St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport
Encyclopedia
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is a joint civil-military airport
located in unincorporated
Pinellas County, Florida
, 6 miles (9.7 km) north of St. Petersburg
, serving St. Petersburg, Clearwater
, and the surrounding Tampa Bay Area
in the USA
.
While most scheduled commercial airline traffic in the Tampa Bay Area uses Tampa International Airport
(TPA), ten miles (16 km) to the east, St. Petersburg-Clearwater remains a destination airport for low-cost and charter carriers, notably several from Canada. Once a focus city for Largo based Southeast Airlines
, St. Petersburg/Clearwater now serves as a focus city for Las Vegas based carrier Allegiant Air
. The airport also serves as the gateway airport to Pinellas County.
Because of its lesser pace of operations, PIE is frequently used instead of TPA as a destination airport by pilots of private planes and executive jets for access to the Tampa Bay Area.
The airport uses "Pie In The Sky
" as an advertising slogan
in reference to its three-letter IATA and FAA codes.
, six miles (10 km) north of St. Petersburg, Florida
(the "birthplace of commercial air transportation"). Barely a decade after the pioneer flight of the Wright brothers
at Kitty Hawk
in 1903, the first tickets for airline
travel were sold by the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line
of Tony Jannus
to fare-paying passengers. Using a Benoist XIV
amphibious aircraft
, the inaugural flight took place from a location near the downtown St. Petersburg Pier
. Mayor Abram C. Pheil of St. Petersburg and Mae Peabody of Dubuque, Iowa, were the first passengers, flying across the bay to Tampa
and, according to a United Press
account, reportedly reaching the maximum speed of 75 miles per hour during the flight. Other reports indicate that they reached an altitude
of 50 feet (15 m).
This historic event marked the beginning of commercial air transportation anywhere in the world and is commemorated by a replica of the Benoist aircraft and a plaque at the airport terminal baggage claim area. Another replica is displayed at the St. Petersburg Museum of History adjacent to the Pier.
, the airport was acquired by the
United States Army Air Forces
, which used it as a military flight training base assigned to Third Air Force
.
The 304th Fighter Squadron, a combat training unit of the 337th Fighter Group based P-40 Warhawk
s and, later, P-51 Mustang
s at Pinellas Army Airfield (as it was then known) for the duration of World War II
. Antisubmarine patrols were also flown from the airfield.
To commemorate the airport's vital role during that conflict, a plaque was dedicated at the airport terminal in 1994 by the P-51 Fighter Pilots Association and Brigadier General James H. Howard
, who was the only European Theater fighter pilot to be awarded the Medal of Honor
in World War II and later served as the last wartime base commander of Pinellas Army Airfield. A permanent exhibit honoring General Howard is located in the terminal.
After World War II, the Airport property was returned to Pinellas County by the U.S. government to operate as a commercial airport. It was originally called Pinellas International Airport and given the IATA designation, PIE, which it still uses. In the 1950s some airlines provided service to both PIE and TPA, such as Delta Air Lines
, Eastern Air Lines
, National Airlines and Northwest Airlines
. The April 1957 OAG shows 17 airline departures: ten Eastern, six National and one Mackey. Four of those flights were nonstop beyond Florida, including an Eastern DC-4 to Chicago and a 1049G to Pittsburgh.
With the advent of the Jet Age
, the airport's runway was extended northward into Tampa Bay and the first commercial jet service to PIE was operated by Northwest. The greatly increased seating capacities of the Boeing 707
and Douglas DC-8
, compared to the propeller-driven DC-6
and DC-7
, prompted the Civil Aeronautics Board to approve the consolidation of commercial airline service at TPA in the early 1960s. Eastern was the last remaining air carrier at PIE when it terminated service in 1964. In the 1970s Air Florida flew Electras out of PIE; in 1982 Northeastern International started DC-8 nonstops to Islip, and in 1983 PeoplExpress started nonstops to Newark that Continental dropped in 1987. In 1987 American started nonstops to its Raleigh-Durham hub, but by October 1989 PIE again had no scheduled airlines.
-equipped 9700 feet (2,956.6 m) runway and two 5500 feet (1,676.4 m) runways. To relieve traffic congestion, the parallel taxiway for runway 17L-35R is also used as a daytime-only VFR runway, particularly for touch-and-go landings. The airport is home of
Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater
, the largest and busiest U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in the United States, operating HC-130
Hercules and HH-60J Jayhawk aircraft. The U.S. Army Reserve also maintains an Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) at the airport for Companies A and F, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment and Medical Evacuation Unit, operating UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
, the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA)-operated control tower, the FAA's Central Florida Region Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS)
...the busiest AFSS in the United States...and the St. Petersburg VORTAC
for airways navigation are also important federal government services at the airport.
Along with scheduled commercial airlines, United Parcel Service
, Air Cargo, and General/Corporate Aviation are also major activities. The entire tract of the airport is designated as a Foreign Trade Zone
(FTZ) and a large Airport Industrial Park developed in the 1980s is a major center of commerce. The airport and its tenants employ over 3,000 people and have an economic benefit of more than $400 million yearly to the Tampa Bay area.
The airport includes a 24-hour airport rescue and fire-fighting (ARFF) department (Index C), facilities, operations, engineering, security, and administrative personnel.
In September 2006, Allegiant Air
announced significant scheduled service from St. Petersburg-Clearwater to destinations in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Since then, Allegiant has grown its destination count to and from PIE to 21 airports across the Eastern US. In February, the Lansing, MI, service shifted to Grand Rapids, Michigan
, with four weekly flights.
Also, the airport recently completed a $9.5 million renovation, including, among other things, expanding the gate sizes, new plumbing, and building loading bridges
, as the current system requires all passengers to walk across the tarmac
to the gate. These improvement played a significant roll in the airport luring Frontier Airlines
to launch flights at the airport.
Locair
began regular flights from PIE to The Bahamas on December 18; marking the only nonstop service from the Tampa Bay area to the Bahamas. Locair uses 9 and 19 seat configured turboprops on the nonstop flights.
Starting Fall of 2010, Frontier Airlines will launch service at the airport, shifting its Milwaukee flight from Tampa International Airport
. It is reported that the move is in response to the high competition on the Tampa-Milwaukee route from rivals Southwest Airlines
and AirTran Airways
. Frontier also plans to launch nonstop service to Omaha
in the beginning of 2011.
, 8% military
, 5% scheduled commercial
and 3% air taxi
. At that time there were 293 aircraft based at this airport:
61% single-engine
, 11% multi-engine, 12% jet
, 9% helicopter
and 8% military
.
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 in unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Pinellas County, Florida
Pinellas County, Florida
Pinellas County is a county located in the state of Florida. Its county seat is Clearwater, Florida, and its largest city is St. Petersburg. This county is contained entirely within the telephone area code 727, except for some sections of Oldsmar, which have the area code 813...
, 6 miles (9.7 km) north of St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, serving St. Petersburg, Clearwater
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
, and the surrounding Tampa Bay Area
Tampa Bay Area
The Tampa Bay Area is the region of west central Florida adjacent to Tampa Bay. Definitions of the region vary. It is often considered equivalent to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area defined by the United States Census Bureau. The Census Bureau currently...
in the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
While most scheduled commercial airline traffic in the Tampa Bay Area uses Tampa International Airport
Tampa International Airport
Tampa International Airport is a major public airport located six nautical miles west of the central business district of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. This airport is publicly owned by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority...
(TPA), ten miles (16 km) to the east, St. Petersburg-Clearwater remains a destination airport for low-cost and charter carriers, notably several from Canada. Once a focus city for Largo based Southeast Airlines
Southeast Airlines
Southeast Airlines was a low fare public charter airline in the United States, headquartered in Largo, Florida, operating regular service to various vacation/leisure destinations using eight Douglas DC-9 and two McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft...
, St. Petersburg/Clearwater now serves as a focus city for Las Vegas based carrier Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air is an American low-cost airline owned by Allegiant Travel Co. that operates scheduled and charter flights. Allegiant Travel Company is a publicly traded company with 1,300 employees and one billion USD market capitalization...
. The airport also serves as the gateway airport to Pinellas County.
Because of its lesser pace of operations, PIE is frequently used instead of TPA as a destination airport by pilots of private planes and executive jets for access to the Tampa Bay Area.
The airport uses "Pie In The Sky
Pie in the sky
Pie in the sky may refer to:*Pie in the Sky , a UK television series about a retired police officer turned restaurateur*Pie in the Sky , 1996 romantic-comedy starring Josh Charles and Anne Heche...
" as an advertising slogan
Advertising slogan
Advertising slogans are short, often memorable phrases used in advertising campaigns. They are claimed to be the most effective means of drawing attention to one or more aspects of a product. A strapline is a British term used as a secondary sentence attached to a brand name...
in reference to its three-letter IATA and FAA codes.
History
The airport is located on the west shoreline of Tampa BayTampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
, six miles (10 km) north of St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
(the "birthplace of commercial air transportation"). Barely a decade after the pioneer flight of the Wright brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
at Kitty Hawk
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
Kitty Hawk is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,000 at the 2000 census. It was established in the early 18th century as Chickahawk....
in 1903, the first tickets for airline
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...
travel were sold by the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line
St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line
The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line was the first scheduled airline using a winged aircraft.The airline provided service between St. Petersburg, Florida and neighboring Tampa.-Overview:...
of Tony Jannus
Tony Jannus
Antony Habersack Jannus, more familiarly known as Tony Jannus , was an early American pilot whose aerial exploits were widely publicized in aviation's pre-World War I period. He flew the first airplane from which a parachute jump was made, in 1912. Jannus was also the first airline pilot, having...
to fare-paying passengers. Using a Benoist XIV
Benoist XIV
-References:* * * * Servis, Richard. "". Non Fiction Reader Magazine* from St Petersburg Museum of History executive director Will Michaels printed in the St Petersburg Times 2 February 2004.* -External links:* *...
amphibious aircraft
Amphibious aircraft
An amphibious aircraft or amphibian is an aircraft that can take off and land on either land or water. Fixed-wing amphibious aircraft are seaplanes that are equipped with retractable wheels, at the expense of extra weight and complexity, plus diminished range and fuel economy compared to planes...
, the inaugural flight took place from a location near the downtown St. Petersburg Pier
St. Petersburg Pier
The St. Petersburg Pier, simply called The Pier by locals, is a landmark and major tourist destination in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. Some of the activities and sights it encompasses include fishing, boat rentals, weekly festivals, and the Pier Aquarium...
. Mayor Abram C. Pheil of St. Petersburg and Mae Peabody of Dubuque, Iowa, were the first passengers, flying across the bay to Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
and, according to a United Press
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
account, reportedly reaching the maximum speed of 75 miles per hour during the flight. Other reports indicate that they reached an altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
of 50 feet (15 m).
This historic event marked the beginning of commercial air transportation anywhere in the world and is commemorated by a replica of the Benoist aircraft and a plaque at the airport terminal baggage claim area. Another replica is displayed at the St. Petersburg Museum of History adjacent to the Pier.
Construction and wartime
Construction of the airport at its present site started in March 1941. After the attack on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, the airport was acquired by the
United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
, which used it as a military flight training base assigned to Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
.
The 304th Fighter Squadron, a combat training unit of the 337th Fighter Group based P-40 Warhawk
Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
s and, later, P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
s at Pinellas Army Airfield (as it was then known) for the duration of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Antisubmarine patrols were also flown from the airfield.
To commemorate the airport's vital role during that conflict, a plaque was dedicated at the airport terminal in 1994 by the P-51 Fighter Pilots Association and Brigadier General James H. Howard
James H. Howard
James Howell Howard was a general in the United States Air Force and the only fighter pilot in the European Theater of Operations in World War II to receive the Medal of Honor — the United States military's highest decoration...
, who was the only European Theater fighter pilot to be awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
in World War II and later served as the last wartime base commander of Pinellas Army Airfield. A permanent exhibit honoring General Howard is located in the terminal.
Postwar operation
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
, Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
, National Airlines and Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
. The April 1957 OAG shows 17 airline departures: ten Eastern, six National and one Mackey. Four of those flights were nonstop beyond Florida, including an Eastern DC-4 to Chicago and a 1049G to Pittsburgh.
With the advent of the Jet Age
Jet age
The Jet Age is a period of history defined by the social change brought about by the advent of large aircraft powered by turbine engines. These aircraft are able to fly much higher, faster, and farther than older piston-powered propliners, making transcontinental and inter-continental travel...
, the airport's runway was extended northward into Tampa Bay and the first commercial jet service to PIE was operated by Northwest. The greatly increased seating capacities of the Boeing 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
and Douglas DC-8
Douglas DC-8
The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
, compared to the propeller-driven DC-6
Douglas DC-6
The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
and DC-7
Douglas DC-7
The Douglas DC-7 is an American transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1953 to 1958. It was the last major piston engine powered transport made by Douglas, coming just a few years before the advent of jet aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8.-Design and...
, prompted the Civil Aeronautics Board to approve the consolidation of commercial airline service at TPA in the early 1960s. Eastern was the last remaining air carrier at PIE when it terminated service in 1964. In the 1970s Air Florida flew Electras out of PIE; in 1982 Northeastern International started DC-8 nonstops to Islip, and in 1983 PeoplExpress started nonstops to Newark that Continental dropped in 1987. In 1987 American started nonstops to its Raleigh-Durham hub, but by October 1989 PIE again had no scheduled airlines.
Current airfield and U.S. military/U.S. Government facilities
Today, the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is a 1900 acres (7.7 km²) fully certified facility with an ILSInstrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
-equipped 9700 feet (2,956.6 m) runway and two 5500 feet (1,676.4 m) runways. To relieve traffic congestion, the parallel taxiway for runway 17L-35R is also used as a daytime-only VFR runway, particularly for touch-and-go landings. The airport is home of
Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater
Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater
United States Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater is the United States Coast Guard's largest air station. It is located at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport in Clearwater, Florida and is home to nearly 600 USCG aviation and support personnel...
, the largest and busiest U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in the United States, operating HC-130
HC-130
The Lockheed HC-130 is an extended-range, search and rescue and Combat search and rescue version of the C-130 Hercules transport. The HC-130H and HC-130J versions are operated by the United States Coast Guard in a SAR and maritime reconnaissance role. The HC-130P and HC-130N Combat King models...
Hercules and HH-60J Jayhawk aircraft. The U.S. Army Reserve also maintains an Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) at the airport for Companies A and F, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment and Medical Evacuation Unit, operating UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs and immigration. CBP is the...
, the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA)-operated control tower, the FAA's Central Florida Region Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS)
Flight service station
A Flight Service Station is an air traffic facility that provides information and services to aircraft pilots before, during, and after flights, but unlike air traffic control , is not responsible for giving instructions or clearances or providing separation...
...the busiest AFSS in the United States...and the St. Petersburg VORTAC
VHF omnidirectional range
VOR, short for VHF omnidirectional radio range, is a type of radio navigation system for aircraft. A VOR ground station broadcasts a VHF radio composite signal including the station's identifier, voice , and navigation signal. The identifier is typically a two- or three-letter string in Morse code...
for airways navigation are also important federal government services at the airport.
Along with scheduled commercial airlines, United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
, Air Cargo, and General/Corporate Aviation are also major activities. The entire tract of the airport is designated as a Foreign Trade Zone
Free port
A free port or free zone , sometimes also called a bonded area is a port, port area or other area with relaxed jurisdiction with respect to the country of location...
(FTZ) and a large Airport Industrial Park developed in the 1980s is a major center of commerce. The airport and its tenants employ over 3,000 people and have an economic benefit of more than $400 million yearly to the Tampa Bay area.
The airport includes a 24-hour airport rescue and fire-fighting (ARFF) department (Index C), facilities, operations, engineering, security, and administrative personnel.
Recent developments
Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air is an American low-cost airline owned by Allegiant Travel Co. that operates scheduled and charter flights. Allegiant Travel Company is a publicly traded company with 1,300 employees and one billion USD market capitalization...
announced significant scheduled service from St. Petersburg-Clearwater to destinations in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Since then, Allegiant has grown its destination count to and from PIE to 21 airports across the Eastern US. In February, the Lansing, MI, service shifted to Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, with four weekly flights.
Also, the airport recently completed a $9.5 million renovation, including, among other things, expanding the gate sizes, new plumbing, and building loading bridges
Jetway
A jet bridge is an enclosed, movable connector which extends from an airport terminal gate to an airplane, allowing passengers to board and disembark without having to go outside...
, as the current system requires all passengers to walk across the tarmac
Tarmac
Tarmac is a type of road surface. Tarmac refers to a material patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1901...
to the gate. These improvement played a significant roll in the airport luring Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines, Inc., is an American airline headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The carrier, which is a subsidiary and operating brand of Republic Airways Holdings, operates flights to 83 destinations throughout the United States, Mexico, and Costa Rica and maintains hubs at...
to launch flights at the airport.
Locair
Locair
Locair is an American FAR Part 135 charter airline with its headquarters on the grounds of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in unincorporated Broward County, Florida, near Fort Lauderdale. Formed in 1993 the airline specializes in cargo and passenger charters around Florida and to...
began regular flights from PIE to The Bahamas on December 18; marking the only nonstop service from the Tampa Bay area to the Bahamas. Locair uses 9 and 19 seat configured turboprops on the nonstop flights.
Starting Fall of 2010, Frontier Airlines will launch service at the airport, shifting its Milwaukee flight from Tampa International Airport
Tampa International Airport
Tampa International Airport is a major public airport located six nautical miles west of the central business district of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. This airport is publicly owned by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority...
. It is reported that the move is in response to the high competition on the Tampa-Milwaukee route from rivals Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
and AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of the Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida. AirTran operates over 650 daily flights , primarily in the eastern and midwestern United States...
. Frontier also plans to launch nonstop service to Omaha
Omaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
in the beginning of 2011.
Aircraft operations
For the 12-month period ending July 30, 2007, the airport had 187,978 aircraft operations, an average of 515 per day: 84% general aviationGeneral 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
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...
, 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...
and 3% 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...
. At that time there were 293 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...
, 11% multi-engine, 12% 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...
, 9% 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 8% military
Military aircraft
A military aircraft is any fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft that is operated by a legal or insurrectionary armed service of any type. Military aircraft can be either combat or non-combat:...
.
Airlines and destinations
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport has one Terminal and thirteen Gates: 1 - 12, and 14Passenger airlines
Top destinations
| Rank | City | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Greer, SCGreenville-Spartanburg International Airport Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport , also known as GSP International Airport or Roger Milliken Field, is a public airport located in unincorporated Greenville and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina, United States, 3 miles south of central Greer; the airport serves Greenville and... |
26,000 | Allegiant Air |
| 2 |  Knoxville, TNMcGhee Tyson Airport -Top Destinations:-Accidents and incidents:* On 06 August, 1962, an American Airlines Lockheed L-188 Electra veered off the runway on landing, striking the raised edge of an under-construction taxiway with the landing gear, causing it to collapse... |
25,000 | Allegiant Air |
| 3 |  Peoria, IL |
22,000 | Allegiant Air |
| 4 |  Grand Rapids, MIGerald R. Ford International Airport Gerald R. Ford International Airport is a commercial airport located approximately southeast of Grand Rapids, Michigan in Cascade Township. Originally called Kent County Airport and later Kent County International Airport; in December 1999 the airport was renamed for former resident Gerald R.... |
21,000 | Allegiant Air |
| 5 |  Fort Wayne, INFort Wayne International Airport -Top Destinations:-Airfield infrastructure:As of 2006, the airport's main Runway 5/23's usable dimensions are long and wide while the grooved-surface dimensions are long and wide, large enough to accommodate the NASA Space Shuttle orbiter, Boeing 747s, and military air mobility and aerial... |
21,000 | Allegiant Air |
| 6 | South Bend, IN South Bend Regional Airport South Bend Regional Airport is a public airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of South Bend, a city in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. This airport is publicly owned by St. Joseph County Airport Authority... |
20,000 | Allegiant Air |
| 7 |  Allentown, PALehigh Valley International Airport Lehigh Valley International Airport , formerly Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton International Airport, is a public airport in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.... |
20,000 | Allegiant Air |
| 8 |  Springfield, MO |
18,000 | Allegiant Air |
| 9 |  Huntington, WVTri-State Airport Tri-State Airport , also known as Milton J. Ferguson Field, is a public-use airport in Wayne County, West Virginia, United States. The airport is located three nautical miles south of the central business district of Huntington, West Virginia, near the cities of Ceredo and Kenova... |
18,000 | Allegiant Air |
| 10 | Rockford, IL |
16,000 | Allegiant Air |
Cargo Airlines
| Air Florida Air Florida Air Florida was an American low-cost carrier that operated from 1971 to 1984. In 1975 it was headquartered in the Dadeland Towers in what is now the Kendall CDP in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:... |
| Air South Air South There were several airlines in the United States known as Air South.-1968-1975:Air South was a regional airline operating out of Atlanta Municipal Airport. Founded as Nationwide Airlines Southeast in 1968, it served a variety of destinations in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina... |
| American Airlines American Airlines American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport... |
| ATA Airlines ATA Airlines ATA Airlines, Inc., formerly known as American Trans Air, was an American low-cost scheduled service and charter airline based in Indianapolis, Indiana. ATA operated scheduled passenger flights throughout the US mainland and Hawaii, as well as military and commercial charter flights around the world... |
| Canada 3000 Canada 3000 Canada 3000 Inc. was a Canadian discount charter airline offering domestic and international flights. It was the largest charter airline in the world at the time of its operation, with over 90 destinations worldwide, although it changed to scheduled service in 2000 after the Canadian Airlines and... |
| Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day... |
| Eastern Air Lines Eastern Air Lines Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:... |
| Lorair |
| Myrtle Beach Direct Air Myrtle Beach Direct Air Direct Air, formerly Myrtle Beach Direct Air, is a business based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA It used to market domestic charter airline service using the aircraft of charter airlines. In Spring 2009, Direct Air started to operate regular scheduled flights. These services continue to exist... |
| Nordair Nordair Nordair is a defunct Quebec-based regional airline founded in 1947 from the merger of Boreal Airways and Mont Laurier Aviation. The airline operated from the 1950s to the 1980s. Most of its business was international and transatlantic passenger and freight charters and other contracts. It also... |
| Northeastern International Airways Northeastern International Airways Northeastern International Airways was a low-fare airline established in 1980 and based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Between 1982 and 1985, the airline offered flights from the northeastern United States to Florida, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada.... |
| Northwest Airlines Northwest Airlines Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world... |
| PEOPLExpress |
| Royal Airlines Royal Airlines Royal Airlines is a charter and cargo airline based at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.- History :The airline was established on 6 November 1998 and started operations in 1999. It was granted a licence to operate scheduled passenger services in 2003 and expected to launch... |
| Skyservice Airlines |
| Southeast Airlines Southeast Airlines Southeast Airlines was a low fare public charter airline in the United States, headquartered in Largo, Florida, operating regular service to various vacation/leisure destinations using eight Douglas DC-9 and two McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft... |
| Sun Country Airlines Sun Country Airlines MN Airlines, LLC, operating as Sun Country Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb of Mendota Heights, Minnesota... |
| Sun Pacific |
| Trans Global Vacations (Ryan International Airlines Ryan International Airlines Ryan International Airlines, Inc. is an American FAR 121 airline with domestic, flag, and supplemental authority.Based in Rockford, Illinois, the US Postal Service was once the airline's main customer, flying Boeing 727 aircraft on scheduled cargo flights... ) |
| USA 3000 |
Accidents and incidents
On 6 June 1982, Douglas C-47A N95C of Fromhagen Aviation was written off when the starboard engine failed on take-off on a training flight. All five people on board survived.See also
- List of airports in the Tampa Bay area
- Florida World War II Army Airfields
- James G. HowesJames G. HowesJames Guerdon Howes is an American businessman in the aviation and communications fields and former United States Air Force traffic management officer. He holds a commercial pilot's license with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and a Master of Business Administration degree. Howes has been a...
, Airport Director (1980-2000)