Southern Illinois Airport
Encyclopedia
Southern Illinois Airport is a public airport
in Jackson County
, Illinois
, United States
. It is located three nautical miles (6 km) northwest of the central business district
of Carbondale
and east of Murphysboro
. This airport is included in the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
for 2009–2013, which categorized
it as a general aviation
facility.
The airport opened in 1950 and was originally known as Murdale Airport. Today it ranks as the sixth busiest airport in the state.
The airport is owned and operated by Southern Illinois Airport Authority, a local governmental entity created under state law. A five member boards sets policy for the airport authority and daily administration of the airport is carried out by an airport manager and staff. The board members are appointed by the mayors of Carbondale and Murphysboro and the Chairman of the Jackson County Board and serve for five years on a staggered basis.
of 411 feet (125 m) above mean sea level. Three lighted, hard surface runways provide all-weather capability. A precision instrument approach is available on the airport's primary runway.
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2009, the airport had 77,557 aircraft operations, an average of 212 per day: 99% general aviation
, 1% air taxi
, <1% scheduled commercial
, and <1% military
. At that time there were 89 aircraft based at this airport: 87% single-engine
, 9% multi-engine, 1% jet
, 2% helicopter
and 1% ultralight.
The airport is capable of accommodating a variety of aircraft up to and including the Boeing 757. Sufficient aircraft ramps and tie-down spaces exist for a large and varied number of aircraft. Hangar space is available for based and transient aircraft up to and including the Gulfstream V.
Southern Illinois Airport is also the home operating base for Southern Illinois University
's aviation flight and aviation technologies programs. A $63.3 million Transportation Education Center is currently under construction on the south side of the airport. This state-of-the-art facility will eventually house the Aviation Flight, Aviation Management, and Automotive Technologies programs under one roof. The TEC will also house flight and air traffic control simulator labs, classroom space, and vehicle storage/maintenance labs for automotive students. Nearby, an aviation test cell facility will provide space for Aviation Technologies students to test piston- and turbine-powered aircraft engines.
An air traffic control tower operates from 7am to 9pm each day and an ASOS weather facility operates on a 24-hour basis. In addition to the ASOS, Southern Illinois University staffs a weather station in the terminal building that is available for public use.
Based upon a study commissioned by the Illinois Aeronautics Division, the airport contributes more than $13.8 million in direct and indirect benefits to the region on an annual basis. Today the Airport employs more than 175 full and part time employees with an annual payroll exceeding $3.3 million. Yearly expenditures in the local area by the Airport and 7 businesses located here are more than $2.5 million. The authors used a conservative multiplier of 1.7 to result in a total annual impact exceeding $13.8 million
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...
in Jackson County
Jackson County, Illinois
Jackson County, incorporated January 10, 1816, is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 60,218, which is an increase of 1.0% from 59,612 in 2000...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located three nautical miles (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 Carbondale
Carbondale, Illinois
Carbondale is a city in Jackson County, in the state of Illinois, within the Southern Illinois region. It is located at the junction of Illinois Route 13 and U.S. Route 51, southeast of St. Louis, Missouri, on the northern edge of the Shawnee National Forest...
and east of Murphysboro
Murphysboro, Illinois
Murphysboro is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,970 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.-Geography:Murphysboro is located at ....
. This airport is included in the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems is an inventory of U.S. aviation infrastructure assets. It is developed and maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration . Its purposes are:* to identify all the airports in the U.S...
for 2009–2013, which categorized
FAA airport categories
The United States Federal Aviation Administration has a system for categorizing public-use airports that is primarily based on the level of commercial passenger traffic through each facility. It is used to determine if an airport is eligible for funding through the federal government's Airport...
it as a 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...
facility.
The airport opened in 1950 and was originally known as Murdale Airport. Today it ranks as the sixth busiest airport in the state.
The airport is owned and operated by Southern Illinois Airport Authority, a local governmental entity created under state law. A five member boards sets policy for the airport authority and daily administration of the airport is carried out by an airport manager and staff. The board members are appointed by the mayors of Carbondale and Murphysboro and the Chairman of the Jackson County Board and serve for five years on a staggered basis.
Facilities and aircraft
Southern Illinois Airport covers an area of 850 acres (344 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 411 feet (125 m) above mean sea level. Three lighted, hard surface runways provide all-weather capability. A precision instrument approach is available on the airport's primary runway.
| Runway | Dimensions | Surface | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/24 | 4,164 x 100 feet (1,269 x 30 m) | Asphalt | In-Use |
| 18L/36R | 6,506 x 100 feet (1,983 x 30 m) | Asphalt | In-Use |
| 18R/36L | 3,498 x 60 feet (1,066 x 18 m) | Asphalt | In-Use |
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2009, the airport had 77,557 aircraft operations, an average of 212 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...
, 1% 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...
, <1% 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...
, 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 89 aircraft based at this airport: 87% 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...
, 9% multi-engine, 1% 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...
, 2% 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 1% ultralight.
The airport is capable of accommodating a variety of aircraft up to and including the Boeing 757. Sufficient aircraft ramps and tie-down spaces exist for a large and varied number of aircraft. Hangar space is available for based and transient aircraft up to and including the Gulfstream V.
Southern Illinois Airport is also the home operating base for Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIUC is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system...
's aviation flight and aviation technologies programs. A $63.3 million Transportation Education Center is currently under construction on the south side of the airport. This state-of-the-art facility will eventually house the Aviation Flight, Aviation Management, and Automotive Technologies programs under one roof. The TEC will also house flight and air traffic control simulator labs, classroom space, and vehicle storage/maintenance labs for automotive students. Nearby, an aviation test cell facility will provide space for Aviation Technologies students to test piston- and turbine-powered aircraft engines.
An air traffic control tower operates from 7am to 9pm each day and an ASOS weather facility operates on a 24-hour basis. In addition to the ASOS, Southern Illinois University staffs a weather station in the terminal building that is available for public use.
Economic impact
Southern Illinois Airport makes a substantial contribution to the local economy.Based upon a study commissioned by the Illinois Aeronautics Division, the airport contributes more than $13.8 million in direct and indirect benefits to the region on an annual basis. Today the Airport employs more than 175 full and part time employees with an annual payroll exceeding $3.3 million. Yearly expenditures in the local area by the Airport and 7 businesses located here are more than $2.5 million. The authors used a conservative multiplier of 1.7 to result in a total annual impact exceeding $13.8 million
External links
- Southern Illinois Airport, official web site
- Aviation at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- Aerial image as of 6 April 1998 from USGS The National Map