St. Mary's County Regional Airport
Encyclopedia
St. Mary's County Regional Airport , also known as Captain Walter Francis Duke Regional Airport, is a public airport
located in St. Mary's County, Maryland, four miles (six km) northeast of the central business district
of Leonardtown
. The airport is also located 8 nmi (14.8 km) west of Naval Air Station Patuxent River
. It is owned and operated by the St. Mary's County Board of County Commissioners.
St. Mary's County Regional Airport has been in operation since 1969. The airport was re-dedicated as the Captain Walter Francis Duke Regional Airport in 2000. It recently reverted back to its original name.
paved runway
(11/29) measuring 4,150 x 75 ft (1,265 x 23 m).
For the 12-month period ending April 6, 2006, the airport had 52,618 aircraft operations, an average of 144 per day: 95% general aviation
, 5% air taxi
and <1% military. There are 100 aircraft based at this airport: 86% single engine, 8% multi-engine, 3% helicopter
s, 2% ultralight and 1% gliders
.
The airport houses small aircraft such as Pipers, gliders
, and Cessnas (152's, 172's, etc.). The Maryland State Police
house one of their helicopters, Trooper 7, at the airport. Trooper 7 flies medevacs all over the area including to as far north as Montgomery county and even in to northern Virginia. There is also a small flying club where people can learn to fly and rent planes to fly over the Chesapeake Bay
.
The St. Mary's Composite Squadron (MER-MD-089) http://www.capstmarys.org/ of the Civil Air Patrol
http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com meets at the terminal building and bases their aircraft there, as well. CAP's primary missions in the community include aerial and ground search and rescue. The local squadron is about 100 members strong, including senior members and cadets.
The St. Mary's County Chamber of Commerce
has its offices in the terminal building of the airport. The EAA
also meets there.
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 St. Mary's County, Maryland, four miles (six km) northeast 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 Leonardtown
Leonardtown, Maryland
Leonardtown is a town in and the county seat of St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,896 at the 2000 census. Leonardtown is perhaps most famous for the national oyster-shucking championship that occurs annually at the St...
. The airport is also located 8 nmi (14.8 km) west of Naval Air Station Patuxent River
Naval Air Station Patuxent River
"Pax River" redirects here. For the river, see Patuxent River.Naval Air Station Patuxent River , also known as NAS Pax River, is a United States Naval Air Station located in St. Mary's County, Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Patuxent River. It is home to the U.S...
. It is owned and operated by the St. Mary's County Board of County Commissioners.
St. Mary's County Regional Airport has been in operation since 1969. The airport was re-dedicated as the Captain Walter Francis Duke Regional Airport in 2000. It recently reverted back to its original name.
Facilities and aircraft
St. Mary's County Regional Airport covers an area of 200 acres (80.9 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...
(11/29) measuring 4,150 x 75 ft (1,265 x 23 m).
For the 12-month period ending April 6, 2006, the airport had 52,618 aircraft operations, an average of 144 per day: 95% 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...
, 5% 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 100 aircraft based at this airport: 86% single engine, 8% multi-engine, 3% 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, 2% ultralight and 1% gliders
Glider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
.
The airport houses small aircraft such as Pipers, gliders
Glider (sailplane)
A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Some gliders, known as motor gliders are used for gliding and soaring as well, but have engines which can, in some cases, be used for take-off or for extending a flight...
, and Cessnas (152's, 172's, etc.). The Maryland State Police
Maryland State Police
The Maryland State Police is the official state police force of the state of Maryland. The Maryland State Police is headquartered at 1201 Reisterstown Road in the Pikesville CDP in unincorporated Baltimore County.-Organizational structure:...
house one of their helicopters, Trooper 7, at the airport. Trooper 7 flies medevacs all over the area including to as far north as Montgomery county and even in to northern Virginia. There is also a small flying club where people can learn to fly and rent planes to fly over the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
.
The St. Mary's Composite Squadron (MER-MD-089) http://www.capstmarys.org/ of the Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com meets at the terminal building and bases their aircraft there, as well. CAP's primary missions in the community include aerial and ground search and rescue. The local squadron is about 100 members strong, including senior members and cadets.
The St. Mary's County Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
has its offices in the terminal building of the airport. The EAA
Experimental Aircraft Association
The Experimental Aircraft Association is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Since its inception it has grown internationally with over 160,000 members and about 1,000 chapters worldwide....
also meets there.