Panama City-Bay County International Airport
Encyclopedia
Panama City-Bay County International Airport is a former public use airport
located three nautical mile
s (6 km) northwest of the central business district
of Panama City
, in Bay County
, Florida
, United States
. It was owned and operated by the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District. All commercial airline services were relocated to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport
on May 22, 2010, but the airfield continued to service general aviation
aircraft until October 1, 2010. The former airport grounds will be eventually turned over to LUK-MB1 LLC, which plans to remove the runways and build homes, shops, walking trails and a marina.
Throughout World War II, the airport was used as a Civil Air Patrol
facility. In 1943, the Florida legislature approved the formation of an airport authority, the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District, to manage Fannin Field, or Panama City-Bay County Airport, as it became commonly known. In 1948, commercial operations at the airport commenced.
The airport continued to be served by commercial airlines throughout the regulated period of airline history, until the passage of the Airline Deregulation Act
of 1978. During the 1970s and 1980s, the airport had many airlines serving the facility with jet aircraft. However, the flight service offered was mainly point-to-point, therefore there were few destinations offered, and, in turn, passenger enplanements were low.
In 1992, the airport was designated as an international airport and renamed Panama City-Bay County International Airport. At this time, the Airport was equipped with on-call customs and immigrations facilities provided through the Port of Panama City. In addition, the airport was also declared a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ), a location which allows special customs procedures to be used. These procedures permit domestic activity involving foreign items to take place as though they were outside of a U.S. Customs territory.
In 1995, the airport went through an extensive development program, demolishing their old terminal building and constructing a new 55573 square feet (5,162.9 m²) facility with six gate areas, two equipped with jetbridges. Additional enhancements to the terminal included concession areas, a passenger hold room, airline ticketing counters and office space, airport administration offices, public and rental car parking lots, and an expanded terminal apron.
The Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport
replaced the Panama City-Bay County International Airport due to it having no room to further expand. The new airport opened May 23, 2010. However, the old airport continued to service general aviation flights until October 1, 2010.
of 20 feet (6 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt
paved runway
s: 14/32 measuring 6,308 x 150 ft (1,923 x 46 m) and 5/23 measuring 4,884 x 150 ft (1,489 x 46 m).
During 2006, the airport had 88,059 aircraft operations, an average of 241 per day: 72% general aviation
,
13% air taxi
(11,080), 10% military
and 5% scheduled commercial
. At that time there were 160 aircraft based at this airport: 58% single-engine
, 18% multi-engine, 9% jet
and 15% helicopter
.
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 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 (6 km) northwest 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 Panama City
Panama City, Florida
-Personal income:The median income for a household in the city was $31,572, and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,830...
, in Bay County
Bay County, Florida
Bay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 163,505 . Its county seat is Panama City, Florida. The county is best known for its white sand beaches and crystal blue water, where large pods of dolphins swim year-round...
, 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...
. It was owned and operated by the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District. All commercial airline services were relocated to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport
-External links:*...
on May 22, 2010, but the airfield continued to service 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...
aircraft until October 1, 2010. The former airport grounds will be eventually turned over to LUK-MB1 LLC, which plans to remove the runways and build homes, shops, walking trails and a marina.
History
Panama City–Bay County International Airport (PFN) began as a private field owned by J.B. Atkinson, Jr., a citizen of Panama City. The facility consisted of 292 acres (1.2 km²) of land with grass landing strips. In 1932, Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson, Jr. donated the property to the Panama City Chamber of Commerce so that a city airport could be established. At that time the airport was named Atkinson Field. In 1938, Panama City and the Bay County Commissioners joined forces to develop the Airport through the construction of an airport terminal and extensive airfield expansion. The facility’s $604,000 development project included the construction of a small passenger terminal and two 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) intersecting runways. After the expansion was completed, the airport was renamed Fannin Field in honor of the Panama City mayor during this period.Throughout World War II, the airport was used as a 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...
facility. In 1943, the Florida legislature approved the formation of an airport authority, the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District, to manage Fannin Field, or Panama City-Bay County Airport, as it became commonly known. In 1948, commercial operations at the airport commenced.
The airport continued to be served by commercial airlines throughout the regulated period of airline history, until the passage of the Airline Deregulation Act
Airline Deregulation Act
The Airline Deregulation Act is a United States federal law signed into law on October 24, 1978. The main purpose of the act was to remove government control over fares, routes and market entry from commercial aviation...
of 1978. During the 1970s and 1980s, the airport had many airlines serving the facility with jet aircraft. However, the flight service offered was mainly point-to-point, therefore there were few destinations offered, and, in turn, passenger enplanements were low.
In 1992, the airport was designated as an international airport and renamed Panama City-Bay County International Airport. At this time, the Airport was equipped with on-call customs and immigrations facilities provided through the Port of Panama City. In addition, the airport was also declared a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ), a location which allows special customs procedures to be used. These procedures permit domestic activity involving foreign items to take place as though they were outside of a U.S. Customs territory.
In 1995, the airport went through an extensive development program, demolishing their old terminal building and constructing a new 55573 square feet (5,162.9 m²) facility with six gate areas, two equipped with jetbridges. Additional enhancements to the terminal included concession areas, a passenger hold room, airline ticketing counters and office space, airport administration offices, public and rental car parking lots, and an expanded terminal apron.
The Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport
-External links:*...
replaced the Panama City-Bay County International Airport due to it having no room to further expand. The new airport opened May 23, 2010. However, the old airport continued to service general aviation flights until October 1, 2010.
Facilities
Panama City-Bay County International Airport covers an area of 745 acres (301.5 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 20 feet (6 m) above mean sea level. It has 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: 14/32 measuring 6,308 x 150 ft (1,923 x 46 m) and 5/23 measuring 4,884 x 150 ft (1,489 x 46 m).
During 2006, the airport had 88,059 aircraft operations, an average of 241 per day: 72% 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% 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...
(11,080), 10% 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...
and 5% 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...
. At that time there were 160 aircraft based at this airport: 58% 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...
, 18% multi-engine, 9% 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 15% 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...
.