New Castle Airport

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New Castle Airport
IATA: ILG - ICAO: KILG
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Delaware River and Bay Authority
Serves Wilmington, Delaware
Elevation AMSL 79 ft (24.1 m)
Coordinates 39°40′43.4″N, 75°36′23.5″W
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
9/27 7,181 2,189 Asphalt-grooved
1/19 7,012 2,137 Asphalt-grooved
14/32 4,603 1,403 Asphalt

New Castle Airport (IATA: ILG, ICAO: KILG), also known as the New Castle County Airport, is an airport located 4 miles (6 km) south of the city of Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware, USA. The airport has 3 runways, a single terminal building, and is home to both the Delaware Air National Guard 142nd Airlift Squadron's C-130's and the Delaware Army National Guard 126th Aviation Regiment's UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.

Previously called the Wilmington Airport and the Greater Wilmington Airport, the property was a military facility during World War II. Among the uses of the airport during the war was the historic Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). WASPs served as test and ferry pilots and towed targets for student gunners. There is a statue today at the airport that honors the women of WASP that served their country in the time of need.

After the war, the airport was turned over to the county, with the condition that the upstart Delaware Air National Guard received space at the airport. In the late 1990s, the county leased the debt-stricken airport to the bi-state Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), operators of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, on a fifty year lease.

Since taking over operations of the airport, the DRBA has made the airport profitable, upgraded many aging buildings, and constructed numerous new buildings and facilities on the property.

From 1991 through 1998 and again from 2000 to 2006, the state of Delaware was the only state in the union without any scheduled commercial flights in or out of the state. Shuttle America flew out of New Castle as an independent carrier from the airline's founding in November 1998 until February 2000. They offered service to Hartford, Buffalo, and Norfolk, using the 50-seat Dash 8-300 turboprop aircraft. Shuttle America would eventually discontinue its independent operations and become a commuter affiliate of United Express and Delta Connection. Prior to Shuttle America, the last scheduled service was provided to Parkersburg, West Virginia by USAir Express carrier Crown Airways in 1992-1993. United Airlines also served Wilmington, leaving in 1991.

The airport has one terminal, which served only car rental agencies during the time the airport did not have commercial air service. On June 29, 2006, Delta Air Lines began new services from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to New Castle Airport, making it the first commercial air service in six years. Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines operates the service using 40-seat CRJ regional jets, with two daily roundtrip flights.

[edit] Airlines and Destinations

[edit] External links

Delaware River and Bay Authority Facilities
Bridges Delaware Memorial Bridge
Ferries Cape May-Lewes Ferry | Three Forts Ferry Crossing
Airports New Castle Airport | Millville Airport | Dover Civil Air Terminal | Cape May Airport | Delaware Airpark
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