St. Mary's County Regional Airport Explained

38.3153°N -76.55°W

St. Mary's County Regional Airport
Nativename:Capt. Walter Francis Duke Regional Airport
Iata:LTW
Icao:none
Faa:2W6
Type:Public
Owner-Oper:St. Mary's County
Location:Leonardtown, Maryland
Elevation-F:142
Elevation-M:43
Pushpin Map:USA Maryland
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of airport in Maryland
Pushpin Label:LTW
Pushpin Label Position:left
R1-Number:11/29
R1-Length-F:4,150
R1-Length-M:1,265
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Stat-Year:2023
Stat1-Header:Aircraft operations (year ending 3/14/2023)
Stat1-Data:40,308
Stat2-Header:Based aircraft
Stat2-Data:207
Footnotes:Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

St. Mary's County Regional Airport,[2] also known as Captain Walter Francis Duke Regional Airport, is a public airport located in St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States, four miles (six km) northeast of the central business district of Leonardtown. The airport is also located 8nmi west of Naval Air Station Patuxent River.[3] 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.[4] It recently reverted to its original name.

Facilities and aircraft

St. Mary's County Regional Airport covers an area of 200acres which contains one asphalt paved runway (11/29) measuring 4,150 x 75 ft (1,265 x 23 m).

For the 12-month period ending March 14, 2023, the airport had 40,308 aircraft operations, an average of 110 per day: 97% general aviation, 3% air taxi and <1% military. There was 207 aircraft based at this airport: 171 single engine, 19 multi-engine, 4 jet, 5 helicopters, 1 ultralight and 7 gliders.

The airport houses small aircraft such as Pipers, gliders, and Cessnas (152s, 172s, etc.). The Maryland State Police house one of their helicopters, Trooper 7, at the airport. Trooper 7 flies medevacs all over the area, as far north as Montgomery County and even into 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)[5] of the Civil Air Patrol[6] 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 Experimental Aircraft Association also meets there.

Airlines and destinations

There are currently no major airlines serving St. Mary's County Regional Airport, but people can charter private flights here, making the airport public.

See also

Notes and References

  1. , effective April 18, 2024.
  2. Web site: LTW - Leonardtown [St. Mary's County Regional], MD, US - Airport - Great Circle Mapper]. gc.kls2.com. Oct 7, 2020.
  3. Web site: NTSB report for accident at St. Mary's County Regional Airport on October 12, 2006. Oct 7, 2020.
  4. http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/dpw/dpwtemplate.asp?content=airportoverviewcontent.asp St. Mary's County Regional Airport
  5. http://md089.capunit.com/
  6. Web site: Home. www.gocivilairpatrol.com. Oct 7, 2020.