Lake City Municipal Airport (Florida)
Encyclopedia
Lake City Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport
located three miles (5 km) east of the central business district
of Lake City
, in Columbia County
, Florida
, United States
.
Besides typical general aviation use, the airport also hosts a major aviation industrial facility formerly known as Aero Corporation, since acquired by TIMCO Aviation Services:
The airport was originally built by the U.S. Navy during World War II to facilitate pilot training and named Naval Air Station Lake City. Commissioned in December 1942, NAS Lake City was located on the site of the Lake City Flying Club air field east of town. Established as one of several support facilities to NAS Jacksonville, NAS Lake City was used to train U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps pilots in land-based PV-1 Venturas and PV-2 Harpoons. Maximum complement at the air station reached 290 officers and 1,150 enlisted personnel. As many as 200 WAVES
were stationed at NAS Lake City later in the war and served in air traffic control, meteorological services, administrative support, and aircraft maintenance. The airfield southeast of Lake Butler served as an outlying field (OLF) and Cedar Key, Alachua and Gainesville provided auxiliary fields. Regular military operations terminated in March 1946 and NAS Lake City was decommissioned as an active naval air station.
The NAS Lake City property was deemed surplus and subsequently conveyed to the city of Lake City by the General Services Administration
. Aero Corporation performed aircraft modification and rehabilitation during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, mostly U.S. military contracts. Aero Corporation was subsequently acquired by TIMCO
, the current tenant.
paved runway
s: 10/28 measuring 8,003 x 150 ft (2,439 x 46 m) and 5/23 measuring 4,000 x 75 ft (1,219 x 23 m).
For the 12-month period ending May 5, 1998, the airport had 28,714 aircraft operations, an average of 78 per day: 86% general aviation
, 9% military and 5% air taxi
. Although the Navy departed Lake City over 60 years ago, its comparatively long main runway (8,003 feet), operational Non-Federal Air Traffic Control Tower, and minimal air traffic makes it a popular location for transient P-3C Orion
s from NAS Jacksonville and HC-130 Hercules and A-10 Thunderbolt II
aircraft from Moody AFB to practice approaches and touch-and-go landings. The airport also has a Department of Defense into-plane refueling contract for Jet A fuel, otherwise known as "contract fuel," for military aircraft. There are 26 aircraft based at this airport: 88% single-engine and 12% multi-engine.
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) 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 Lake City
Lake City, Florida
Lake City is the county seat of Columbia County, Florida, in the United States. In 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 12,614. In addition, it is the Principal City of the Lake City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is composed of Columbia County, and had an...
, in Columbia County
Columbia County, Florida
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 56,513. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 64,040 . Its county seat is Lake City, Florida....
, 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...
.
Besides typical general aviation use, the airport also hosts a major aviation industrial facility formerly known as Aero Corporation, since acquired by TIMCO Aviation Services:
- TIMCOTIMCOTIMCO Aviation Services provides fully integrated aviation MRO services for commercial and government aircraft operators...
http://www.timco.aero/ modifies and repairs large aircraft, such as commercial Boeing 727Boeing 727The 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...
and Boeing 737Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
airliners and the military C-130 HerculesC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
and P-3 OrionP-3 OrionThe Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner. The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or...
aircraft for US military and US civilian operators, as well as overseas military and civilian customers.
The airport was originally built by the U.S. Navy during World War II to facilitate pilot training and named Naval Air Station Lake City. Commissioned in December 1942, NAS Lake City was located on the site of the Lake City Flying Club air field east of town. Established as one of several support facilities to NAS Jacksonville, NAS Lake City was used to train U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps pilots in land-based PV-1 Venturas and PV-2 Harpoons. Maximum complement at the air station reached 290 officers and 1,150 enlisted personnel. As many as 200 WAVES
WAVES
The WAVES were a World War II-era division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women. The name of this group is an acronym for "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service" ; the word "emergency" implied that the acceptance of women was due to the unusual circumstances of the war and...
were stationed at NAS Lake City later in the war and served in air traffic control, meteorological services, administrative support, and aircraft maintenance. The airfield southeast of Lake Butler served as an outlying field (OLF) and Cedar Key, Alachua and Gainesville provided auxiliary fields. Regular military operations terminated in March 1946 and NAS Lake City was decommissioned as an active naval air station.
The NAS Lake City property was deemed surplus and subsequently conveyed to the city of Lake City by the General Services Administration
General Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
. Aero Corporation performed aircraft modification and rehabilitation during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, mostly U.S. military contracts. Aero Corporation was subsequently acquired by TIMCO
TIMCO
TIMCO Aviation Services provides fully integrated aviation MRO services for commercial and government aircraft operators...
, the current tenant.
Facilities and aircraft
Lake City Municipal Airport covers an area of 1250 acres (505.9 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: 10/28 measuring 8,003 x 150 ft (2,439 x 46 m) and 5/23 measuring 4,000 x 75 ft (1,219 x 23 m).
For the 12-month period ending May 5, 1998, the airport had 28,714 aircraft operations, an average of 78 per day: 86% 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...
, 9% military and 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...
. Although the Navy departed Lake City over 60 years ago, its comparatively long main runway (8,003 feet), operational Non-Federal Air Traffic Control Tower, and minimal air traffic makes it a popular location for transient P-3C Orion
P-3 Orion
The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner. The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or...
s from NAS Jacksonville and HC-130 Hercules and A-10 Thunderbolt II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
aircraft from Moody AFB to practice approaches and touch-and-go landings. The airport also has a Department of Defense into-plane refueling contract for Jet A fuel, otherwise known as "contract fuel," for military aircraft. There are 26 aircraft based at this airport: 88% single-engine and 12% multi-engine.
External links
- Lake City Municipal Airport (official site)