Republic Airport Explained

Republic Airport
Image2-Width:250
Image Map Caption:FAA airport diagram
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Zoom:10
Mapframe-Wikidata:yes
Iata:FRG
Icao:KFRG
Faa:FRG
Type:Public
Owner:New York State Department of Transportation
Operator:AvPORTS
City-Served:Long Island
New York metropolitan area
Location:East Farmingdale, New York
Elevation-F:82
Coordinates:40.7289°N -73.4133°W
R1-Number:14/32
R1-Length-F:6,833
R1-Surface:Asphalt
R2-Number:1/19
R2-Length-F:5,516
R2-Surface:Asphalt
Stat1-Header:Aircraft operations (2019)
Stat1-Data:219,672[1]
Stat2-Header:Based aircraft (Aug. 2021)
Stat2-Data:350
Footnotes:Source: Federal Aviation Administration[2]
Opened:1928

Republic Airport is a public airport in East Farmingdale in Suffolk County, on Long Island, in New York, United States[3]

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a general aviation reliever airport.[4] Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 3,586 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008,[5] 2,866 in 2009, and 2,783 in 2010.[6] It is the busiest public general aviation airport within the State of New York and the third largest airport overall by total annual flights – behind only John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, respectively.[7]

On behalf of the New York State Department of Transportation, the airport is currently managed by AvPORTS – an American operator and manager of airports.

History

Early history

Republic Airport was developed by Sherman Fairchild as the Fairchild Flying Field in East Farmingdale in late 1927, after determining that his existing flying field & airplane factory complex on Motor Avenue in South Farmingdale was inadequate to support the mass production of his Fairchild FC-2 and Fairchild 71 airplanes.[8] [9] Fairchild purchased property on the south side of Conklin Street (New York State Route 24) and had the airport's original layout plan prepared on November 3, 1927.[10]

The 77.967acres flying field was developed in the late winter and early spring of 1928 and was originally owned and operated by Fairchild Engine & Airplane Manufacturing Company. The first flights from the Fairchild Flying Field took place in late spring of 1928 after the Fairchild Airplane and Airplane Engine factories and hangar were completed and aircraft were produced in the new factories. After Fairchild moved to Hagerstown, Maryland in 1931, Grumman Aircraft Engineering built planes at the airport from 1932 until the spring of 1937.

Seversky Aircraft moved there in January 1935 from College Point in Queens, and became Republic Aviation in 1939. Republic built more than 9,000 P-47 Thunderbolts in Farmingdale during World War II and expanded Republic Field, erected three hangars and a control tower and lengthened and hardened the runways.[11] Republic built the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet and the swept-wing F-84 Thunderstreak during the Korean War and extended Runway 14/32 to the southeast over the objections of Long Island State Parks Commissioner Robert Moses.[12]

Republic Aviation produced over 800 F-105 Thunderchief fighter bombers during the Vietnam Era.[13] Republic Aviation was acquired by the Fairchild-Hiller Corp. in 1965 for $24.5 million and Fairchild stock. Flight Safety Inc. ran Republic Airport as a general aviation airport beginning on December 7, 1966, for the Joseph Mailman's Farmingdale Corporation, which had purchased the field from Fairchild Hiller for $8 million in 1965.

Modern history

MTA era: 1969 – 1983

Republic Airport was acquired by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on March 31, 1969.[14] The MTA installed an instrument landing system (ILS) on Runway 14/32, built the terminal building at Republic Airport, and cooperated with the Federal Aviation Administration, which built the current, 100feet control tower.

The MTA also got the US Government to transfer 94acres to the airport in 1971 and purchased the 77acres Lambert property on the north side of New York State Route 109 and the Breslau Gardens development between New Highway and NY 109 in 1972.[15] [16] [17]

The MTA also proposed building a major intermodal transportation facility at the airport.[18] This hub would have served trains, buses, and general aviation, and would have also been the site of three office buildings built atop the Long Island Rail Road's Main Line using air rights – however, this project was ultimately never built.[19] Similar proposals were made in the 21st century – but those, too, were never built.[20]

NYSDOT era: 1983 – present

After complaints that the MTA was not contributing taxes to local governments and questions about the MTA spending at Republic, ownership of the airport was transferred to the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) by the New York State Legislature in April 1983, to promote economic development in the surrounding Long Island region. The Republic Airport Commission was created by the New York State Legislature in 1982 (Chap. 370, L.1982) "...as an advisory council to the Commissioner of Transportation in the administration and management of the Republic Airport facilities and its surrounding areas with respect to projects to be undertaken at such airport."[21]

The Long Island Republic Airport Historical Society, was formed in 1984, and was chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York in 1987.[22] [23]

In 1987, Fairchild went out of business. Much of its historic Fairchild-Republic factory complex was subsequently sold and redeveloped as the Airport Plaza shopping center.[24]

In the early 1990s, NYSDOT proposed extending one of the runways at the airport at its northern end. The proposal was ultimately called-off in 1995.[25]

In late May 2015, a major fire broke out in one of the former, vacant Fairchild-Republic aircraft factory buildings, severely damaging the structure.[26]

In April 2023, Republic Jet Center announced that it broke ground on a new, $28 million FBO facility at the airport to replace its old one.[27] The 50000square feet facility is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2024.

Historic airline service

The airport has seen scheduled passenger airlines over the years – including Cosmopolitan Airlines and Provincetown-Boston Airlines (operating as Continental Express) in the 1980s, and Northwest Airlink in the 1990s.[28] [29] [30] [31]

Facilities

Runways and helipads

The airport covers 530acres of land and has two runways and two helipads:[32] [33] [34]

Airport buildings and structures

Republic Airport has a two-story terminal building serving passengers boarding charter flights to nearby cities, such as Atlantic City, New Jersey. This terminal building was constructed in the 1980s and has previously been used by regional airlines, including Northwest AIrlink.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has an office at the terminal building; however, it is staffed by appointment only and pilots must request immigration services four hours prior to arrival.[35]

General aviation

There are three fixed-base operators that serve corporate and light general aviation customers at Republic Airport: Sheltair (now Modern Aviation), Republic Jet Center (affiliated with Signature Aviation), and Atlantic Aviation.[36] [37]

Museums

The Long Island Republic Airport Historical Society maintains historical archives and sixteen photographic exhibits illustrating the history of aviation on the first floor of the Republic Airport terminal building, behind the airport's control tower, on the east side of New York State Route 110.

Republic Airport is also home to the American Airpower Museum, which offers visitors the opportunity to see World War II aircraft in flight.[38]

Operations

Charter airlines serving Republic Airport include Air Rutter International, Northeastern Aviation Corporation, Ponderosa Air, Sundance Aviation, Talon Air, and Ventura Air Services.[39] [40] [41] [42] [43]

Most NHL teams flying charter flights onto Long Island to play the New York Islanders use Republic Airport.[44] [45]

Emergency services

Troop L of the New York State Police, which provides highway patrol for state parkways in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, is headquartered at the airport.[46]

Republic Airport has a full-time Index A ARFF team located at the main headquarters and terminal building. The airport has two crash trucks (Rescue 3 and 4), and a support vehicle pickup truck (Rescue 1). The airport is also served by the East Farmingdale Volunteer Fire Company and Village of Farmingdale Fire Department when mutual aid is requested.[47] [48] [49]

Republic Airport Fire Rescue also responds to aviation incidents in the general vicinity outside of the airport.

Accidents and incidents

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Airport Operations . FAAOPSNET . Federal Aviation Administration . 22 August 2021.
  2. . Federal Aviation Administration. Effective August 21, 2021.
  3. Web site: Bleyer . Bill . List of Geographical Misnomers . . https://web.archive.org/web/20060528105917/http://www.newsday.com/features/printedition/longislandlife/ny-lflist08,0,2822025.story?coll=ny-lilife-print . May 28, 2006 . September 11, 2007 .
  4. Web site: 2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A . PDF, 2.03 MB . National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems . Federal Aviation Administration . October 4, 2010 .
  5. Web site: Enplanements for CY 2008 . PDF, 1.0 MB . CY 2008 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data . Federal Aviation Administration . December 18, 2009 .
  6. Web site: Enplanements for CY 2010 . PDF, 189 KB . CY 2010 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data . Federal Aviation Administration . October 4, 2011 .
  7. Web site: Asbury . John . 2023-03-13 . Living close to Republic Airport brings trade-off: The potential for plane crashes . 2024-06-23 . Newsday . en.
  8. Book: Stoff, Joshua . Long Island Airports . . 0738536768.
  9. Book: Neubeck . Ken . Airplane Manufacturing in Farmingdale . Douglas . Leroy E. . Society . Long Island Republic Airport Historical . 2016-03-28 . Arcadia Publishing . 978-1-4396-5498-9 . en.
  10. Web site: 2003-02-28 . 1966: The fight over the future of Republic . Long Island Business News . 2024-06-24 . en-US.
  11. Web site: Spangler . Nicholas . 2015-07-22 . Historical marker placed at East Farmingdale's Airport Plaza pays nod to WWII airplane maker . 2024-06-24 . Newsday . en.
  12. Web site: Republic Airport . 2024-06-24 . www.republicairport.net.
  13. Book: Brady, Ralph F. . Landmarks & Historic Sites of Long Island . 2012-07-17 . Arcadia Publishing . 978-1-61423-590-3 . en.
  14. News: Silver . Roy R. . 1971-07-29 . Rail-Air-Bus Center Planned by M.T. A. At Republic Airport . 2024-06-24 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  15. Web site: April 2015 . PROPOSED SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND TENANT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS: Republic Airport, Hamlet of Farmingdale, Town of Babylon, Suffolk County . 2024-06-24 . www.republicairport.net.
  16. Web site: Republic Airport – Historical Images . 2024-06-24 . www.republicairport.net.
  17. Book: Republic Airport Runway Extension Transfer, Farmingdale: Environmental Impact Statement . 1971 . Northwestern University . 1971 . en.
  18. News: Hudson . Edward . 1969-04-01 . M.T.A. Gets Republic Airport for Transport Hub; Air-Rail-Highway Center Is Planned After Expansion of Former Test Field . 2024-06-24 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  19. News: Barron . James . 1981-01-25 . TAKEOVER OF REPUBLIC AIRPORT DEBATED . 2024-06-24 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  20. News: Ain . Stewart . 2001-06-24 . Impending Lease Reignites Talk of a Rte. 110 Hub at Airport . 2024-06-24 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  21. Web site: New York State Department of Transportation Airport Commission Files B2500 . 2024-06-24 . iarchives.nysed.gov.
  22. Web site: Roberts . Andrea Suozzo, Alec Glassford, Ash Ngu, Brandon . 2013-05-09 . Long Island Republic Airport Historical Society - Nonprofit Explorer . 2024-06-23 . ProPublica . en.
  23. Web site: 2018-12-19 . WORLD WAR II . 2024-06-23 . William G. Pomeroy Foundation . en-US.
  24. News: Shaman . Diana . 1997-05-04 . The Last of a Historic Plant Making Way for a Mall . 2024-06-24 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  25. News: McQuiston . John T. . 1995-04-08 . State Is Abandoning Its Plans To Extend Republic Runway . 2024-06-24 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  26. Web site: Yan . Ellen . 2015-05-26 . Firefighters battle blaze at old Fairchild Republic plane factory in East Farmingdale . 2024-06-24 . Newsday . en.
  27. Web site: Epstein . Curt . 2023-08-28 . Republic Jet Center at KFRG Breaks Ground on $28M FBO Facility AIN . 2024-06-23 . Aviation International News.
  28. Web site: Waldvogel . Robert G. . 2021-10-13 . The Airline History of Long Island's Republic Airport . 2024-06-23 . Metropolitan Airport News . en-US.
  29. Web site: Cosmopolitan Airlines . 26 April 2016.
  30. Web site: CO020187p17 . 26 April 2016.
  31. http://www.osc.state.ny.us/audits/audits/9899/96d26.pdf Study of Future Use: Republic Airport
  32. Web site: FRG - Republic Airport SkyVector . 2024-06-23 . skyvector.com.
  33. News: June 2009 . New York State Airport System Plan, 2008 Technical Report . 2024-06-22 . New York State Department of Transportation.
  34. Web site: AirNav: KFRG - Republic Airport . 2022-10-03 . www.airnav.com.
  35. Web site: Pilot Information . Republic Airport . NYSDOT.
  36. Web site: Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) – Republic Airport . 2024-06-23 . en.
  37. Web site: Republic Jet Center – Home . 2024-06-22 . Republic Jet Center.
  38. Web site: 2024-05-17 . American Airpower Museum Legends of Airpower WWII Warbirds Join Jones Beach Air Show . 2024-06-23 . www.iloveny.com . en-us.
  39. Web site: Aircraft Charter – Republic Airport . 2022-09-29 . en.
  40. Web site: Alerion Aviation . 2022-09-29 . www.flyalerion.com.
  41. Web site: Northeastern Aviation Corp. . 2022-09-29 . Northeastern Aviation Corp. . en-US.
  42. Web site: Private Jet Charter Company Talon Air . 2022-09-29 . talonairjets.com . en.
  43. Web site: Ventura Air Services Private Jet Services & Charter Flights New York Based . 2022-09-29 . venturajet.com.
  44. Web site: Dowd . Joe . 2013-02-19 . Delta Jet Landing at Republic was Flyers' Charter . 2024-06-23 . Farmingdale, NY Patch . en.
  45. Web site: Beach . Jerry . 2020-12-31 . The 2021 New York Islanders: One More (Possibly Remote) Stanley Cup Run Before UBS Arena Opens? . 2024-06-23 . Forbes . en.
  46. Web site: Troop L . 2024-06-23 . New York State Police . en.
  47. Web site: News - East Farmingdale Vol. Fire Company, Inc. . 2024-06-24 . eastfarmingdalefd.org.
  48. Web site: Hoey . Peggy Spellman . 2021-01-11 . Pilot Survives Long Island Plane Crash . 2024-06-24 . Farmingdale, NY Patch . en.
  49. Web site: March 11, 2019 . Van fire on Sunrise Highway, Massapequa . 2024-06-24 . Massapequa Post.
  50. News: McQuiston . John T. . 1997-06-02 . 4 Killed as a Small Plane Crashes Near Republic Airport . 2024-06-24 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  51. Web site: Ranter . Harro . ASN Aircraft accident Learjet 25D N125PT Farmingdale-Republic Field, NY (FRG) . 2022-10-06 . aviation-safety.net.
  52. News: Press . The Associated . 2015-08-25 . Pilot in Fatal Long Island Crash Was Directed to Nonexistent Runway, Report Says . 2024-06-24 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  53. News: Rojas . Rick . 2015-08-16 . One Dead in Crash of Small Plane on Long Island . 2024-06-24 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  54. Web site: Eltman . Frank . 2017-04-12 . Crash That Sent Pilot to Shuttered Long Island Runway Prompts FAA Changes . 2024-06-24 . NBC New York . en-US.
  55. Web site: 2015-08-24 . Pilot who died in New York crash sent by air traffic control to closed airport - CBS News . 2024-06-24 . www.cbsnews.com . en-US.
  56. Web site: Perez . Chris . 2015-08-25 . Pilot fatally crashed after being told to land on strip that no longer exists . 2024-06-24 . New York Post . en-US.
  57. Web site: Ranter . Harro . ASN Aircraft accident Raytheon Hawker 800XP N412JA Farmingdale-Republic Airport, NY (FRG) . 2022-10-06 . aviation-safety.net.
  58. Web site: Raytheon Hawker 800XP, N412JA: Accident occurred December 20, 2020 at Republic Airport (KFRG), East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York . 2022-10-06.
  59. Web site: Cessna 152, N64949: Incident occurred February 15, 2022 at Republic Airport (KFRG), Farmingdale, New York . 2022-10-06.
  60. Web site: Aircraft Inquiry . 2022-10-06 . registry.faa.gov.
  61. Web site: Brodsky . Robert . 2023-03-08 . Long Island plane crash: Mom Roma Gupta dies; daughter Reeva Gupta, pilot Fayzul Chowdhury in critical condition . 2024-06-23 . Newsday . en.
  62. Web site: 2024-02-20 . Long Island plane crash: Single-engine plane lands on New York roadway . 2024-06-24 . ABC7 San Francisco . en.
  63. Web site: McLogan . Jennifer . 2024-02-21 . Small plane lands on Southern State Parkway on Long Island . 2024-06-24 . CBS New York . en-US.
  64. Web site: Pflaumer . Erin . 2024-02-20 . Plane crashes on Southern State Parkway in Suffolk County . 2024-06-24 . PIX11 . en-US.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Republic Airport".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.