Waterbury-Oxford Airport
Encyclopedia
Waterbury-Oxford Airport , also known as just Oxford Airport, is a public airport
located three miles (5 km) north of the central business district
of Oxford
, a town in New Haven County
, Connecticut
, United States
. It is owned by the Connecticut Department of Transportation
(ConnDOT).. The airport opened in December 1969.
61 million upgrade took place. Runway 18/36 was extended, taxiways were widened and new taxiways were paved. The upgrade also included the building of new hangars, and the installation of a state-of-the-art noise abatement program. New hangars and taxiways are still under construction. These improvements have allowed for many large aircraft to land at Oxford, although Gulfstream V
and Global Express
jets are the largest to currently operate at the airport on a regular basis.
paved runway
(18/36) measuring 5,800 x 100 ft (1,768 x 30 m).
For 12-month period ending 31 October 2010 the airport had:
On a typical day, Oxford experiences anywhere between 150 and 600 total aircraft operations. Average aircraft operations ending the 31 October 2010 were 137 per day. 2010 showed a significant drop in aircraft operations from 2009.
In January 2008, the restaurant and bar called 121 Restaurant @ OXC opened in a building constructed adjacent to the airport's runway. The 121 Restaurant provides gourmet catering for private aircraft that operate in and out of Oxford, and also provides a place for observing airport operations while enjoying a meal.
The airport authority has confirmed that they will continue to renovate the airport according to the Airport Master Plan (AMP). New hangar facilities and possibly executive passenger terminal areas are under construction that will add an exceptional amount of space to airport parking facilities. Key Air New York Metro, also known as Key Air, plans to build these hangars on the southeast side of the state-owned field. Phase 1 of construction, which includes the largest new hangar, hangar H, is set to be completed winter 2012. The hangar will be built over a total of 89000 square feet (8,268.4 m²), along with an additional 48450 square feet (4,501.2 m²) of office space. The second phase of construction which includes 59332 square feet (5,512.1 m²) of hangar space and 16150 square feet (1,500.4 m²) of office space as part of hangar I is set to be completed in 2013.Due to a recent veto of proposed money by Connecticut governor Dan Malloy
, the funds for building new office facilities around Oxford airport may be delayed.
The state of Connecticut refuses to allow scheduled air carriers to operate out of Oxford.
A small experimental aircraft listed as a Glasair III under the registration N540WF crashed while landing at Oxford. The Oxford air traffic controllers are in agreement that the aircraft approached at an abnormally slow speed, causing the aircraft to stall 1/2 mile from the runway. The aircraft nose-dived into a power substation. The one pilot on board died.
13 January 2011
Exactly one year to date of the previous incident, a small light sport aircraft under the registration of N858CT operated by Image Aviation Services reported to Oxford Tower that it had experienced an engine failure. After failed attempts to maintain contact with the aircraft, it was reported that the aircraft had landed in a front yard in Cheshire, Connecticut
. Due to the depth of snow on the ground, the aircraft flipped front over after the nose was lowered. The pilot and passenger aboard walked away safely.
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) north 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 Oxford
Oxford, Connecticut
Oxford is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,272 at the 2010 Census. There are several areas in Oxford: Quaker Farms, Riverside and Oxford Center. Oxford belongs to the Naugatuck Valley Economic Development Region and the Central...
, a town in New Haven County
New Haven County, Connecticut
New Haven County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2010 Census, the county population is 862,477 making it the third most populated county in Connecticut. There are 1,340 people per square mile...
, 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 is owned by the Connecticut Department of Transportation
Connecticut Department of Transportation
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The current Commissioner of ConnDOT is Jeffrey Parker...
(ConnDOT).. The airport opened in December 1969.
Airport Upgrades
In 2008, a $United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
61 million upgrade took place. Runway 18/36 was extended, taxiways were widened and new taxiways were paved. The upgrade also included the building of new hangars, and the installation of a state-of-the-art noise abatement program. New hangars and taxiways are still under construction. These improvements have allowed for many large aircraft to land at Oxford, although Gulfstream V
Gulfstream V
The Gulfstream V is a business jet aircraft produced by Gulfstream Aerospace. It is also used by the US military under the designation C-37A. The G500 and G550 are improved versions which are currently in production...
and Global Express
Bombardier Global Express
The Bombardier Global Express is an ultra long range corporate and VIP high speed jet aircraft produced by Bombardier Aerospace. The Bombardier Global 5000 is a slightly shorter version...
jets are the largest to currently operate at the airport on a regular basis.
Facilities and aircraft
Waterbury-Oxford Airport covers an area of 424 acres (171.6 ha) which contains one 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...
(18/36) measuring 5,800 x 100 ft (1,768 x 30 m).
For 12-month period ending 31 October 2010 the airport had:
| Aircraft based on the field | 175 |
|---|---|
| Single-engine airplanes | 129 |
| Multi-engine airplanes | 9 |
| Jet airplanes | 36 |
| Helicopters | 1 |
On a typical day, Oxford experiences anywhere between 150 and 600 total aircraft operations. Average aircraft operations ending the 31 October 2010 were 137 per day. 2010 showed a significant drop in aircraft operations from 2009.
In January 2008, the restaurant and bar called 121 Restaurant @ OXC opened in a building constructed adjacent to the airport's runway. The 121 Restaurant provides gourmet catering for private aircraft that operate in and out of Oxford, and also provides a place for observing airport operations while enjoying a meal.
The airport authority has confirmed that they will continue to renovate the airport according to the Airport Master Plan (AMP). New hangar facilities and possibly executive passenger terminal areas are under construction that will add an exceptional amount of space to airport parking facilities. Key Air New York Metro, also known as Key Air, plans to build these hangars on the southeast side of the state-owned field. Phase 1 of construction, which includes the largest new hangar, hangar H, is set to be completed winter 2012. The hangar will be built over a total of 89000 square feet (8,268.4 m²), along with an additional 48450 square feet (4,501.2 m²) of office space. The second phase of construction which includes 59332 square feet (5,512.1 m²) of hangar space and 16150 square feet (1,500.4 m²) of office space as part of hangar I is set to be completed in 2013.Due to a recent veto of proposed money by Connecticut governor Dan Malloy
Dan Malloy
Dannel Patrick "Dan" Malloy is the 88th and current Governor of Connecticut. He was the Mayor of Stamford, Connecticut from December 1995 until December 2009. Malloy had been endorsed by the Connecticut Democratic Party on May 22, 2010 over 2006 Democratic U.S...
, the funds for building new office facilities around Oxford airport may be delayed.
Airlines and Destinations
Waterbury-Oxford is not currently served by scheduled air carriers, however there are multiple international charter companies that are based at Oxford including Key Air and Tradewind Aviation. Key Air offers aircraft management and maintenance as well as executive or private charter in one of their many privately operated aircraft. Tradwind offers some occasional scheduled service from the New York Metro area as well as executive charter.The state of Connecticut refuses to allow scheduled air carriers to operate out of Oxford.
Incidents and Accidents
13 January 2010A small experimental aircraft listed as a Glasair III under the registration N540WF crashed while landing at Oxford. The Oxford air traffic controllers are in agreement that the aircraft approached at an abnormally slow speed, causing the aircraft to stall 1/2 mile from the runway. The aircraft nose-dived into a power substation. The one pilot on board died.
13 January 2011
Exactly one year to date of the previous incident, a small light sport aircraft under the registration of N858CT operated by Image Aviation Services reported to Oxford Tower that it had experienced an engine failure. After failed attempts to maintain contact with the aircraft, it was reported that the aircraft had landed in a front yard in Cheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 28,543 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Connecticut is located in Cheshire. In 2009 Cheshire was ranked 72 in Money Magazine's 100 Best Places to Live.Likewise, in 2011 Cheshire was ranked 73 in...
. Due to the depth of snow on the ground, the aircraft flipped front over after the nose was lowered. The pilot and passenger aboard walked away safely.
External links
- Waterbury-Oxford Airport at Connecticut DOT website
- Image Aviation Flight Training
- Key Air Charter and Maintenance Service Provider
- Tradewind Aviation Charter and Scheduled Flight Service