DuPage Airport

DuPage Airport

FAA airport diagram
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner/Operator DuPage Airport Authority
Location West Chicago, Illinois
Elevation AMSL 759 ft / 231.3 m
Coordinates 41°54′25″N 88°14′54″W / 41.90694°N 88.24833°W / 41.90694; -88.24833Coordinates: 41°54′25″N 88°14′54″W / 41.90694°N 88.24833°W / 41.90694; -88.24833
Website www.DuPageAirport.com
Map
DPA
DPA

Location of airport in Illinois/United States

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
2L/20R 7,570 2,307 Concrete
2R/20L 6,443 1,964 Concrete
10/28 4,751 1,448 Asphalt
15/33 3,401 1,037 Asphalt
Statistics (2008)
Aircraft operations 99,802
Based aircraft 365
Source: FAA[1]

DuPage Airport (IATA: DPA, ICAO: KDPA, FAA LID: DPA) is a general aviation airport located 29 miles (47 km) west of downtown Chicago in West Chicago, DuPage County, Illinois. It is owned and operated by the DuPage Airport Authority, which is an independent government body established by law by the State of Illinois. It also serves as a reliever airport for O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport, both in nearby Chicago.

History

DuPage Airport is located on what used to be sheep-grazing land, but in 1927, two Chicago entrepreneurs purchased the land and began barnstorming, using the field as a grass strip. In 1941, the U.S. Navy requisitioned DuPage Airport, built brick hangars, paved two runways in an “X” pattern and began training pilots for the war effort. The airport was officially activated in March 1943.[1] Both the hangars and the original runway configuration still exist, though one runway is closed and is now taxiway C.

A year after the Navy began operations, Howard Aircraft Corporation opened a factory east of the airport across the road. The company built more than 500 trainer, transport and air ambulance aircraft for the military, and Howard employees were regularly seen pushing aircraft across the road to the little airport to test fly them.

In 1946, with the war over, the Navy sold the airport to DuPage County for $1. The post-war boom saw a lot of regional growth and the airport reflected it by adding an east/west runway and a five-story control tower and making plans for further expansion.

In the late 1970s, DuPage Airport was designated a reliever airport for general aviation aircraft, and in the early 1980s, the airport authority began an expansion project to accommodate the increased traffic.

However, planners learned a lesson from the plight of the beleaguered, land-locked Midway Airport. Surrounded by houses, restaurants and other small businesses, Midway found itself unable to expand and neighbors filed an endless succession of noise complaints. DuPage County would not make the same mistake.

The airport grew from 900 acres (360 ha) in 1985 to 2,800 acres (1,100 ha) by 1992, with the goal of maintaining control of all the property surrounding the runway complex. Much of the land was acquired to provide a large buffer zone around the airport.

During the summer of 2012, runway 2R/20L was extended 1,343 feet to a total length of 6,443 feet.

Facilities and aircraft

The DuPage Airport Authority owns 2,800 acres (1,100 ha) and operates four separate business units. This multifaceted business portfolio includes the DuPage Airport, one of the busiest airports in Illinois, its associated fixed-base operator, a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed golf course, and the largest corporate research and development park in DuPage County.

DuPage Airport sits on 1,200 acres (490 ha) and is the only general aviation airport in Illinois with four active runways, two ILS approaches, a 24-hour FAA air control tower, and over 40 aviation and non-aviation support businesses. DPA also has an on-site U.S. Customs Office.

For the 12-month period ending July 31, 2008, the airport had 99,802 aircraft operations, an average of 273 per day: 95% general aviation, 4% air taxi, <1% military, and <1% scheduled commercial. There are 365 aircraft based at this airport: 69% single-engine, 14% multi-engine, 16% jet, and 1% helicopter.[1]

DuPage Airport also serves as the headquarters for Illinois Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.

Reception

The airport faced severe political criticism in the 1980s and 1990s. A 1995 Chicago magazine exposé called it "A Monument to Lavish Spending of Taxpayers' Money, a Haven of GOP Patronage, and the Target of a Federal Probe."

According to an article by John K. Wilson:

Philip, the patron of DuPage airport, helped push forward a disastrously expensive enterprise which included land purchases making it four times the size of Midway Airport, a $10 million terminal, a $14 million golf course, and a charter airline run by the airport. The DuPage Airport budget grew from $1.6 million in 1984 to $46 million in 1993 at a time when airport use was declining. In 1992, DuPage Airport handled only 177,000 takeoffs and landings, while Aurora Municipal Airport took care of 134,000 takeoffs and landings at a cost of only $2 million.[2]

According to a May 2006 article in Aviation International News:

Before 2003, the airport had been on a trend of worsening annual operating losses. That trend was reversed in 2003 and the airport has continued to show improved operating results each quarter since. Last year the airport experienced a record-breaking year, with revenue up and expenditures down. The cornerstone of the airport’s financial turnaround is the mission statement developed by the airport’s Board of Commissioners in 2003. It establishes the framework for moving the airport toward operating as a self-sustaining facility while contributing to the economic impact of the county. The aggressive philosophy has resulted in two leases that will bring 60,000 sq ft (6,000 m2) of new hangar space to the airport. The airport is also developing another 48,000 sq ft (4,500 m2) of hangar space.[3]

In June 2010, the board of the DuPage National Technology Park, an 800-acre (3.2 km2) technology park that secured a $34 million state grant called for the dissolution of their organization.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 FAA Airport Master Record for DPA (Form 5010 PDF), effective 31 July 2008
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2002-05-27. Retrieved 2006-05-31.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-10-17. Retrieved 2006-08-29.
  4. ↑ Dave McKinney, "7 of 10 on board say end tech park: Sun-Times article 'absolutely' spurred call to dissolve" June 22, 2010 Chicago Sun-Times
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