Coolidge Municipal Airport
Encyclopedia
Coolidge Municipal Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport
located five miles (8 km) southeast of the central business district
of Coolidge
, a city in Pinal County
, Arizona
, United States
.
paved runway
s: 5/23 measuring 5,528 x 150 ft (1,685 x 46 m) and 17/35 measuring 3,861 x 75 ft (1,177 x 23 m).
For the 12-month period ending July 31, 2005, the airport had 6,490 aircraft operations, an average of 17 per day: 99% general aviation
and 1% military
. At that time there were 41 aircraft based at this airport: 61% single-engine
, 24% multi-engine, 7% jet
, 5% helicopter
and 2% glider
.
The original airfield was constructed with three runways in a triangular configuration. Of these three runways, two remain: Runway 17-35 and Runway 5-23. Numerous support facilities were constructed, of which a 120 feet (36.6 m) by 80 feet (24.4 m) hangar still remains. Construction of 85 buildings on the site, along with a sewage treatment plant, associated utilities, and a firing range were also performed. Three of the buildings on-site were ordnance related.
Coolidge AAF had originally been designed by the War Department as a single-engine aircraft flight training school, however, the facility initially functioned as an auxiliary field for Williams AAF as Williams Auxiliary Field No. 3.
The entire personnel of the 572nd AAF Base Unit stationed at Sky Harbor Airfield in Phoenix were moved to Coolidge AAF in May 1944. Coolidge AAF then served as a ferrying service station for Air Transport Command, providing refueling and maintenance to Army, Navy, and Marine Corps planes en route to other bases. however AAF Training Command continued to use the field.
Engineers attempted to transfer the site to the Air Force for use by Williams Air Force Base but there is no evidence the transfer was completed. The site was transferred to Pinal County by quitclaim deed dated January 19, 1950, and patent deeds dated March 14, 1953, and May 15, 1956. The site was then transferred to the city of Coolidge by quitclaim deed dated March 2, 1959.
Pinal County owned and operated the airport until 1959 when the City of Coolidge obtained ownership of the airport. On March 2, 1959 the airport was officially transferred from Pinal County ownership to the City of Coolidge.
From 1962 until July 1992, operations at the airport were dominated by training activities of Cessna T-37 jet training aircraft based at Williams Air Force Base
. The Air Force had a lease agreement with the City of Coolidge for four parcels of land and joint use of the main runways and taxiways in return for the continued maintenance and upkeep of the main runway and taxiway. In addition, they constructed several facilities along the runway and apron to support their operations.
The Air Force lease was terminated in July 1992 and training operations at the airport ceased in June 1992. However, among the lessees at the Coolidge Municipal Airport is CPS, a private contractor working with the DoD to conduct parachute jump training at the airport, and occasionally, Davis-Monthan AFB conducts equipment drops in the area.
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 five miles (8 km) southeast 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 Coolidge
Coolidge, Arizona
Coolidge is a city in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 8,154.Arizona Highway 87 and Arizona Highway 287 pass through the town. Coolidge is 56 miles southeast of Phoenix, and 69 miles northwest of Tucson. It is 21 miles...
, a city in Pinal County
Pinal County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.4% White*4.6% Black*5.6% Native American*1.7% Asian*0.4% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.8% Two or more races*11.5% Other races*28.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Facilities and aircraft
Coolidge Municipal Airport covers an area of 1268 acres (513.1 ha) which contains two asphaltAsphalt
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: 5/23 measuring 5,528 x 150 ft (1,685 x 46 m) and 17/35 measuring 3,861 x 75 ft (1,177 x 23 m).
For the 12-month period ending July 31, 2005, the airport had 6,490 aircraft operations, an average of 17 per day: 99% 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 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 41 aircraft based at this airport: 61% 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...
, 24% multi-engine, 7% 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...
, 5% 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...
and 2% glider
Glider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
.
Coolidge Army Airfield
The origins of Coolidge Municipal Airport begin in 1941 when the War Department began acquiring approximately 1,277 acres of land for an Army Air Corps flying training school. Property acquisition began between December 1, 1941 and May 21, 1943, when 873.85 acres were acquired from the state of Arizona in an exchange for an offer of Public Domain Land from the Department of the Interior (DOI). Additionally, 394.33 acres were acquired by fee from three private individuals between February 3 and May 27, 1943, and easements totaling 9.31 acres were obtained from the state and two private individuals between February 19 and April 19, 1943 for the installation of an electric transmission line.The original airfield was constructed with three runways in a triangular configuration. Of these three runways, two remain: Runway 17-35 and Runway 5-23. Numerous support facilities were constructed, of which a 120 feet (36.6 m) by 80 feet (24.4 m) hangar still remains. Construction of 85 buildings on the site, along with a sewage treatment plant, associated utilities, and a firing range were also performed. Three of the buildings on-site were ordnance related.
Coolidge AAF had originally been designed by the War Department as a single-engine aircraft flight training school, however, the facility initially functioned as an auxiliary field for Williams AAF as Williams Auxiliary Field No. 3.
The entire personnel of the 572nd AAF Base Unit stationed at Sky Harbor Airfield in Phoenix were moved to Coolidge AAF in May 1944. Coolidge AAF then served as a ferrying service station for Air Transport Command, providing refueling and maintenance to Army, Navy, and Marine Corps planes en route to other bases. however AAF Training Command continued to use the field.
Coolidge Municipal Airport
Coolidge AAF was declared surplus on November 30, 1945, withdrawn from surplus effective March 21, 1946 by the Secretary of War, and again declared surplus effective August 28, 1946, by the Adjutant General. In 1948 the Chief ofEngineers attempted to transfer the site to the Air Force for use by Williams Air Force Base but there is no evidence the transfer was completed. The site was transferred to Pinal County by quitclaim deed dated January 19, 1950, and patent deeds dated March 14, 1953, and May 15, 1956. The site was then transferred to the city of Coolidge by quitclaim deed dated March 2, 1959.
Pinal County owned and operated the airport until 1959 when the City of Coolidge obtained ownership of the airport. On March 2, 1959 the airport was officially transferred from Pinal County ownership to the City of Coolidge.
From 1962 until July 1992, operations at the airport were dominated by training activities of Cessna T-37 jet training aircraft based at Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base, located in Mesa, and about southeast of Phoenix, Arizona.It was active as a training base for both the United States Army Air Forces, as well as the USAF from 1941 until its closure in 1993...
. The Air Force had a lease agreement with the City of Coolidge for four parcels of land and joint use of the main runways and taxiways in return for the continued maintenance and upkeep of the main runway and taxiway. In addition, they constructed several facilities along the runway and apron to support their operations.
The Air Force lease was terminated in July 1992 and training operations at the airport ceased in June 1992. However, among the lessees at the Coolidge Municipal Airport is CPS, a private contractor working with the DoD to conduct parachute jump training at the airport, and occasionally, Davis-Monthan AFB conducts equipment drops in the area.
External links
- Coolidge Municipal Airport (P08) at Arizona DOT airport directory