Sikorsky Memorial Airport

Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport

IATA: BDR – ICAO: KBDR – FAA LID: BDR
– WMO: 72504
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner City of Bridgeport
Serves Bridgeport, Connecticut
Location Stratford, Connecticut
Hub for Tailwind Air Service
Elevation AMSL 9 ft / 3 m
Coordinates 41°09′48″N 073°07′34″W / 41.16333°N 73.12611°W / 41.16333; -73.12611Coordinates: 41°09′48″N 073°07′34″W / 41.16333°N 73.12611°W / 41.16333; -73.12611
Website www.bridgeportct.gov/...
Maps

FAA airport diagram
BDR
BDR

Location of airport in Connecticut/United States

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
11/29 4,761 1,451 Asphalt
6/24 4,677 1,426 Asphalt
Helipads
Number Length Surface
ft m
H1 40 12 Asphalt
Statistics (2015)
Aircraft operations 47,380
Based aircraft 190

Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport (IATA: BDR, ICAO: KBDR, FAA LID: BDR) is a public airport in Fairfield County, Connecticut,[1] owned by the city of Bridgeport. It is three miles (6 km) southeast of downtown,[1] in the town of Stratford. It was formerly Bridgeport Municipal Airport.

It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, in which it is categorized as a national general aviation facility.[2] It has three Fixed-Base Operators (FBO's) and several private hangars. The last airline service was offered by US Helicopter, with scheduled flights to New York's Downtown Manhattan Heliport, continuing to John F. Kennedy International Airport. On September 25, 2009 US Helicopter shut down.

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 now St. Michaels Cemetery.[3] It became known as Mollison Field after Captain Jim Mollison'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.

On October 17, 1962 President John F. Kennedy gave a speech at this airport.[4]

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.[5]

On November 2, 1992 President George H W Bush gave a speech at this airport.

In the 1950s American Airlines stopped at Bridgeport, one Convair a day each way; they left in 1960, replaced by Allegheny, which pulled out in 1975-76.

At one point in the 1980s the airport had three airlines, US Airways Express, Delta Connection, and Continental Connection, but service to the airport declined in the 1990s. Airlines complained that the short runway didn't allow larger planes. Continental Connection dropped the airport in 1994, followed by Delta Connection in 1997. Finally in November 1999 US Airways Express ended service, leaving Bridgeport with no airlines.

The airport has been the subject of heated debate in Stratford and Bridgeport. While the City of Bridgeport owns the airport, the whole property is in the Town of Stratford. Before the end of World War II little more than salt marshes surrounded the airport, but in the 1950s and 1960s Stratford permitted extensive residential development in the Lordship area near 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 runway lengthening that would interfere with existing roads. Even when the airport was served by major carriers, Stratford advocated for limits on flights because of noise in the Lordship and South End neighborhoods. In 2003 the Federal Aviation Administration mandated the lengthening of the two runways with unpaved safety overruns at each end. Stratford and Connecticut officials have 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 the overruns.

In June 2006 US Helicopter began scheduled flights to New York's Downtown Manhattan Heliport, continuing to John F. Kennedy International Airport. This was the first airline service since 1999. On September 25, 2009 US Helicopter suddenly shut down.

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.

Facilities and aircraft

The Metlife blimp on the southern field in July 2011.

Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport covers 800 acres (324 ha) at an elevation of 9 feet (3 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways: 11/29 is 4,761 by 150 feet (1,451 x 46 m) and 6/24 is 4,677 by 150 feet (1,426 x 46 m). It has one asphalt helipad, 40 by 40 feet (12 x 12 m).[1]

In the year ending June 30, 2010 the airport had 67,951 aircraft operations, average 186 per day: 96% general aviation, 3% air taxi, and 1% military. 190 aircraft were then based at the airport: 74% single-engine, 13% jet, 11% multi-engine, and 3% helicopter.[1]

The Connecticut Wing Civil Air Patrol 022nd Stratford Eagles Composite Squadron (NER-CT-022) operates out of this airport.[6]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Tailwind Air Service Boston, New York-Skyport, New Bedford [7]

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
FedEx Feeder Hartford

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 FAA Airport Master Record for BDR (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective May 31, 2012.
  2. ↑ "List of NPIAS Airports" (PDF). FAA.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  3. ↑ http://lordshiphistory.com/LordshipAviation.html
  4. ↑ http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKWHA-140-002.aspx
  5. ↑ History of Sikorsky Memorial Airport from City of Bridgeport website
  6. ↑ http://ct022.ctwg.cap.gov/ Civil Air Patrol 022nd
  7. ↑ http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Tailwind-to-open-Sikorsky-Manhattan-seaplane-6431799.php Tailwind Air Service Bridgeport


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