Athens-Ben Epps Airport
Encyclopedia
Athens-Ben Epps Airport is a county-owned public-use airport
located three nautical miles (6 km) east of the central business district
of Athens
, in Clarke County
, Georgia
, United States
. It is mostly used for general aviation
. The airport is named after Ben T. Epps
, the first aviator in the state of Georgia, who opened the airport in 1917.
Until May 23, 2008, the airport was served by twice-daily flights to Charlotte on Air Midwest
operating as US Airways Express
. Georgia Skies
is now the sole airline providing scheduled service to the airport, with daily flights to Atlanta.
There is also a flight school based at the airport (Falcon Aviation Academy).
of 808 feet (246 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt
paved runway
s: 9/27 measuring 5,522 by 100 feet (1,683 x 30 m) and 2/20 measuring 4,000 by 100 feet (1,219 x 30 m).
For the 12-month period ending July 31, 2007, the airport had 53,357 aircraft operations, an average of 146 per day: 90% general aviation
, 6% military
, 3% air taxi
and <1% scheduled commercial
. At that time there were 126 aircraft based at this airport: 56% single-engine
, 29% multi-engine, 13% jet
and 2% 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 miles (6 km) east 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 Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, in Clarke County
Clarke County, Georgia
Clarke County is a county in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 101,489. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 114,063...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is mostly used for 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...
. The airport is named after Ben T. Epps
Ben T. Epps
Ben T. Epps , known as "Georgia's First Aviator" was an American aviation pioneer. In 1907, he built a monoplane of his own design, now known as the Epps 1907 Monoplane. This was followed by other original monoplane and biplane designs in 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1916, 1924 and 1930...
, the first aviator in the state of Georgia, who opened the airport in 1917.
Until May 23, 2008, the airport was served by twice-daily flights to Charlotte on Air Midwest
Air Midwest
Air Midwest, Inc., was a Federal Aviation Administration Part 121 certificated air carrier operating under air carrier certificate number AMWA510A issued on May 15, 1965. It was headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, United States, and was a subsidiary of Mesa Air Group. It operated flights as US...
operating as US Airways Express
US Airways Express
US Airways Express is an airline brand name, rather than a fully certified airline, and as such, the US Airways Express name is used by several individually owned airlines or airline holding companies which provide regional airline and commuter service for US Airways.Operations are conducted from...
. Georgia Skies
GeorgiaSkies
GeorgiaSkies is an American commuter airline brand founded by Pacific Air Holdings to operate flights in Georgia after the airline was awarded an Essential Air Service contract to serve Athens and Macon, Georgia. The airline started flights on September 29, 2008 and uses the airline identifiers...
is now the sole airline providing scheduled service to the airport, with daily flights to Atlanta.
There is also a flight school based at the airport (Falcon Aviation Academy).
Facilities and aircraft
Athens-Ben Epps Airport covers an area of 425 acres (172 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 808 feet (246 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: 9/27 measuring 5,522 by 100 feet (1,683 x 30 m) and 2/20 measuring 4,000 by 100 feet (1,219 x 30 m).
For the 12-month period ending July 31, 2007, the airport had 53,357 aircraft operations, an average of 146 per day: 90% 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...
, 6% 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...
, 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...
and <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...
. At that time there were 126 aircraft based at this airport: 56% 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...
, 29% multi-engine, 13% 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 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...
.