Bader Field
Encyclopedia
Bader Field , also known as Atlantic City Municipal Airport, was a city-owned public-use general aviation
airport
located in 1 NM west of Atlantic City
, in Atlantic County
, New Jersey
, United States
. It was approximately one mile from the terminus of U.S. Route 40
and U.S. Route 322
. Bader Field permanently closed on September 30, 2006. It was named after the former mayor of Atlantic City Edward L. Bader
, who purchased the land for the airfield.
s and land-based airplanes.
The first known usage of the term "air-port" appeared in a newspaper article in 1919, in reference to Bader Field. The term was coined by Robert Woodhouse and referred to the "Flying Limousines", a seaplane passenger service between Atlantic City and New York.
Bader Field was the founding location of the Civil Air Patrol
in 1941.
Scheduled commercial airline service at the airport ended in 1990, when Allegheny Airlines
moved to the larger Atlantic City International Airport
. The control tower
was removed in the late 1990s and some of the former airport property was used to build a minor-league baseball stadium.
OY-JET overran the runway when attempting a 10 knots tailwind landing
, ending up in the adjoining Intracoastal Waterway
. An eyewitness video captured the accident from the final approach
to the rescue of the plane's occupants by local boaters and the subsequent inadvertent operation of the aircraft as an "airboat". The NTSB report of the accident noted, "...the airport diagram...observed attached to the pilot's control column after the accident...read, 'airport closed to jet aircraft'".
, a 5,500-seat baseball stadium opened on the site, housing the Atlantic City Surf
minor league baseball team until it discontinued operations in 2009. An indoor ice skating rink, Flyers
Skate Zone, also opened up at the Bader Field site.
In March 2011, the Dave Matthews Band
announced that Bader Field would be the first of four sites for the Dave Matthews Band Caravan
, a three day music festival featuring an eclectic group of musical acts, with the Dave Matthews Band being the headlining performer for each night. The Atlantic City event is to take place June 24–26, 2011. In announcing the location of the event, the Dave Matthews Band cited Bader Field's proximity to several major metropolitan areas in the northeastern seaboard and its accessibility via several modes of public transportation. Improvements to the site prior to the event included burning overgrown brush as well as improvements to the long-neglected Bernie Robbins Stadium, which would house VIP seating for special ticket holders as well as host a later music festival featuring rapper Rick Ross
. Improvements would also make way for other events, such as motorsports shows on the runway strips.
In April 2011, Bader Field was included in the new state-run Tourism District controlled by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority
. The site's large parcel and potential for redevelopment led to its inclusion, which received much scrutiny from mayor Lorenzo Langford, who cast the lone "no" vote on the formation of the district, citing the inclusion of Bader Field as his reasoning.
of 8 feet (2.4 m) above mean sea level. It had two asphalt
paved runway
s: 4/22 measured 2,595 by 100 feet (791 x 30 m) and 11/29 measured 2,948 by 100 feet (899 x 30 m). For the 12-month period ending January 4, 2001, the airport had 10,683 aircraft operations, an average of 29 per day: 81% general aviation
and 19% air taxi
.
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...
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 in 1 NM west of Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, in Atlantic County
Atlantic County, New Jersey
-National protected areas:* Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge * Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was approximately one mile from the terminus of U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 40 is a U.S. highway running from Park City, Utah east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. The easternmost segment of the route runs through the southern part of New Jersey between the Delaware Memorial Bridge over the Delaware River in Pennsville Township, Salem County, where it continues...
and U.S. Route 322
U.S. Route 322 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 322 is a U.S. highway running from Cleveland, Ohio east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. The easternmost segment of the route in New Jersey runs from the Commodore Barry Bridge over the Delaware River in Logan Township, Glocuester County, where it continues into Chester, Pennsylvania,...
. Bader Field permanently closed on September 30, 2006. It was named after the former mayor of Atlantic City Edward L. Bader
Edward L. Bader
Edward Lawrence Bader was an American politician who served as Mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey for much of the Roaring Twenties, when the city was arguably at the peak of its popularity, as a vacation spot...
, who purchased the land for the airfield.
History
Bader Field was opened in 1910 and was authorized to provide passenger service in 1911. It was the first U.S. municipal airport with facilities for both seaplaneSeaplane
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...
s and land-based airplanes.
The first known usage of the term "air-port" appeared in a newspaper article in 1919, in reference to Bader Field. The term was coined by Robert Woodhouse and referred to the "Flying Limousines", a seaplane passenger service between Atlantic City and New York.
Bader Field was the founding location of the Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
in 1941.
Scheduled commercial airline service at the airport ended in 1990, when Allegheny Airlines
Allegheny Airlines
Allegheny Airlines was an airline operating out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, from 1952 to 1979. It was a forerunner of today’s US Airways. Its headquarters were located on the grounds of Washington National Airport in Arlington County, Virginia....
moved to the larger Atlantic City International Airport
Atlantic City International Airport
Atlantic City International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located nine nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Atlantic City, in Atlantic County, New Jersey...
. The control tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
was removed in the late 1990s and some of the former airport property was used to build a minor-league baseball stadium.
Accident
On May 15, 2005, the Cessna CitationJet 525A registeredAircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
OY-JET overran the runway when attempting a 10 knots tailwind landing
Tailwind
A tailwind is a wind that blows in the direction of travel of an object, while a headwind blows against the direction of travel. A tailwind increases the object's speed and reduces the time required to reach its destination, while a headwind has the opposite effect...
, ending up in the adjoining Intracoastal Waterway
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
. An eyewitness video captured the accident from the final approach
Final approach (aviation)
A final approach is the last leg in an aircraft's approach to landing. In aviation radio terminology, it is often shortened to "final".In a standard airport landing pattern, which is usually used under visual meteorological conditions , aircraft turn from base leg to final within one to two miles...
to the rescue of the plane's occupants by local boaters and the subsequent inadvertent operation of the aircraft as an "airboat". The NTSB report of the accident noted, "...the airport diagram...observed attached to the pilot's control column after the accident...read, 'airport closed to jet aircraft'".
Redevelopment and later uses
Bader Field is considered a prime redevelopment site. In 1998, Bernie Robbins StadiumBernie Robbins Stadium
Bernie Robbins Stadium is a 5,500-seat baseball-only stadium in Atlantic City, New Jersey that opened in 1998. It was built as the home of the Atlantic City Surf baseball team, which discontinued operations prior to the 2009 season. College teams have also used the stadium...
, a 5,500-seat baseball stadium opened on the site, housing the Atlantic City Surf
Atlantic City Surf
The Atlantic City Surf were a professional baseball team based in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Surf was most recently a member of the Can-Am League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
minor league baseball team until it discontinued operations in 2009. An indoor ice skating rink, Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
Skate Zone, also opened up at the Bader Field site.
In March 2011, the Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
announced that Bader Field would be the first of four sites for the Dave Matthews Band Caravan
Dave Matthews Band Caravan
Dave Matthews Band Caravan is a series of concert festivals headed by the Dave Matthews Band. The four festivals, occurring during the summer of 2011, will take the place of DMB's usual summer tour, after the band announced its intentions to take time off from touring last year. The first festival...
, a three day music festival featuring an eclectic group of musical acts, with the Dave Matthews Band being the headlining performer for each night. The Atlantic City event is to take place June 24–26, 2011. In announcing the location of the event, the Dave Matthews Band cited Bader Field's proximity to several major metropolitan areas in the northeastern seaboard and its accessibility via several modes of public transportation. Improvements to the site prior to the event included burning overgrown brush as well as improvements to the long-neglected Bernie Robbins Stadium, which would house VIP seating for special ticket holders as well as host a later music festival featuring rapper Rick Ross
Rick Ross (rapper)
William Leonard Roberts II , better known by his stage name Rick Ross, is an American rapper. He derived his stage name from the drug trafficker "Freeway" Ricky Ross, to whom he has no connection...
. Improvements would also make way for other events, such as motorsports shows on the runway strips.
In April 2011, Bader Field was included in the new state-run Tourism District controlled by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority
Casino Reinvestment Development Authority
The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority or CRDA is a New Jersey state governmental agency that was founded in 1984 and is responsible for directing the spending of casino reinvestment funds in public and private projects to benefit Atlantic City and other areas of the state...
. The site's large parcel and potential for redevelopment led to its inclusion, which received much scrutiny from mayor Lorenzo Langford, who cast the lone "no" vote on the formation of the district, citing the inclusion of Bader Field as his reasoning.
Facilities and aircraft
Bader Field covered an area of 143 acres (57.9 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 8 feet (2.4 m) above mean sea level. It had two 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...
paved 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: 4/22 measured 2,595 by 100 feet (791 x 30 m) and 11/29 measured 2,948 by 100 feet (899 x 30 m). For the 12-month period ending January 4, 2001, the airport had 10,683 aircraft operations, an average of 29 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...
and 19% 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...
.