Sikorsky Memorial Airport
Encyclopedia
Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport , formerly known as Bridgeport Municipal Airport, is a public airport
located in Stratford
, three miles (5 km) southeast of the central business district
of Bridgeport
, in Fairfield County
, Connecticut
, United States
. In the past, the airport was usually referred to on destination maps and flight status displays as "Bridgeport".
The airport has a passenger terminal, general aviation terminal, and several private hangars. The passenger terminal contains airline check-in counters and offices, three arrival/departure gates, rental car desks, and a restaurant. The last commercial service at the airport was provided by US Helicopter
, which offered scheduled service to New York's Downtown Manhattan Heliport
, and continuing service to John F. Kennedy International Airport
. On 25 September 2009, US Helicopter
shut down, ending their service.
of 9 feet (3 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt
paved runway
s: 6/24 measuring 4,677 by 150 feet (1,426 x 46 m) and 11/29 measuring 4,761 by 150 feet (1,451 x 46 m). It also has one helipad
measuring 40 by 40 feet (12 x 12 m).
For the 12-month period ending February 28, 2007, the airport had 77,617 aircraft operations, an average of 212 per day: 96% general aviation
, 3% air taxi
and 1% military. There are 241 aircraft based at this airport: 72% single engine, 11% multi-engine, 15% jet aircraft, 2% helicopter
s and <1% ultralight.
's crash landing there in 1933 during an attempt to fly across the Atlantic. The City of Bridgeport purchased the airport in 1937, after which it became Bridgeport Municipal Airport. In 1972, it was rededicated as the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport, honoring the airport's most famous tenant, Igor Sikorsky
, who selected Stratford as the site for his Sikorsky Aviation Corporation
in 1929.
, Delta Connection
, and Continental Connection
, however service to the airport declined rapidly in the 1990s. Airlines complained that the short length of the runway was preventing them from flying larger planes into the airport, and reducing profit. Continental Connection discontinued service to the airport in 1994, followed soon after by Delta Connection, which ended service in 1997. Finally, in November 1999, US Airways Express ended service to the airport, leaving Bridgeport with no commercial service.
The airport has been the subject of heated debate in the municipalities of Stratford and Bridgeport. While the City of Bridgeport owns the airport, the entirety of the property is located in the Town of Stratford. Before the end of World War II there was little more than salt marshes surrounding the airport, but in the 1950s and 1960s Stratford permitted extensive residential development in the Lordship area adjacent to the airfield. Bridgeport has pushed for runway and terminal expansion, hoping to attract new service to the airport, arguing that service to the airport is necessary for the growth of Bridgeport's economy. Stratford has opposed terminal expansion and any runway lengthening that would interfere with existing local roads. Even when the airport was served by major carriers, Stratford advocated for strict limits on flights in and out the airport because of noise impinging upon the Lordship and South End neighborhoods. In 2003, the Federal Aviation Administration
mandated the lengthening of the two runways to accommodate unpaved safety overruns at each end. Stratford and Connecticut officials have vigorously resisted the FAA effort to install the overruns, but the FAA has notified Stratford, Bridgeport and state officials that it may obtain a federal court order to use eminent domain to complete necessary work to add the overruns.
In June 2006, US Helicopter
began scheduled service to New York's Downtown Manhattan Heliport
, with continuing service to John F. Kennedy International Airport
. This marked the first time since 1999 that the airport welcomed regularly scheduled commercial airline flights. On 25 September 2009, US Helicopter
suddenly shut down, ending their service.
In February 2007, state legislators from Bridgeport, in an effort to force expansion, introduced legislation allowing the State of Connecticut
to take over the airport. Officials from Stratford would prefer the town take ownership of the airport and oppose the proposed state takeover.
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 Stratford
Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was founded by Puritans in 1639....
, three miles (5 km) southeast 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 Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, in Fairfield County
Fairfield County, Connecticut
Fairfield County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The county population is 916,829 according to the 2010 Census. There are currently 1,465 people per square mile in the county. It is the most populous county in the State of Connecticut and contains...
, 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...
. In the past, the airport was usually referred to on destination maps and flight status displays as "Bridgeport".
The airport has a passenger terminal, general aviation terminal, and several private hangars. The passenger terminal contains airline check-in counters and offices, three arrival/departure gates, rental car desks, and a restaurant. The last commercial service at the airport was provided by US Helicopter
US Helicopter
US Helicopter was an independent air shuttle service that operated regularly scheduled helicopter flights from Manhattan to Newark and JFK airports. Flights left from Downtown and Midtown Manhattan Heliports to Delta Air Lines Terminal 3 at John F. Kennedy International Airport...
, which offered scheduled service to New York's Downtown Manhattan Heliport
Downtown Manhattan Heliport
The Downtown Manhattan Heliport , also known as the Downtown Manhattan/Wall St. Heliport, is a helicopter landing platform at Pier 6 in the East River in Manhattan, New York.- History :...
, and continuing service to John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
. On 25 September 2009, US Helicopter
US Helicopter
US Helicopter was an independent air shuttle service that operated regularly scheduled helicopter flights from Manhattan to Newark and JFK airports. Flights left from Downtown and Midtown Manhattan Heliports to Delta Air Lines Terminal 3 at John F. Kennedy International Airport...
shut down, ending their service.
Facilities and aircraft
Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport covers an area of 800 acres (323.7 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 9 feet (3 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: 6/24 measuring 4,677 by 150 feet (1,426 x 46 m) and 11/29 measuring 4,761 by 150 feet (1,451 x 46 m). It also has one helipad
Helipad
Helipad is a common abbreviation for helicopter landing pad, a landing area for helicopters. While helicopters are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where a helicopter can safely...
measuring 40 by 40 feet (12 x 12 m).
For the 12-month period ending February 28, 2007, the airport had 77,617 aircraft operations, an average of 212 per day: 96% 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...
, 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% military. There are 241 aircraft based at this airport: 72% single engine, 11% multi-engine, 15% jet 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...
s and <1% ultralight.
History
The airport was originally Avon Field, a racetrack where aircraft landed on the grass infield. It was the site of the country's first air show held in 1911, on the grounds of what is currently St. Michaels Cemetery. It became known as Mollison Field after Captain Jim MollisonJim Mollison
James Allan Mollison was a famous Scottish pioneer aviator who set many records during the rapid development of aviation in the 1930s.-Early years:...
's crash landing there in 1933 during an attempt to fly across the Atlantic. The City of Bridgeport purchased the airport in 1937, after which it became Bridgeport Municipal Airport. In 1972, it was rededicated as the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport, honoring the airport's most famous tenant, Igor Sikorsky
Igor Sikorsky
Igor Sikorsky , born Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky was a Russian American pioneer of aviation in both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft...
, who selected Stratford as the site for his Sikorsky Aviation Corporation
Sikorsky Aircraft
The Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Stratford, Connecticut. Its parent company is United Technologies Corporation.-History:...
in 1929.
Controversy
At one time in the 1980s, the airport was simultaneously serviced by three carriers, US Airways ExpressUS 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...
, Delta Connection
Delta Connection
Delta Connection is the name under which a number of individually owned regional airlines and one wholly owned regional carrier operate short and medium haul routes in association with Delta Air Lines Inc...
, and Continental Connection
Continental Connection
Continental Connection is a brand name under which several commuter airline carriers and their holding companies operate services marketed exclusively by Continental Airlines...
, however service to the airport declined rapidly in the 1990s. Airlines complained that the short length of the runway was preventing them from flying larger planes into the airport, and reducing profit. Continental Connection discontinued service to the airport in 1994, followed soon after by Delta Connection, which ended service in 1997. Finally, in November 1999, US Airways Express ended service to the airport, leaving Bridgeport with no commercial service.
The airport has been the subject of heated debate in the municipalities of Stratford and Bridgeport. While the City of Bridgeport owns the airport, the entirety of the property is located in the Town of Stratford. Before the end of World War II there was little more than salt marshes surrounding the airport, but in the 1950s and 1960s Stratford permitted extensive residential development in the Lordship area adjacent to the airfield. Bridgeport has pushed for runway and terminal expansion, hoping to attract new service to the airport, arguing that service to the airport is necessary for the growth of Bridgeport's economy. Stratford has opposed terminal expansion and any runway lengthening that would interfere with existing local roads. Even when the airport was served by major carriers, Stratford advocated for strict limits on flights in and out the airport because of noise impinging upon the Lordship and South End neighborhoods. In 2003, 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...
mandated the lengthening of the two runways to accommodate unpaved safety overruns at each end. Stratford and Connecticut officials have vigorously resisted the FAA effort to install the overruns, but the FAA has notified Stratford, Bridgeport and state officials that it may obtain a federal court order to use eminent domain to complete necessary work to add the overruns.
In June 2006, US Helicopter
US Helicopter
US Helicopter was an independent air shuttle service that operated regularly scheduled helicopter flights from Manhattan to Newark and JFK airports. Flights left from Downtown and Midtown Manhattan Heliports to Delta Air Lines Terminal 3 at John F. Kennedy International Airport...
began scheduled service to New York's Downtown Manhattan Heliport
Downtown Manhattan Heliport
The Downtown Manhattan Heliport , also known as the Downtown Manhattan/Wall St. Heliport, is a helicopter landing platform at Pier 6 in the East River in Manhattan, New York.- History :...
, with continuing service to John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
. This marked the first time since 1999 that the airport welcomed regularly scheduled commercial airline flights. On 25 September 2009, US Helicopter
US Helicopter
US Helicopter was an independent air shuttle service that operated regularly scheduled helicopter flights from Manhattan to Newark and JFK airports. Flights left from Downtown and Midtown Manhattan Heliports to Delta Air Lines Terminal 3 at John F. Kennedy International Airport...
suddenly shut down, ending their service.
In February 2007, state legislators from Bridgeport, in an effort to force expansion, introduced legislation allowing the State of 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...
to take over the airport. Officials from Stratford would prefer the town take ownership of the airport and oppose the proposed state takeover.
Cargo
External links
- Sikorsky Memorial Airport at City of Bridgeport website
- Lordship Aviation