, and General DeWitt Spain Airports. Charles W. Baker Airport (“Baker”) is located south of Millington, Tennessee and General DeWitt Spain Airport (“Spain”) is located just north of downtown Memphis. Both Baker and Spain Airports serve general aviation and are considered reliever airports for the Airport. The Airport occupies about 4,300 acres of land in Shelby County and is 13 miles by road southeast of downtown Memphis. The Airport is 99.9% unaffected by impassable weather and handles all types of aircraft. The Airport has four runways equipped with precision instrument landing systems suitable for use by large aircraft and a surface movement guidance system allowing the Airport to operate down to a 300 foot runway visual range. The terminal building has 85 gates to accommodate passenger aircraft and includes a Federal Inspection Station (“FIS”) for clearing international flights and associated passengers. One of the tools the Authority uses for long term planning is the Master Plan, which is updated every 7 to 10 years. The Master Plan specifies the physical improvements that are needed to meet projections of future demand. It consists of a technical report that specifies the logic and reasoning for proposed capital improvements as well as large scale drawings that illustrate the physical layout of the improvements. The Authority’s most recent update of the Master Plan provides a flexible and cost-effective guide for the future development of Memphis International Airport through the year 2015. Capital improvements recommended by the plan are demand-driven. This means that although there are a large number of projects proposed by the plan, only those that are needed as a result of actual increase in demand will be constructed. The Authority initiated an update to this Master Plan in June 2007 and will be complete and available during first quarter of 2010. The Authority also prepares Multi-Year Financial Plans, which are updated annually. This plan contains the first year of the proposed annual Operating Budget and the Capital Improvements Budget and the remaining two years reflecting fiscal projections developed through a combination of historical trends, contractual and other known commitments, anticipated changes to future revenues and expenditures and other reasonable assumptions. The Capital Improvements Budget contains not only the current fiscal year, but also the ensuing five fiscal years. For financial and other reports about Memphis International Airport, please click here.