Southeast Iowa Regional Airport
Encyclopedia
Southeast Iowa Regional Airport is a public airport
located two miles (3 km) southwest of the central business district
of Burlington
, a city in Des Moines County
, Iowa
, United States
. It is owned by the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport Authority. The airport is mostly used for general aviation
, but is also served by one commercial airline. Service is subsidized by the Essential Air Service
program.
company added Burlington to its Chicago
to Kansas City
route. National's two Ford Trimotor
planes made two daily flights to Burlington carrying ten passengers each and lumbering across the sky with a top speed of 152 miles per hour (68 m/s).
In 1943, a contract was signed with the U.S. Government to pave the runways and expand the site to 500 acres (202.3 ha). Braniff Airlines began offering two daily departures to Kansas City to carry passengers and cargo in 1944. Three years later in 1947, a long-range airport development plan was created for building a Quonset hut
administrative building, a U-shaped entrance road with parking, a gasoline service station for aircraft, a tourist court with recreational facilities, a maintenance building and hangers for aircraft.
The airport's hours of operation were extended in 1959 when runway lights were installed, enabling flights to takeoff and land at night. In 1967 an aviation easement was established, and the north-south runway was widened and extended to 1351 feet (411.8 m). The terminal building was remodeled for comfort in 1989.
In 1996, the Burlington Regional Airport's name was changed to the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport to reflect the entire area that is served. Currently, SIRA employs about 20 people. Passengers report that the laid back, inviting atmosphere at the airport reminds them of the TV show Wings.
s: 12/30 with a concrete
pavement measuring 5,350 x 100 ft (1,631 x 30 m) and 18/36 with an asphalt
surface measuring 6,702 x 150 ft (2,043 x 46 m).
For the 12-month period ending April 30, 2007, the airport had 20,172 aircraft operations, an average of 55 per day: 74% general aviation
, 16% air taxi
, 9% scheduled commercial and less than 1% military. There are 56 aircraft based at this airport: 89% single engine, 9% multi-engine and 2% ultralight.
(operated by Great Lakes Airlines
) departed Burlington bound for Quincy, IL collided with a King Air near the runway 4/13 intersection at Quincy Regional Airport
. Probable cause was the King Air pilots did not monitor the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
due to Quincy having very low air traffic. 12 people perished in the accident. Seven were employees of Dresser Industries
in Burlington.
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 two miles (3 km) southwest 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 Burlington
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
, a city in Des Moines County
Des Moines County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 40,325 in the county, with a population density of . There were 18,535 housing units, of which 17,003 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, 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 Southeast Iowa Regional Airport Authority. The airport 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...
, but is also served by one commercial airline. Service is subsidized by the Essential Air Service
Essential Air Service
Essential Air Service is a U.S. government program enacted to guarantee that small communities in the United States, which, prior to deregulation, were served by certificated airlines, maintained commercial service. Its aim is to maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service to these...
program.
History
The airport launched in 1929 when the Burlington City Council adopted a resolution to establish a Municipal Airport on an "L"-shaped 55 acres (22.3 ha) sod field on Summer Street in Burlington, Iowa. Regularly scheduled commercial passenger service started two years later in 1931 when the National Air TransportNational Air Transport
National Air Transport was a large airline. In 1930 it was bought by Boeing. The Air Mail Act of 1934 prohibited airlines and manufacturers from being under the same corporate umbrella, so Boeing split into 3 smaller companies, one of which is United Airlines, and it is this that included what had...
company added Burlington to its Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
route. National's two Ford Trimotor
Ford Trimotor
The Ford Trimotor was an American three-engined transport plane that was first produced in 1925 by the companies of Henry Ford and that continued to be produced until June 7, 1933. Throughout its time in production, a total of 199 Ford Trimotors were produced...
planes made two daily flights to Burlington carrying ten passengers each and lumbering across the sky with a top speed of 152 miles per hour (68 m/s).
In 1943, a contract was signed with the U.S. Government to pave the runways and expand the site to 500 acres (202.3 ha). Braniff Airlines began offering two daily departures to Kansas City to carry passengers and cargo in 1944. Three years later in 1947, a long-range airport development plan was created for building a Quonset hut
Quonset hut
A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel having a semicircular cross section. The design was based on the Nissen hut developed by the British during World War I...
administrative building, a U-shaped entrance road with parking, a gasoline service station for aircraft, a tourist court with recreational facilities, a maintenance building and hangers for aircraft.
The airport's hours of operation were extended in 1959 when runway lights were installed, enabling flights to takeoff and land at night. In 1967 an aviation easement was established, and the north-south runway was widened and extended to 1351 feet (411.8 m). The terminal building was remodeled for comfort in 1989.
In 1996, the Burlington Regional Airport's name was changed to the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport to reflect the entire area that is served. Currently, SIRA employs about 20 people. Passengers report that the laid back, inviting atmosphere at the airport reminds them of the TV show Wings.
Airlines and destinations
Top Destinations
| Rank | City | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Chicago-O’Hare, IL |
3,000 | Air Choice One |
| 2 |  St. Louis, MOLambert-St. Louis International Airport Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is a Class B international airport serving Greater St. Louis. It is located approximately northwest of downtown St. Louis in unincorporated St. Louis County between Berkeley and Bridgeton. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state with 250 daily... |
2,000 | Air Choice One |
Facilities and aircraft
Southeast Iowa Regional Airport covers an area of 537 acres (217.3 ha) which contains two runwayRunway
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: 12/30 with a concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
pavement measuring 5,350 x 100 ft (1,631 x 30 m) and 18/36 with an 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...
surface measuring 6,702 x 150 ft (2,043 x 46 m).
For the 12-month period ending April 30, 2007, the airport had 20,172 aircraft operations, an average of 55 per day: 74% 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...
, 16% 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...
, 9% scheduled commercial and less than 1% military. There are 56 aircraft based at this airport: 89% single engine, 9% multi-engine and 2% ultralight.
Administrators
Southeast Iowa Regional Airport Authority Board of Directors and Director:- Charles E. Walsh - Board Chair, representing the city of BurlingtonBurlington, IowaBurlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
- Dennis Krieger - Vice Chair, representing the city of West BurlingtonWest Burlington, IowaThe City of West Burlington is in Des Moines County, Iowa, United States, adjacent to the City of Burlington located on the bluffs of the Mississippi River. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 3,161...
- Dan Wiedemeier - Secretary, representing Des Moines CountyDes Moines County, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 40,325 in the county, with a population density of . There were 18,535 housing units, of which 17,003 were occupied.-2000 census:...
- Kurt Bangert - Board Member, representing the city of Burlington
- Jerry Sherwood - Board Member, representing the city of Burlington
- Mary Beaird - Airport Director
Accidents and incidents
On November 19 1996, United Express Flight 5925United Express Flight 5925
United Express flight 5925, operated by Great Lakes Airlines with a Beechcraft 1900, as their flight 5926, was a regularly scheduled flight from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Quincy, Illinois, with an intermediate stop in Burlington, Iowa. On November 19, 1996, the flight crashed upon...
(operated by Great Lakes Airlines
Great Lakes Airlines
Great Lakes Airlines , is an American regional airline operating domestic scheduled and charter services. Corporate headquarters are located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with hubs at Denver International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, McCarran...
) departed Burlington bound for Quincy, IL collided with a King Air near the runway 4/13 intersection at Quincy Regional Airport
Quincy Regional Airport
Quincy Regional Airport , also known as Baldwin Field, is a city-owned, public-use airport located 10 nautical miles east of the central business district of Quincy, a city in Adams County, Illinois, United States...
. Probable cause was the King Air pilots did not monitor the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
Common Traffic Advisory Frequency , is the name given to the VHF radio frequency used for air-to-air communication at U.S., Canadian and Australian non-towered airports....
due to Quincy having very low air traffic. 12 people perished in the accident. Seven were employees of Dresser Industries
Dresser Industries
Dresser Industries was a multinational corporation headquartered in Dallas, Texas, United States, which provided a wide range of technology, products, and services used for developing energy and natural resources...
in Burlington.