Brandywine Airport

Last updated
Brandywine Airport
Brandywine Airport KOQN.jpg
USGS 2006 orthophoto
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerNew Brandywine Airport Club, Inc.
Serves West Chester, Pennsylvania
Location West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania
Elevation  AMSL 466 ft / 142 m
Coordinates 39°59′24″N075°34′55″W / 39.99000°N 75.58194°W / 39.99000; -75.58194
Website brandywineairport.com
Map
USA Pennsylvania relief location map.svg
Airplane silhouette.svg
OQN
Location of airport in Pennsylvania
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Airplane silhouette.svg
OQN
OQN (the United States)
Runways
Direction LengthSurface
ftm
9/273,3471,020Asphalt
Statistics (2016)
Aircraft operations60,065
Based aircraft124

Brandywine Airport( ICAO : KOQN, FAA LID : OQN, formerly N99) [2] is a public-use general aviation airport in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania, United States, [3] three miles northeast of West Chester. It is designated as a reliever airport and a regional general aviation airport by the FAA. [4] It is privately owned by the New Brandywine Airport Club Inc, with a single fixed-base operator (New Brandywine Aero, Inc.), aircraft repair, as well as flight training in both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center is located adjacent to the airport, with taxiway access.

Contents

The airport identifier was previously N99 until it was changed to OQN in 2007. The airport does not currently have an IATA identifier.

History

Early Days

West Chester's first airport, Sky Haven Airport, opened in 1929 on farmland in East Goshen Township, two miles east of present-day Brandywine Airport. [5] [6] Sky Haven operated for three years, when the airport neighbors filed a civil lawsuit. Judge William Windle ruled the airport a public nuisance and ordered it to cease operation. [7]

Brandywine Airport, then named West Chester Airport, opened in its current location in 1940. [6] [8] Paul Gingrich opened the airport using a $623,500 grant from the Civil Aeronautics Board. [9] Gingrich was a flight instructor at the former Main Line Airport in Paoli, Pennsylvania, which was rapidly expanding that flight school with funding from the newly created Civilian Pilot Training Program. [10] West Chester State Teacher's College (now West Chester University) was already offering aeronautics courses and was interested in an airport closer to the campus.

In 1947, William B. Wilson purchased the airport, [6] which had two grass runways (the current runway 9/27, a perpendicular runway 18/36), and several maintenance buildings. [11] The airport underwent significant improvements in the 1980s. Runway 9/27, as well as the taxiways and ramps, were all paved, and a new terminal building was constructed. In 1982, the airport was renamed Brandywine Airport. Expansion of the neighboring industrial park also led to the removal of Runway 18/36.

New Owners and Improvements

In 1997, Wilson put the airport up for sale as an industrial park. [8] A group of pilots formed the non-profit New Brandywine Airport Club (NBAC) to purchase and run the airport. [12] Wilson was supportive of this plan, and the sale to NBAC for $2.5 million closed on July 25, 1997. To raise initial financing, NBAC sold ownership shares valued at $10,000. Two shares were required for a Tee hangar, and four shares were required for a corporate hangar. In addition, owners were responsible for construction costs. In total, 50 Tee hangars and 10 corporate hangars were constructed after the purchase.

After the purchase by NBAC, several significant projects were undertaken to rehabilitate and improve the facilities. The western end of Runway 9/27 was lengthened by approximately 300 feet in 1997. [11] [13] In 2001, the airport received a grant from Pennsylavania's Department of Transport (PennDOT) to develop an airport layout plan, which helped make the airport eligible for further federal and state funding under the FAA's Airport Improvement Program. [14] Additional corporate hangars were constructed in 2004. [15] In 2006, several projects were completed to improved safety and night operations: Runway 9/27 was resurfaced, new night lighting was added, a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) was added to the runway, and Taxiway A was lengthened to the western end of the runway. [13] [16] [17] In addition, the airport commissioned a new AWOS weather reporting system in 2007. Once the AWOS was operational, the airport's FAA location identifier was changed to OQN from N99, and the airport was assigned the ICAO identifier KOQN. [18] [19] Since then, the airport received PennDOT grants to replace the fuel piping system, [20] install a new airport beacon, [21] and rehabilitate Taxiway A. [22]

The FAA classifies Brandywine Airport as a reliever airport for handling overflow general aviation aircraft from Philadelphia International Airport. [4] Brandywine is also categorized as a regional general aviation airport because of its significance within the metropolitan region. PennDOT's Bureau of Aviation classifies Brandywine as an Intermediate general aviation airport. [23] A 2011 study commissioned by PennDOT reported that Brandywine Airport had an impact of $9.4 million to the state economy. [24]

Expansion Plans

The airport has commissioned a feasibility study for the implementation of a localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approach for runway 9/27. [25] The LPV study also involves the removal of trees to facilitate night VFR operations and vertically guided approaches. [26] The airport is expecting another grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Bureau of Aviation to widen Runway 9/27 to 60 feet. [27] Additional proposed projects include replacing the AWOS III and a rehabilitation of the runway lighting. [26]

Accidents and Incidents

Since 1962, two fatal accidents have occurred at Brandywine airport.

Facilities

Brandywine Airport covers 44 acres (18 ha) at an elevation of 466 feet (142 m). In the year ending September 21, 2016 the airport had 60,065 aircraft operations, average 164 per day: 98% general aviation and 2% air taxi. 124 aircraft were then based at the airport: 85% single-engine, 6% multi-engine, 1% jet and 8% helicopter. [1] The one runway, 9/27, is 3,347 by 50 feet (1,020 x 15 m) asphalt. [1] The runway is equipped with low-intensity runway lights (LIRL) and a 2-light precision approach path indicator (PAPI).

The airport has one terminal building served by the single fixed-base operator, New Brandywine Aero, Inc. Maintenance services are provided by Flight Dynamics. Brandywine Flight School provides fixed-wing instruction. The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center is adjacent to the airport on the north, with taxiway access to the runway. The museum hosted the Rotorfest helicopter airshow annually from 1996 through 2014.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport</span> Airport in Mohave County, Arizona

Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport is a public use airport located 1.15 miles north of the central business district of Bullhead City, in Mohave County, Arizona, United States. It is owned by Mohave County. The airport is across the Colorado River and one block away from Laughlin, Nevada. Many of the rooms at Laughlin's casino-hotels offer a view of the airport. It was named 2011 Airport of the Year by the Arizona Department of Transportation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland–Troutdale Airport</span> Airport in Troutdale, Oregon

Troutdale Airport, also known as Troutdale-Portland Airport, is a corporate, general aviation and flight-training airport serving the city of Troutdale, in Multnomah County, Oregon, United States. It is one of four airports in the Portland metropolitan area owned and operated by the Port of Portland. Troutdale Airport was established in 1920 as a private airfield, then purchased by the Port of Portland in 1942. It serves as a reliever airport for nearby Portland International Airport (PDX).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Williamsport Regional Airport</span> Commercial airport in Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Williamsport Regional Airport serves Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding area with a population of roughly 200,000. The airport processes approximately 40,000 passengers annually and has served north central Pennsylvania since 1929.

Franklin County Regional Airport, formerly known as Chambersburg Municipal Airport, is a general aviation airport located three miles (5 km) north of the Borough of Chambersburg, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, USA. The airport is situated approximately 45 miles southwest of Harrisburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky Memorial Airport</span> Airport in Stratford, Connecticut

Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport is a public airport in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, owned by the city of Bridgeport. It is three miles (6 km) southeast of downtown, in the town of Stratford. It was formerly Bridgeport Municipal Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auburn University Regional Airport</span> Airport in Auburn, Alabama

Auburn University Regional Airport with the Robert G. Pitts Field is a public use airport located two nautical miles (4 km) east of the central business district of Auburn, a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. The airport is owned by Auburn University and was formerly known as Auburn–Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport. It is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a general aviation facility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Airport (Minnesota)</span> Airport in Crystal, Minnesota

Crystal Airport is a public airport named after the city of Crystal in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. Most of the airport is in the city of Crystal. Portions north of taxiway C are in Brooklyn Park, and the north east corner of the airport is in Brooklyn Center. It is eight miles (13 km) northwest of the central business district of Minneapolis and is owned by the Metropolitan Airports Commission. The airport covers an area of approximately 430 acres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arlington Municipal Airport (Washington)</span> Airport in nm southwest of the CBD

Arlington Municipal Airport is a public airport located three miles (5 km) southwest of the central business district of Arlington, a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. It is owned and operated by the City of Arlington.

Tri-Cities Airport is a village-owned, public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of Endicott, a village in Broome County, New York, United States. According to the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009–2013, it is classified as a general aviation airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mason Jewett Field</span> Airport

Mason Jewett Field is a public use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) southeast of the central business district of Mason, in Ingham County, Michigan, United States. It is owned and operated by the Capital Region Airport Authority, which also oversees the nearby Capital Region International Airport (LAN) in Lansing, Michigan.

New Garden Airport, also known as New Garden Flying Field, is a public airport located in Toughkenamon, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lebanon-Warren County Airport</span> Airport in Lebanon, Ohio

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doylestown Airport</span> Airport

Doylestown Airport is a public airport in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, owned by the Bucks County Airport Authority (BCAA). It is two nautical miles north of Doylestown, Pennsylvania and has a single fixed-base operator, Leading Edge Aviation, Civil Air Patrol squadron 907, flight training, and aircraft rentals.

Chester County G. O. Carlson Airport is a public airport two miles (3 km) west of Coatesville, in Valley Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. It is owned by the Chester County Area Airport Authority.

New Richmond Regional Airport is a large general aviation airport located in the city of New Richmond, Wisconsin, United States. The airport is owned by the City of New Richmond and operated by a seven member airport commission. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021–2025, in which it is categorized as a local general aviation facility. As of October 1, 2022, the FAA upgraded the classification of the airport and it is now considered a regional airport facility. The State of Wisconsin classifies the airport as a corporate/transport airport.

Bunbury Airport is an airport servicing the Western Australian city of Bunbury. Bunbury Airport is located 8 km (5.0 mi) south-east of the city centre and is the only airport serving the city. The airport is used largely as a facility for General Aviation, pilot training and emergency services. Bunbury Airport serves an area that includes the City of Bunbury and the surrounding districts of Harvey, Dardanup, Capel and Donnybrook-Balingup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph A. Hardy Connellsville Airport</span> Airport in Fayette County, Pennsylvania

Joseph A. Hardy Connellsville Airport is a public-use airport located four nautical miles southwest of Connellsville in Dunbar Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is owned by the Fayette County Airport Authority and serves the south-eastern segment of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The airport serves the general aviation community with no scheduled commercial airline service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Custer Airport</span> Airport in Monroe, Michigan

Custer Airport, sometimes referred to as Monroe Custer Airport, is a city-owned public airport located in the city of Monroe in Monroe County, Michigan. The airport opened in November 1946 and was named for George Armstrong Custer, who spent much of his early life in Monroe. 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 local general aviation facility.

Carlisle Airport (Pennsylvania) (IATA: N94, ICAO: None, FAA LID: N94) is a publicly-owned, public use airport located one nautical miles (two mi, three km) southeast of the central business district of Carlisle, a city in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. This airport is owned and operated by South Middleton Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.

Ontonagon County Airport, also known as Schuster Field, is a county-owned public-use airport located 3 miles (5 km) west of the central business district of Ontonagon, Michigan, a village in Ontonagon County, Michigan, United States. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021–2025, in which it is categorized as a basic general aviation facility.

References

  1. 1 2 3 FAA Airport Form 5010 for OQN PDF . Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 16 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "West Chester-Brandywine Airport, PA". Aviation Safety Network.
  3. ↑ "COUNTY AIRPORTS FLYING HIGH \ TRAFFIC IS UP AT THE THREE AIRFIELDS. THEY HAVE GROWN TO HANDLE A LOT OF OVERFLOW FROM PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL." The Philadelphia Inquirer . October 14, 1999. B01 Neighbors Chester and Brandywine. Retrieved on August 11, 2010. "west of Coatesville the largest Brandywine Airport in West Goshen which is owned by a..."
  4. 1 2 "General Aviation Airports: A National Asset, Appendix B-2: List of General Aviation Airports in the Four New Categories" (PDF). FAA. 2012. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  5. ↑ "TEHS Quarterly Archives". Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 Jones, Jim. "A Brief History of Transportation in West Chester" . Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  7. ↑ Sweeney, E. C. (1933). "The airport as a nuisance" (PDF). Journal of Air Law and Commerce. 4 (3): 330–339. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  8. 1 2 Prill, Jodi (September 8, 2002). "Living A Dream". AviationPros.com. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  9. ↑ Jones, Jim; et al. "Miscellaneous Notes on the History of Streets, Roads and Public Works in Chester County" . Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  10. ↑ Freeman, Paul. "Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Pennsylvania: Western Philadelphia area" . Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Brandywine Airport Gallery" . Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  12. ↑ "New Brandywine Airport Club - Brandywine Airport (KOQN)". Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  13. 1 2 "Airport lauds grant for taxiway extension". Daily Local News. 2004-08-09. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  14. ↑ "3 county airports get state grants". Daily Local News. 2001-01-24. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  15. ↑ Najarian, Steve (2006). "Airport News" (PDF). Pennsylvania Pilot. Vol. 15, no. 1. Aero Club of Pennsylvania. p. 4. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  16. ↑ "BRANDYWINE AIRPORT (N99) COMPLETES $2,000,000 AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM — Brandywine Airport (KOQN)". koqn.net. 2006-11-07. Archived from the original on 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  17. ↑ Narajian, Steve (2006). "Airport News" (PDF). Pennsylvania Pilot. Vol. 17, no. 2. Aero Club of Pennsylvania. p. 4. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  18. ↑ "New Airport ID - KOQN - Brandywine Airport (KOQN)". Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  19. ↑ Farashian, Elaine (March 15, 2007). "Airport News" (PDF). Pennsylvania Pilot. Vol. 18, no. 2. Aero Club of Pennsylvania. p. 4. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  20. ↑ "Brandywine Airport Receives state grants for upgrades". Daily Local News. 2007-08-31. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  21. ↑ Farashian, Elaine (September 16, 2010). "Airport News" (PDF). Pennsylvania Pilot. Vol. 21, no. 4. Aero Club of Pennsylvania. p. 4. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  22. ↑ Metz, Gretchen (2010-03-30). "Three county airports to receive funding". Daily Local News. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  23. ↑ "2007 State Aviation System Plan, Chapter 1: Airport System Classifications" (PDF). PennDOT. 2007. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  24. ↑ "Economic Impact of Aviation in Pennsylvania" (PDF). PennDOT. 2011. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  25. ↑ "3 Chester County airports receive funds to improve safety and operations". Daily Local News. 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  26. 1 2 Farashian, Elaine. "Regional Airport Report" (PDF). Pennsylvania Pilot. Vol. 27, no. 1. Aero Club of Pennsylvania. p. 5. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  27. ↑ Farashian, Elaine. "Regional Airport Report" (PDF). Pennsylvania Pilot. Vol. 28, no. 2. Aero Club of Pennsylvania. p. 6. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  28. ↑ "National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Final Report". NTSB . Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  29. ↑ "2 dead after small plane crashes in West Goshen". Daily Local News. 2015-03-29. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  30. ↑ "National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Final Report". NTSB . Retrieved 2017-08-24.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.