St. Marys Municipal Airport
Encyclopedia
St. Marys Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport
three miles (5 km) southeast of the central business district
of St. Marys
, a city in Elk County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
.. This general aviation
airport is located off South Michael Road in St. Marys.
Although most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier
for the FAA
and IATA
, St. Marys Municipal Airport is assigned OYM by the FAA and STQ by the IATA.
St. Marys Borough Council accepted the airport project with the stipulation that no taxpayer money would be required for building, improving or operating the airport. Local industry, such as the local powder medal manufacturers, strongly supported the airport since the beginning.
The airport officially opened on June 30, 1950 with a 3,700' x 75' runway. Following the opening, the existing Hoffman residence was renovated into an administration building. In 1954, a runway rehabilitation project that extended the paved portion of the runway to 2,400' was completed. Since then, there have been millions of dollars in Federal, State, and local funds invested in the airport. In 1998,the airport completed a major runway rehabilitation program. The entire runway surface was replaced along with the repair and rehabilitation of the drainage system, lighting, taxiways, and the apron. In 1999, a large commercial hangar was constructed that is presently used for minor repairs, overhauls, and the repair of damaged aircraft. A new terminal and restaurant were recently constructed, as well as the addition of an airport industrial park. Victor Straub is the current Chairman of the Airport Authority.
designated 10/28 with a 4,300 x 75 ft (1,311 x 23 m) asphalt
pavement. For the 12-month period ending October 31, 2007, the airport had 6,730 aircraft operations, an average of 18 per day: 85% general aviation
, 15% air taxi
and <1% military
. At that time there were 26 aircraft based at this airport: 80% single-engine
, 4% multi-engine, 8% helicopter
and 8% ultralight.
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...
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 St. Marys
St. Marys, Pennsylvania
St. Marys is a city in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 14,502 at the 2000 census. Originally a small, Bavarian Catholic town, St. Marys was founded December 8, 1842. It is home to Straub Brewery and the first Benedictine convent in the United States. In 1992, the...
, a city in Elk County
Elk County, Pennsylvania
Elk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 31,946.Elk County was created on April 18, 1843, from parts of Jefferson, Clearfield and McKean Counties, and is named for the Eastern elk that historically inhabited the region. Its county...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.. This 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...
airport is located off South Michael Road in St. Marys.
Although most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier
Location identifier
A location identifier is a symbolic representation for the name and the location of an airport, navigation aid, or weather station, and is used for manned air traffic control facilities in air traffic control, telecommunications, computer programming, weather reports, and related services.-ICAO...
for the FAA
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...
and IATA
International Air Transport Association
The International Air Transport Association is an international industry trade group of airlines headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where the International Civil Aviation Organization is also headquartered. The executive offices are at the Geneva Airport in SwitzerlandIATA's mission is to...
, St. Marys Municipal Airport is assigned OYM by the FAA and STQ by the IATA.
History
The original concept for the airport was born on February 15, 1944. A chairman was appointed and a committee was formed to begin work developing an airport to serve the region. The site for the new airport along South Michael Road was located and approved in October, 1944.St. Marys Borough Council accepted the airport project with the stipulation that no taxpayer money would be required for building, improving or operating the airport. Local industry, such as the local powder medal manufacturers, strongly supported the airport since the beginning.
The airport officially opened on June 30, 1950 with a 3,700' x 75' runway. Following the opening, the existing Hoffman residence was renovated into an administration building. In 1954, a runway rehabilitation project that extended the paved portion of the runway to 2,400' was completed. Since then, there have been millions of dollars in Federal, State, and local funds invested in the airport. In 1998,the airport completed a major runway rehabilitation program. The entire runway surface was replaced along with the repair and rehabilitation of the drainage system, lighting, taxiways, and the apron. In 1999, a large commercial hangar was constructed that is presently used for minor repairs, overhauls, and the repair of damaged aircraft. A new terminal and restaurant were recently constructed, as well as the addition of an airport industrial park. Victor Straub is the current Chairman of the Airport Authority.
Facilities and aircraft
St. Marys Municipal Airport covers an area of 283 acres (114.5 ha) and contains one 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...
designated 10/28 with a 4,300 x 75 ft (1,311 x 23 m) 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...
pavement. For the 12-month period ending October 31, 2007, the airport had 6,730 aircraft operations, an average of 18 per day: 85% 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...
, 15% 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
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...
. At that time there were 26 aircraft based at this airport: 80% 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...
, 4% multi-engine, 8% 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...
and 8% ultralight.
External links
- St. Marys Municipal Airport, official web site
- St. Marys Municipal Airport at Pennsylvania DOT Bureau of Aviation