National Treasures
American General Aviation Airports
By Nicole Hartman, FAA Safety Briefing Magazine
When commercial fliers think about air travel, it’s typically all about the destination. Maybe they’re visiting family and friends, going on an exciting vacation, or taking a work trip to a location they’ve never been to before. As they say, location, location, location. But there’s an important detail we all encounter before reaching our journey’s destination — the airport. While most of us have our favorite (and least favorite) airports to travel through on our journey, the airport is usually but a small detail in our plans to get from here to there. However, this important part of the journey might have a little more meaning to those who pilot themselves.
General aviation airports facilitate safe transportation to thousands of locations not served by commercial aviation. They provide a place for people to park their aircraft and get them fueled and maintained. GA airports also provide vital support for police, emergency, and medical operations. Additionally, many flight schools are located at these airports, supplying a much-needed place to learn to fly.
These airports play a pivotal role in our society, economy, and the aviation system. So, let’s learn a little about their history and take a closer look at some of these national gems.
Airport Archives
Airports have played a crucial role in enabling travel and commerce and have undergone numerous changes and developments along the way. Airports, as we know them today, did not exist until the 20th century, when aviation technology advancements made it possible for planes to fly longer distances and carry more passengers. The concept of an airport, or a designated area for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, has been around for as long as humans have been flying. However, the first recorded use of an airport was in 1909, at College Park Airport in Maryland.
College Park Airport was established by the Army Signal Corps to serve as a training location for Wilbur Wright to instruct two military officers to fly the government’s first airplane. In 1926 it became a civilian airport and the location of the first scheduled commercial flight in the United States. Today it is the world’s oldest continuously operated airport.
The role of the airport eventually shifted from military and governmental to commercial and civilian use. With the development of commercial aviation in the early 20th century, airports became more critical for transporting passengers and cargo. To meet the growing demand for air travel, airports began to expand and modernize, adding longer runways, more terminal buildings, and a more comprehensive range of amenities and services.
There are about 4,800 public-use general aviation airports in the U.S., each with its own unique characteristics and charm.
General aviation airports are public-use airports that do not have commercial service or have scheduled service with less than 2,500 passenger boardings each year. Typical operations include business flying, personal flying, industrial flying, charter activity, aerial photography, law enforcement, banner towing, skydiving, sightseeing flights, medical evacuation, organ transport, and search and rescue. These airports can also be used for agricultural purposes, such as scrub dusting or mosquito spraying. More than 90% of civil aircraft registered in the United States are general aviation aircraft. And more than 80% of certificated pilots operate general aviation aircraft. Additionally, about 88% of the airports listed in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) primarily support GA aircraft.
Discovering GA Destinations
There are many factors to consider when selecting a site for an airport. From an aeronautical viewpoint, the basic requirement is that it has a relatively flat area of land large enough to accommodate runways and other facilities and that this area is in a locality free from obstructions to air navigation, like mountains and tall buildings. Factoring in air transport needs, environmental considerations, and the space needed to accommodate a commercial airport makes site selection tricky. However, modest general aviation airports that only require a single runway, an apron, and a building that serves simultaneously as a terminal and administration area allow for more interesting and scenic destinations.
There are about 4,800 public-use general aviation airports in the U.S., each with its own unique characteristics and charm. Here are some of the airports that might pique your interest as actual destinations rather than just steps in the journey.
Mackinac Island Airport (MCD), Michigan
Mackinac Island Airport is a small but busy airport with a lighted 3,500-foot runway. It is open year-round for charter and private aircraft and serves tourists, workers, and island residents. No matter how you land, it’s a runway on an island and the airport is the major lifeline for residents when the winter ferry boat stops operations due to ice freezing over the lake. There are no motorized vehicles allowed on the island with two exceptions — a pickup truck/ambulance for the state police and the airplanes at the airport. While on the island your only transportation options are bike, foot, or horse-drawn carriage, but there’s plenty to explore with nine historic attractions and three beautiful state parks. And be sure to pick up some fudge from one of the family-run shops before your departure.
Alton Bay Seaplane Base (B18), New Hampshire
Alton Bay Seaplane Base is a public-use seaplane base in the summer and the only FAA-approved ice runway in the winter. Located in Belknap County, the airport provides direct access to Lake Winnipesaukee and the local restaurants and shops that surround the bay. The airport is run by a dedicated group of volunteers who assist pilots (seaplane, ski, and conventional) flying into the bay throughout the year and who also plow the ice runway and parallel taxiway in the winter. The ice runway, which only opens after the ice has reached the necessary 12-inch thickness to safely support aircraft, vehicles, and pedestrians, attracts several hundred pilots during its 4 to 8 week season and it can be one of the busiest airports in the state on winter weekends. This unique airport provides a great opportunity to try something new and challenging while experiencing winter flying. The FAA Safety Team has put together some information that will help you make good decisions when operating in and out of the ice runway.
Sedona-Oak Creek (SDX), Arizona
Often described as “America’s most scenic airport,” Sedona-Oak Creek is located near the Red Rocks on Tabletop Mesa 500 feet above the city. Established in 1955, it originally had no paved runway, and animals such as coyotes could be seen walking around the airstrip. Today the airport provides a gateway for travelers to enjoy hiking, camping, dining, shopping, and internationally renowned spa and resort destinations. It is not uncommon for tourists or locals driving around downtown Sedona to see an approaching airplane fly overhead and then suddenly disappear into the mountains without ever appearing to land. In addition to providing an amazing scenic overlook, the airport also supports aerial/wildland firefighting operations and medical evacuations, contributing to the overall safety and accessibility of the region.
Gilliam-McConnell Airfield (BQ1), North Carolina
Gilliam-McConnell Airfield in Carthage, N.C., is known for its onsite BBQ restaurant, so much so that its FAA identifier is cleverly named BQ1. A dedicated following of pilots, barbeque lovers, and airplane aficionados visit this airfield to enjoy some BBQ just steps from the runway. Have to wait for a table on a busy day? No problem! Everyone in your party will likely enjoy the opportunity to watch the planes landing and taking off, especially the kids. Speaking of which, the children who visited this past holiday season were delighted when Santa and his skydiving elves flew in, an event that the restaurant hosts yearly for the community.
George T Lewis Airport (CDK), Cedar Key, Florida
With the shortest paved public runway in Florida (2,302 feet), Cedar-Key Airport features water off both ends of the runway and is a great spot to work on your short-field landings and takeoffs. Once you’ve safely landed you can use the local taxi service, rent a golf cart, or just take the 30-minute scenic stroll to get into town for some fresh seafood. The Cedar Key area is part of a large, protected bird sanctuary and it’s common to see osprey, eagles, herons, egrets, buzzards, pelicans, and seagulls. There are even several osprey nests within the immediate area of the runway so watch out!
Furnace Creek Airport (DTH), California
Furnace Creek Airport in Death Valley is not only America’s hottest and driest airport, it’s the lowest at 210 feet below mean sea level. The first airport was built in Death Valley in 1923 by the Pacific Coast Borax Company for use by mining executives. However, the company was also building a luxury hotel in the area, so when it opened in 1927, many Hollywood elites like Clark Gable and Carole Lombard would frequent the airport. From air or ground, campsite or five-star hotel, this destination provides spectacular scenery.
Pacific City State Airport (PFC), Oregon
Pacific City State Airport has existed since the 1920s when a plane landed in a mowed cow pasture, which is still the site of the airstrip today. This popular Pacific Northwest coastal airport is valued locally for its economic, emergency, and transportation impacts. It’s a short walk to restaurants, fishing on the Nestucca River, the scenic ocean, and lodging. If you’d rather not walk you can borrow one of the airport’s bikes, located in a shed under a large tree on the west side of the airport (the access code is the unicom frequency code for the airport). Be it the scenery or the bikes, Pacific City State Airport has a quaint feeling, with one pilot noting he once had to wait for a cat to cross the runway before finishing taxiing to park. Note: pilots have also reported that there is usually a prevailing crosswind resulting in “fun” landings.
About 88% of the airports listed in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) primarily support GA aircraft.
Big Creek Airstrip (U60), Idaho
Idaho has nearly 100 backcountry airstrips, including Big Creek, that offer access to outdoor recreation like camping, fishing, and hiking. Flying in the mountains of Idaho can be a challenging endeavor, requiring proficiency in slow flight and airspeed control, a comprehensive knowledge of your aircraft’s performance, and well-prescribed personal limitations. Big Creek is known for its upslope before the runway as it is fairly steep for an airstrip. Pilots are advised that steep enclosed terrain may mask your view of traffic landing on the runway. Once safely on the ground, you can set up camp or visit the Big Creek Lodge, originally the Big Creek Hotel built in 1934. The hotel was destroyed in a fire in 2008 and the lodge was rebuilt and opened in 2018. Patrons have said it’s a lovely spot to fly in for a meal with a beautiful atmosphere.
Oh, The Places GA Can Go!
While I have not had the pleasure of visiting any of these locations personally (but I want to), and I have no real authority to do so, I feel confident in declaring these airports as destinations of their own and not just a logistical detail in the steps of a journey. Today, airports are an integral part of modern life, serving as hubs for travel and commerce. But general aviation airports are so much more than that. They have long histories and will continue to support great things yet to come. They bring people and communities together and foster future generations of aviators. They make aviation and airplanes accessible to everyone. Not to mention that they’ve facilitated countless $100 hamburgers. GA airports, like the aviators that fly through them, are diverse and will continue to enhance journeys across the nation.
Nicole Hartman is an FAA Safety Briefing associate editor and technical writer-editor in the FAA’s Flight Standards Service.
