Aberdeen Regional Airport
Encyclopedia
Aberdeen Regional Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport
located two nautical mile
s (3.7 km
) east of the central business district
of Aberdeen
, a city in Brown County, South Dakota
, United States
. It is mostly used for general aviation
, but is also served by one commercial airline.
of 1,302 feet (397 m) above mean sea level. It has two runway
s: 13/31 is 6,901 by 100 feet (2,103 x 30 m) with a concrete
surface; 17/35 is 5,500 by 100 feet (1,676 x 30 m) with an asphalt
surface.
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2007, the airport had 52,421 aircraft operations, an average of 143 per day: 81% general aviation
, 13% scheduled commercial
, 6% air taxi
and <1% military
. At that time there were 50 aircraft based at this airport: 62% single-engine
, 30% multi-engine, 6% jet
and 2% helicopter
.
Remarks:
the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Force as a contract glider training airfield owned by Anderson & Brennan Flying Service, beginning on 25 May 1942. The mission of the school was to train glider pilot students in proficiency in operation of gliders in various types of towed and soaring flight, both day and night, and in servicing of gliders in the field. They primarily used C-47 Skytrain
s and Waco CG-4
unpowered Gliders.
Originally named Aberdeen Municipal Airport, the name was changed to Saunders Field in 1946. President George W. Bush
landed here in the early 2000s to speak at a rally at NSU.
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 two nautical mile
Nautical mile
The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...
s (3.7 km
Kilometre
The kilometre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousand metres and is therefore exactly equal to the distance travelled by light in free space in of a second...
) east 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 Aberdeen
Aberdeen, South Dakota
Aberdeen is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, South Dakota, United States, about 125 mi northeast of Pierre. Settled in 1880, it was incorporated in 1882. The city population was 26,091 at the 2010 census. The American News is the local newspaper...
, a city in Brown County, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is mostly used for 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...
, but is also served by one commercial airline.
Airlines and destinations
Facilities and aircraft
Aberdeen Regional Airport covers an area of 1284 acres (519.6 ha) at an elevationElevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 1,302 feet (397 m) above mean sea level. It has two 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: 13/31 is 6,901 by 100 feet (2,103 x 30 m) with a concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
surface; 17/35 is 5,500 by 100 feet (1,676 x 30 m) with an 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...
surface.
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2007, the airport had 52,421 aircraft operations, an average of 143 per day: 81% 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...
, 13% scheduled commercial
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
, 6% 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 <1% military
Military aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
. At that time there were 50 aircraft based at this airport: 62% single-engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
, 30% multi-engine, 6% jet
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
and 2% helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
.
Remarks:
- 605-626-7031.
- For services after hours call (605) 225-1384/8008.
- Prior Permission Required for unscheduled air carrier operations with more than 30 passenger seats call airport manager 605-626-7020. After hours call 605-626-7068.
- MIRL runway 17/35 & HIRL runway 13/31 preset on low intensity sunset - 00:00; to increase intensity & activate REIL runways 13; 17; 35 & MALSR runway 31 - CTAFCommon Traffic Advisory FrequencyCommon Traffic Advisory Frequency , is the name given to the VHF radio frequency used for air-to-air communication at U.S., Canadian and Australian non-towered airports....
. - Gulls & geese on and in the vicinity of airport March thru December.
- Runway 13 & runway 17 approach ends are closely aligned. Verify correct runway and compass heading prior to departure.
- This airport has been surveyed by the National Geodetic Survey.
History
In 1923, Aberdeen hosted the first fly-in event in South Dakota. During World War IIWorld 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...
the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Force as a contract glider training airfield owned by Anderson & Brennan Flying Service, beginning on 25 May 1942. The mission of the school was to train glider pilot students in proficiency in operation of gliders in various types of towed and soaring flight, both day and night, and in servicing of gliders in the field. They primarily used C-47 Skytrain
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
s and Waco CG-4
Waco CG-4
The Waco CG-4 was the most widely used United States troop/cargo military glider of World War II. It was designated the CG-4 by the United States Army Air Forces, and named Hadrian in British military service....
unpowered Gliders.
Originally named Aberdeen Municipal Airport, the name was changed to Saunders Field in 1946. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
landed here in the early 2000s to speak at a rally at NSU.
See also
- South Dakota World War II Army AirfieldsSouth Dakota World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Force established numerous airfields in South Dakota for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers....
External links
- Aberdeen Regional Airport at City of Aberdeen website at South Dakota DOT Airport Directory
- The WW II Glider Pilots