St. Augustine Airport
Encyclopedia
Northeast Florida Regional Airport , formerly St. Augustine Airport, is a public airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...

 located four miles (6 km) north of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...

 of St. Augustine
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...

, in St. Johns County
St. Johns County, Florida
St. Johns County is a county located in northeastern Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 190,039. The county seat is St. Augustine. Due to the inclusion of Ponte Vedra Beach, it is one of the highest-income counties in the United States....

, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It is publicly owned by St. Augustine - St. Johns County Airport Authority.

The airport was left without commercial service after Skybus announced it would cease operations effective April 4, 2008.

Although most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier
Location identifier
A location identifier is a symbolic representation for the name and the location of an airport, navigation aid, or weather station, and is used for manned air traffic control facilities in air traffic control, telecommunications, computer programming, weather reports, and related services.-ICAO...

 for the FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...

 and IATA
International Air Transport Association
The International Air Transport Association is an international industry trade group of airlines headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where the International Civil Aviation Organization is also headquartered. The executive offices are at the Geneva Airport in SwitzerlandIATA's mission is to...

, Northeast Florida Regional Airport is assigned SGJ by the FAA and UST by the IATA (which assigned SGJ to Sagarai, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...

). The airport's ICAO
International Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization , pronounced , , is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth...

 identifier is KSGJ.

History

On December 27, 1933, the St. Augustine City Commission voted to purchase 276 acres (1.1 km²) in Araquay Park, north of the city, for $8,000 for conversion to a public airport. U.S. Government grants throughout the decade made possible additional improvements to the airfield. Following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 in 1939, vast new sums were provided to upgrade the St. Augustine Airport with an eye toward its possible military use. After the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...

, civil aviation was cancelled and the U.S. Navy took over the airport, renaming it Naval Auxiliary Air Station St. Augustine. Used as a satellite gunnery base in connection with training operations at nearby Naval Air Station Jacksonville
Naval Air Station Jacksonville
Naval Air Station Jacksonville or NAS Jacksonville is a military airport located four miles south of the central business district of Jacksonville...

, significant improvements were made to NAAS St. Augustine, to include additional runway and hangar construction, support facilities and an operational control tower. Following the end of hostilities, the Navy began scaling back operations and in May 1946, St. Augustine Airport was returned to the city.

In the postwar period, government subsidies made possible the establishment of "feeder airlines" providing air service to a host of smaller cities, with St. Augustine Airport becoming a scheduled stop for two passenger airlines. But with subsequent cutbacks in government subsidies, the feeder airlines went out of business, and by 1950 the St. Augustine Airport, with weeds growing through the cracks in the runway, was seen as a "white elephant" the city could ill afford to operate. It was closed down and leased to the local Moose Lodge for $1.00 a year. However, it was not long, before the white elephant became a bonanza - a major factor in the industrial development of St. Augustine and St. Johns County.

In June 1954, the Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation announced it would construct a large aircraft modification plant at the airport, opening the facility was the following year. Soon, military aircraft such as USAF C-119
C-119 Flying Boxcar
The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute...

 and USMC R4Q Flying Boxcar
C-119 Flying Boxcar
The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute...

s and USAF and USCG C-123 Provider
C-123 Provider
The C-123 Provider was an American military transport aircraft designed by Chase Aircraft and subsequently built by Fairchild Aircraft for the United States Air Force...

s were arriving at Fairchild's St. Augustine facility for modification work. During the 1960s, C-119s would also be modified at the facility as AC-119 gunships and C-123s into aerial spraying aircraft for use in combat with U.S. Air Force units in Vietnam. Given the nature of the company’s work, airport facilities were expanded several times to meet the demand of Fairchild's requirements – the airport’s lengthening of Runway 13/31 to nearly 8000 feet (2,438.4 m) to accommodate military jet aircraft was a direct result of such needs. Fairchild also operated a Non-Federal Air Traffic Control Tower in the former Navy control tower on a periodic basis in support of military aircraft flight operations.

In 1966, a terminal building and additional hangars were constructed to meet the needs of other users of the airport, while fixed base operations were established and additional land acquisitions executed. In 1967 Ernie Moser incorporated Aero Sport and operated it along with his wife Mary Alice and son Jim. Ernie was a real character who gained fame by landing a piper cub on the "World's Shortest Runway" a wooden platform mounted on top of a Chevy van. His son Jim also becomes quite known for his flying of his prize aircraft, a Bucker Jungmeister. The Moser family quickly became the soul of the St Augustine Airport and was center to any aviation activity. In January 2006 Diane Moser, the late Jim Moser's wife, sold the business to Galaxy Aviation bringing to an end the Moser era of St Augustine Airport.

The economic impact of aviation on the St. Augustine community continued to remain significant until 1976, when Fairchild Industries
Fairchild Industries
Fairchild Industries was created from a name change from Fairchild Hiller Corporation, division and subsidiaries: Fairchild Aircraft Marketing Company, Fairchild Aircraft Services Division, Fairchild Republic Division, Fairchild Space and Electronics Division, Fairchild Stratos Division, Burns Aero...

 announced that it would close down its St. Augustine operations. An industrial park was subsequently created at the former Fairchild facilities, and in 1980, the industrial park was sold to the Grumman Corporation for an aircraft modification plant that would ultimately service numerous front-line U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps aircraft, to include the A-6 Intruder
A-6 Intruder
The Grumman A-6 Intruder was an American, twin jet-engine, mid-wing attack aircraft built by Grumman Aerospace. In service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps between 1963 and 1997, the Intruder was designed as an all-weather medium attack aircraft to replace the piston-engined A-1 Skyraider...

, EA-6B Prowler, C-1 Trader
C-1 Trader
|-See also:-External links:...

, C-2 Greyhound, E-2 Hawkeye
E-2 Hawkeye
The Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is an American all-weather, aircraft carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning aircraft. This twin-turboprop aircraft was designed and developed during the late 1950s and early 1960s by the Grumman Aircraft Company for the United States Navy as a replacement for the...

 and F-14 Tomcat
F-14 Tomcat
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...

. Grumman assumed responsibility for operating the air traffic control tower as required, maintaining emergency runway arresting gear
Arresting gear
Arresting gear, or arrestor gear, is the name used for mechanical systems designed to rapidly decelerate an aircraft as it lands. Arresting gear on aircraft carriers is an essential component of naval aviation, and it is most commonly used on CATOBAR and STOBAR aircraft carriers. Similar systems...

 systems for naval aircraft, and providing aircraft rescue and fire fighting capability for the airport. The Naval Air Systems Command
Naval Air Systems Command
The Naval Air Systems Command provides material support for aircraft and airborne weapon systems for the United States Navy. NAVAIR was established in 1966 as the successor to the Navy's Bureau of Naval Weapons . Current Commander, Naval Air Systems Command, is Vice Adm. David Architzel since May...

 also established Naval Plant Representative Office (NAVPRO) St. Augustine on site.

In 1986 the airport was awarded Federal Aviation Regulations
Federal Aviation Regulations
The Federal Aviation Regulations, or FARs, are rules prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration governing all aviation activities in the United States. The FARs are part of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations...

 (FAR) Part 139 certification by the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...

 (FAA), enabling the airport to operate scheduled and charter airline aircraft carrying in excess of 35 passengers. This certification process increased airport safety and made the airport eligible to receive Federal grant money under the FAA's Airport Improvement Program
Airport Improvement Program
The Airport Improvement Program is a United States federal grant program that provides funds to airports to help improve safety and efficiency. Improvement projects relate to runways, taxiways, ramps, lighting, signage, weather stations, NAVAIDs, land acquisition, and some areas of planning...

 (AIP). The airport was also designated as a "Reliever Airport" for general aviation overflow from Jacksonville International Airport
Jacksonville International Airport
Jacksonville International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located 13 miles north of downtown Jacksonville, a city in Duval County, Florida...

.

In the mid-1980s, Grumman St. Augustine was tasked with a major military contract for "re-winging" nearly all A-6 Intruder
A-6 Intruder
The Grumman A-6 Intruder was an American, twin jet-engine, mid-wing attack aircraft built by Grumman Aerospace. In service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps between 1963 and 1997, the Intruder was designed as an all-weather medium attack aircraft to replace the piston-engined A-1 Skyraider...

 carrier-based medium attack bombers for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. In 1989, Grumman undertook large construction projects at the airport, to include construction of their "North 40" facility in support of a Federal Express Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...

 modification contract. Grumman, along with the Airport Authority, also built a facility to house the U.S. Coast Guard's E-2C Hawkeyes, which was named Coast Guard Air Station St. Augustine. At this point, the airport technically became a joint civil-military facility, while CGAS St. Augustine operated for two years with E-2C aircraft on loan from the Navy, patrolling along the eastern U.S. coast line, the Gulf of Mexico and throughout the Caribbean as part of drug interdiction operations. However, following a fatal aircraft mishap involving a Coast Guard E-2C at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, the USCG E-2 program was terminated, CGAS St. Augustine disestablished and the military facility returned to the control of Grumman.

Airport improvements continued and escalated in the 1990s. 1994 saw the completion of remodeling and expansion of the airport's Terminal Building, adding additional office space, a pilot briefing area, pilot lounge with shower facilities, ticket counters with nearby waiting and baggage areas for eventual commuter/regional airline service, conference facilities and a second-story facility for a restaurant. The Fly-By Cafe opened its doors in 1997 offering a second-story view of the airfield, a menu of aviation-themed dishes, and colorful murals of airplane and airshow memorabilia.

The late 1990s also saw numerous mergers among U.S. defense contractors, with the Grumman Corporation being acquired by the Northrop Corporation
Northrop Corporation
Northrop Corporation was a leading United States aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1939 until its merger with Grumman to form Northrop Grumman in 1994. The company is known for its development of the flying wing design, although only a few of these have entered service.-History:Jack...

 in 1994 to become Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over...

, the name it continues to use today as the airport's major aviation and industrial activity and largest single employer. Today, the Northrop Grumman facility is best known as the manufacturing and production site for the U.S. Navy's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
E-2 Hawkeye
The Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is an American all-weather, aircraft carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning aircraft. This twin-turboprop aircraft was designed and developed during the late 1950s and early 1960s by the Grumman Aircraft Company for the United States Navy as a replacement for the...

 carrier-based airborne early warning aircraft.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the airport has added over 100 hangars for single and twin-engine airplanes and currently has over 200 based aircraft. Although the airport technically ceased to be a joint civil-military airport with the departure of the Coast Guard, military flight operations continue to be a major fixture under the cognizance of Northrop Grumman and the Department of Defense's (DoD's) Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). In addition, the U.S. Army's Operational Support Aircraft Command (OSACOM) Detachment 8 is permanently based at the airport, providing airlift support with C-12 Huron
C-12 Huron
The C-12 Huron is the military designation for a series of twin-engine turboprop aircraft based on the Beechcraft Super King Air and Beechcraft 1900. C-12 variants are used by the United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps...

 aircraft to Headquarters, Florida National Guard
Florida National Guard
The Florida National Guard is the National Guard force of the U.S. state of Florida. It comprises the Florida Army National Guard and the Florida Air National Guard.The United States Constitution charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions...

, to include colocated headquarters activities of both the Florida Army National Guard
Florida Army National Guard
The Florida Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...

 and Florida Air National Guard
Florida Air National Guard
The Florida Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Florida. It is, along with the Florida Army National Guard, an element of the Florida National Guard...

.

The airport was renamed, "The Northeast Florida Regional Airport" in April 2010.

The Airport Authority staff currently numbers to 11 employees tasked with administration and maintaenance of the airport, while the airport's control tower was passed from a periodic operation by Northrop Grumman to a full time-operation as a Level I Air Traffic Control Tower under the auspices of the FAA's Contract Tower Program.

Facilities and aircraft

Northeast Florida Regional Airport covers an area of 668 acres (270.3 ha) which contains three runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...

s and two seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...

 lanes:
  • 2/20: 2614 by 75 ft (796.7 by 22.9 m), Surface: Asphalt
    Asphalt
    Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...

  • 6/24: 2701 by 60 ft (823.3 by 18.3 m), Surface: Asphalt
  • 13/31: 7996 by 150 ft (2,437.2 by 45.7 m), Surface: Asphalt
  • 12W/30W: 5000 by 1000 ft (1,524 by 304.8 m), Surface: Water
    Water
    Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...

  • 17W/35W: 12000 by 1000 ft (3,657.6 by 304.8 m), Surface: Water


For 12-month period ending June 30, 2005, the airport had 126,587 aircraft operations, an average of 346 per day: 90% general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...

, 6% military, 4% air taxi
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...

and less than 1% scheduled commercial. There are 323 aircraft based at this airport: 63% single engine, 22% military, 8% multi-engine, 4% jet aircraft, 3% helicopters and less than 1% ultralights.

Communications

Tower/CTAF/Pilot Controlled Lighting - 127.625 MHZ (269.475 MHZ - Tower only)

Ground - 121.175 MHZ (251.125 MHZ)

ATIS - 119.625

FBO (Galaxy Aviation) - 130.05
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK