Appleton International Airport (IATA: ATW, ICAO: KATW, FAA LID: ATW), formerly Outagamie County Regional Airport, is an airport located in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States, just west of Appleton in the town of Greenville. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017-2021, in which it is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility. It is the fourth-busiest commercial airport in Wisconsin in terms of passengers served. In 2016 the airport contributed $676 million dollars to the Northeastrn Wisconsin economy.
It is the main base of privately owned regional airline Air Wisconsin and was the original home of Midwest Airlines. Midwest Airlines grew out of Kimberly-Clark subsidiary K-C Aviation, which was sold in 1998 to Gulfstream Aerospace, which retains a major facility at the airport, focusing on maintenance and interior completions.
The airport attracts people heading back and forth between the EAA's AirVenture, Air Academy and other programs in nearby Oshkosh. Starting in 2017, the airport began to offer camping for AirVenture. Appleton International is also used for people heading to events at Lambeau Field in nearby Green Bay, most popularly Green Bay Packers games. The airport often offers flights to Northeastern Wisconsin during Packer game weekends at a cheaper fare than Green Bay-Austin Straubel International Airport, the main airport for Green Bay.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
History
The airport opened with the 5,200-foot (1,580 m) runway 12/30 around 1965.
In 1933, Appleton's airport was George A. Whiting Field, three miles (5 km) south of town; by 1936 the municipal airport had opened northeast of town on the south side of US 41, southeast of the intersection (44.2874°N 88.3749°W / 44.2874; -88.3749). At its closing, it had a 3,750-foot (1,140 m) paved runway; North Central DC-3s landed there after 1958-59.
Renaming
The Outagamie County Board rejected a proposal in 1983 to change the name to "Fox Cities Metro Airport," and three more name change efforts failed between 2003 and 2011.
In February 2014, the county board voted to rename the airport "Appleton International Airport." The new name was officially implemented in 2015 on August 21, during the golden anniversary celebration of the airport.
Facilities
The airport covers 1,638 acres (6.63 km2) at an elevation of 918 feet (280 m) above sea level. It has 2 concrete runways:
- Runway 3/21: 8,002 x 150 ft (2,439 x 46 m.), Surface: Concrete, ILS/DME equipped, with approved GPS and VOR/DME approaches.
- Runway 12/30: 6,501 x 150 ft (1,982 x 46 m.), Surface: Concrete, ILS/DME equipped, with approved GPS approaches.
In 2015, the airport had 33,679 aircraft operations, an average of 92 per day: 63% general aviation, 23% air taxi, 13% commercial airline and 1% military. In September 2017, there were 71 aircraft based at this airport: 50 single-engine, 17 multi-engine and 4 jet.
Terminal
The airport added a new ground level seven-gate concourse in 2000 and renovated the existing passenger terminal, which was designed by architect Paul W. Powers. The architectural theme was representative of the river flowing through the historic paper manufacturing region.
The terminal was built in 1974, with expansions in 1983, 1990, and 1998. The terminal underwent its most extensive renovation and expansion to date in 2001. The new 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m2) gate area included more spacious seating areas with natural lighting, in floor heating, new passenger paging system, and five aircraft boarding bridges; a 6th bridge for larger planes was added later. It cost $10.7 million and was designed by Mead & Hunt, Inc.
The terminal has 7 gates; numbered 2-8; the layout can best be explained by looking at the Terminal map
The global headquarters for Air Wisconsin are located on the second floor of the terminal.
Renovation projects
On 22 June 2016, the airport broke ground on a new car rental facility to house the 5 car rental companies serving the airport. The new facility officially opened in January 2017.
In 2018, work will begin in the terminal with the addition of a third baggage claim belt, meeting rooms, a brand new restaurant with airfield views, and remodeled security area.
Energy efficiency
In response to Earth Day, airport administration announced a project to build one or two solar carports (covered parking structure with solar panels on the roof) in the short-term parking lot. This would be an addition to the solar panels installed on the roof of the terminal building. The airport is one of ten nationwide airports in an FAA sustainability project with a goal to make the airport 70% more energy efficient than in 2010.
International Operations
As suggested by the name, the airport is an international port of entry. In 2016, the airport processed 58 international flights, 17 under the original goal. Of the 58 flights, 57% were Appleton-based planes and 43% planes from elsewhere.
On April 27, 2016, the airport unveiled a brand new U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility. The facility is capable of processing planes of 20 or fewer people as well as cargo planes. About 75-100 aircraft are expected to use the facility in the first year with the number gradually climbing in future years. The airport currently does not have scheduled international airline service.
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
Map of Destinations
Aircraft Usage
- Allegiant Air uses MD-80 family and A319/A320 aircraft.
- American Eagle uses the Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft.
- Delta Air Lines uses Boeing 717 and A319/A320 aircraft.
- Delta Connection uses Bombardier CRJ200, CRJ700 and CRJ900 aircraft.
- United Express uses Bombardier CRJ200, Embraer ERJ 135/145, and Embraer E170/175 aircraft.
Cargo operations
FedEx Express uses A300-600F aircraft; FedEx Feeder uses a variety of aircraft.
Statistics
Top destinations
Annual traffic
Other uses
Old Glory Honor Flights
ATW holds the Old Glory Honor Flights for the Northeast Wisconsin area. The Old Glory Honor Flights have been bringing veterans from World War II and the Korean war to see their memorials in Washington. The airport has hosted many community events to raise money for these flights including a plane pull event in September 2017.
NFL use
The airport is the official airport used for visiting teams playing the Green Bay Packers. The teams then stay in nearby downtown Appleton at the Paper Valley Hotel.
Wings for Autism
The airport along with Allegiant Air hosts a bi-annual event called "Wings for Autism". The event allows children with a disability on the Autism spectrum along with their parents to go through a rehearsal flight in which they practice checking in for their flight, going through airport security, flight boarding, and collecting checked baggage. The event is sponsored by many local organizations and companies. It is one of the largest versions of the event held nationally.
Every year in April the airport celebrates autism awareness month by lighting up the terminal blue.
Civil Air Patrol
The airport is home to the Fox Cities Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol which houses a fleet of Cessna 182's at the airport.
Incidents and accidents
- On June 29, 1972, Air Wisconsin Flight 671, a DHC-6 Twin Otter, collided over Lake Winnebago with North Central Airlines Flight 290 while on approach to the airport; both planes crashed into the lake and sank resulting in 13 fatalities.
- On December 23, 2016, a chartered Delta Airlines Airbus A330 (N802NW) carrying the Minnesota Vikings slid off a taxiway after landing stranding the team on board for four hours before they were rescused using fire ladders.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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