Northern Maine Regional Airport at Presque Isle

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Northern Maine Regional Airport at Presque Isle

IATA: PQI - ICAO: KPQI
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		City of Presque Isle
Serves		Presque Isle, Maine
Elevation AMSL		534 ft (162.8 m)
Coordinates		46°41′20″N, 68°02′41″W
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
1/19	7,440	2,268	Asphalt
10/28	5,994	1,827	Asphalt

Landing runway 1 at PQI.

For the military use of this facilty prior to 1961, see Presque Isle Air Force Base

Northern Maine Regional Airport at Presque Isle (IATA: PQI, ICAO: KPQI) is a public airport located in the city of Presque Isle, in Aroostook County, Maine, USA. It serves the residents of Presque Isle and a vast area of northern Maine and northwestern New Brunswick with commercial and charter aviation services. Airline service is subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.

The airport is home to the second longest commercial runway in Maine (second only to Bangor International Airport), and third longest overall (after the Loring Commerce Centre, formerly Loring Air Force Base) and is often advertised as the "Gateway to Northern Maine."

The airport was once hub to Aroostook Airways, a commuter airline which operated in the 1970s, with service to several destinations throughout New England^[1].

1 Airlines and destinations
2 Air Cargo Operators and Destinations
3 Aircraft servicing Presque Isle
4 History
- 4.1 World War Two
- 4.2 Post War
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Airlines and destinations

US Airways
- US Airways Express operated by Colgan Air (Boston)

[edit] Air Cargo Operators and Destinations

Wiggins Airways (Manchester (NH), Portland (ME))
Air Now operating as Business Airfreight (Bangor)

[edit] Aircraft servicing Presque Isle

Saab 340 operated by US Airways Express
Cessna 208 Caravan and Beechcraft King Air operated by Wiggins Airways
Embraer 110 Bandeirante operated by Air Now

[edit] History

[edit] World War Two

During World War II, the federal government appropriated the airport, establishing an air base for planes bound to and from Great Britain. Lane Construction of Hampden Maine was one of the contractors who worked on upgrading the airport for the military. Floyd E. Brown of Hermon, Maine was one of the foreman and would take airplane rides at the end of the day to gauge his progress against the other foreman. (He would later serve in the US Army as a Staff Sergeant/section chief of the 60mm mortars (C Co., 328th Regimental Combat Team, 26th ID))^[2]. Almost overnight, Presque Isle Army Airfield became a vital air transport installation and the City found itself a busy war center. During the Second World War, Clark Gable was briefly stationed at Presque Isle before being sent to England.

[edit] Post War

When the United States Air Force closed Presque Isle Air Force Base in 1961, the former Air Force Base was redeveloped. Presque Isle is home the University of Maine at Presque Isle, as well as the Northern Main Technical College. Scheduled commercial air service is available through Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle. General aviation services are available through both Northern Maine Regional Airport and Caribou Municipal Airport.

In addition, the Skyway Industrial Park sits adjacent to Northern Maine Regional Airport which offers commercial airline as well as general aviation services to the entire region. Federal Express and United Parcel Service augment park accessibility by air to and from major markets.

Skyway Industrial Park, owned by the City of Presque Isle and administered by the Presque Isle Industrial Council, has been attractive to a variety of new businesses. To date, over 40 companies have located on the Park. The Park consists of 440 acres, of which 175 is prime industrial land served by all utilities, streets, subdivided and available for further development. Located adjacent to the airport and within 1.5 miles of downtown, the park has become a dominant feature in the local and regional economy.