Groton-New London Airport
Encyclopedia
Groton-New London Airport is a state-owned public-use airport
located three miles (5 km) southeast of the central business district
of Groton
, a town in New London County
, Connecticut
, United States
. It serves the southeastern Connecticut region, including the shoreline
localities of Groton, New London
, and Mystic
.
Over the years, and usually no more than one at a time, various domestic airlines served the airport, including Pan Am Clipper Connection, NewAir and Pilgrim Airlines. Scheduled commercial passenger service was limited to small turboprop aircraft such as de Havilland Dash 8 and Beechcraft 1900
. Eventually the airport became no longer a profitable destination, and US Airways Express
, the last major carrier to serve the airport, terminated its GON-PHL service in 2004. Two charter airlines, however, do continue to shuttle passengers to and from the airport.
The airport has also been used by several presidents speaking at the commencement of the nearby US Coast Guard Academy.
paved runway
s: 5/23 measuring 5,000 x 150 ft (1,524 x 46 m) and 15/33 measuring 4,000 x 100 ft (1,219 x 30 m).
For the 12-month period ending June 30, 2006, the airport had 52,394 aircraft operations, an average of 143 per day: 87% general aviation
, 8% military, 5% air taxi
and <1% scheduled commercial. There are 69 aircraft based at this airport: 33% single engine, 25% multi-engine, 14% jet aircraft, 26% helicopter
s and 1% military.
in August 1941 as a First Air Force
group training base, although the runways were still grass. In 1942, the Army constructed a base and hard-surfaced runways and designated the airport as Groton Army Airfield. Through all of 1943, a total of 10 squadrons of P-47 Thunderbolt fighter groups trained at the field, with the last unit departing for overseas combat in January 1944.
In January 1944, the USAAF turned the airfield to the United States Navy. The commissioning of Groton as a Naval Airfield occurred on February 1, 1944, as an auxiliary of Quonset Point. Initially, Groton hosted various individual squadrons. Later, entire CAGs of three or four squadrons formed up at the base. The CAGs attached here during the war included CAG 83, 10, 92, 152, and 4, with their F6Fs, F4Us, SB2Cs, and TBMs. CASU 28, on board in support of the CAGs, operated one OS2U Kingfisher, one J4F Widgeon, 12 SNJs, and one NH Howard. The station had one airplane assigned, a GH Howard.
In March 1944, station personnel consisted of 87 officers and 678 enlisted men with barracks for 114 officers and 1,091 men. The peak number of aircraft reached 114 in March 1945. Groton had three concrete runways: two of 4,000 feet and one of 5,000 ft. In July 1946, the Navy returned the airport to the State of Connecticut.
In 1980, the name of the airport changed to Groton-New London Airport. Today, the airport is one of two state-owned airports with commercial air carrier service. The funds necessary to operate Groton-New London Airport come from the Connecticut State Transportation Fund. Likewise, revenue derived from the airport is returned to the Transportation Fund.
The airport is integrated into the statewide transportation plan, as well as the National Airport System Plan. There were 80,319 aircraft operations during 1999 at Groton-New London Airport which included military, general aviation and commercial flights. The airport has recently undergone $2,000,000 in renovations. The passenger terminal has been updated with new counter and seating areas and improved lighting.
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 three miles (5 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 Groton
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
, a town in New London County
New London County, Connecticut
New London County is a county located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of 2010 the population was 274,055. The total area of the county is , including inland and coastal waters....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It serves the southeastern Connecticut region, including the shoreline
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
localities of Groton, New London
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, and Mystic
Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic is a village and census-designated place in New London County, Connecticut, in the United States. The population was 4,001 at the 2000 census. A historic locality, Mystic has no independent government because it is not a legally recognized municipality in the state of Connecticut...
.
Over the years, and usually no more than one at a time, various domestic airlines served the airport, including Pan Am Clipper Connection, NewAir and Pilgrim Airlines. Scheduled commercial passenger service was limited to small turboprop aircraft such as de Havilland Dash 8 and Beechcraft 1900
Beechcraft 1900
The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop airplane manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of the Raytheon Company . It was designed, and is primarily used, as a regional airliner...
. Eventually the airport became no longer a profitable destination, and US Airways Express
US Airways Express
US Airways Express is an airline brand name, rather than a fully certified airline, and as such, the US Airways Express name is used by several individually owned airlines or airline holding companies which provide regional airline and commuter service for US Airways.Operations are conducted from...
, the last major carrier to serve the airport, terminated its GON-PHL service in 2004. Two charter airlines, however, do continue to shuttle passengers to and from the airport.
The airport has also been used by several presidents speaking at the commencement of the nearby US Coast Guard Academy.
Facilities and aircraft
Groton-New London Airport covers an area of 489 acres (197.9 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 5,000 x 150 ft (1,524 x 46 m) and 15/33 measuring 4,000 x 100 ft (1,219 x 30 m).
For the 12-month period ending June 30, 2006, the airport had 52,394 aircraft operations, an average of 143 per day: 87% 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...
, 8% military, 5% 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% scheduled commercial. There are 69 aircraft based at this airport: 33% single engine, 25% multi-engine, 14% jet aircraft, 26% 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...
s and 1% military.
History
Groton-New London Airport was established as the first State of Connecticut airport in 1929. Originally called Trumbull Airport after Governor Jonathan Trumbull, the airport was taken over by the United States Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
in August 1941 as a First Air Force
First Air Force
The First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
group training base, although the runways were still grass. In 1942, the Army constructed a base and hard-surfaced runways and designated the airport as Groton Army Airfield. Through all of 1943, a total of 10 squadrons of P-47 Thunderbolt fighter groups trained at the field, with the last unit departing for overseas combat in January 1944.
In January 1944, the USAAF turned the airfield to the United States Navy. The commissioning of Groton as a Naval Airfield occurred on February 1, 1944, as an auxiliary of Quonset Point. Initially, Groton hosted various individual squadrons. Later, entire CAGs of three or four squadrons formed up at the base. The CAGs attached here during the war included CAG 83, 10, 92, 152, and 4, with their F6Fs, F4Us, SB2Cs, and TBMs. CASU 28, on board in support of the CAGs, operated one OS2U Kingfisher, one J4F Widgeon, 12 SNJs, and one NH Howard. The station had one airplane assigned, a GH Howard.
In March 1944, station personnel consisted of 87 officers and 678 enlisted men with barracks for 114 officers and 1,091 men. The peak number of aircraft reached 114 in March 1945. Groton had three concrete runways: two of 4,000 feet and one of 5,000 ft. In July 1946, the Navy returned the airport to the State of Connecticut.
In 1980, the name of the airport changed to Groton-New London Airport. Today, the airport is one of two state-owned airports with commercial air carrier service. The funds necessary to operate Groton-New London Airport come from the Connecticut State Transportation Fund. Likewise, revenue derived from the airport is returned to the Transportation Fund.
The airport is integrated into the statewide transportation plan, as well as the National Airport System Plan. There were 80,319 aircraft operations during 1999 at Groton-New London Airport which included military, general aviation and commercial flights. The airport has recently undergone $2,000,000 in renovations. The passenger terminal has been updated with new counter and seating areas and improved lighting.
See also
- Connecticut World War II Army AirfieldsConnecticut World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, Connecticut was a major United States Army Air Force training center for pilots and aircrews.The USAAF established Six major airfields under the command of First Air Force, headquartered at Mitchel Army Airfield, New York between 1942 and 1945.The mission of these bases...
External links
- Groton-New London Airport (official site)