Joe Foss Field Airport

Overview:

Sioux Falls Regional Airport (IATA code: FSD, ICAO code: KFSD), also known as Joe Foss Field, is a public and military use airfield located three miles northwest of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It bears the name of Joe Foss, a pilot and native of Sioux Falls who later served as the 20th Governor of South Dakota (1955–1959). Given that it sees more than 10,000 passenger boardings (enplanements) annually, it was designated as a key commercial service airport in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015. According to Federal Aviation Administration data, 2017 had 73,221 aircraft operations at the airport, or 201 every day on average.

Quick Summary:

● Sioux Falls Regional Airport (IATA code: FSD, ICAO code: KFSD), is a public and military use airfield located three miles northwest of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It is also known as Joe Foss Field.

● Joe Foss Field is located at an altitude of 1,430 feet and spans 1,570 acres (635 ha) (436 m). There are three concrete runways at the airport.

● 2017 had 73,221 aircraft operations at the airport, or 201 every day on average.

Geography:

Located at 2801 N Jaycee Ln, coordinates (43° 34′ 55″ N, 96° 44′ 31″ W), FSD is located three miles northwest of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

History:

At its current location, Sioux Falls Regional Airport was first constructed as an airstrip in 1937. The Sioux Falls Army Air Base was established when the city approached the federal government in early 1942 and later leased the airport and the surrounding land. The base's main purpose was to build a facility for training radio operators. 40,000 radio operators were trained in Sioux Falls between 1942 and 1945. The facility served as a logistical supply hub as well, and the grid of roadways that once connected it today forms an industrial area just south of the current airport.

Under the guidance of Joe Foss, who would later become the airport's namesake, the airport and the surrounding land were returned to the city in 1946. South and west of the commercial and general aviation sections and north of Russell Street lies the airport's Air National Guard Base, which contains all the amenities one would expect from a small USAF facility with the exception of family housing. The F-16C and F-16D aircraft of the 114th are a common sight above the Sioux Falls region, conducting routine operations and training flights. Mid-Continent Airlines, which began operating flights in the industry around 1940, ceased operations around 1967. In 1955, Western Airlines began operations; in 1957, North Central; and in 1962, Ozark. The airport offered 28 daily flights from eight airlines by 1992.

Sioux Falls Regional Airport was among the first in the nation to de-federalize its employees in 2005. Prior to now, the Transportation Security Administration hired Covenant Aviation Security to do baggage and passenger screening as part of the Screening Partnership Program. Currently, security screening services are offered by Trinity Technology Group.

The Sioux Falls Regional Airport began a three-phase, multi-year, multi-million dollar rehabilitation and expansion project in the spring of 2009 to modernise the airport's appearance. Koch Hazard Architects was responsible for the project's design. The renovation and expansion of the ticketing and check-in counter area, the relocation of all TSA screening equipment behind the ticketing counters into a more secure area, the renovation and relocation of the ground floor gift shop, the updating and renovation of the concourse, the addition of a new business lounge, the renovation of the restaurant in the upper concourse, the installation of three new jet bridges, and the modernization and reconfiguration of the airport's parking operations were among the projects.

The restaurant on the lower level of the terminal had a refurbishment and renovation from March to October 2012 to become Wildcat Corner. Due to strong demand, another long-term parking lot was constructed; in August and September 2012, the airport was virtually closed to all air traffic over the period of four weekends in order to rebuild a runway intersection. The escalator replacement project, the opening and completion of the terminal's lobby renovation, and the expansion of the security checkpoint all started in 2014. In the same year, construction also started on a hotel that would eventually be affixed to the north end of the current terminal structure. The hotel has roughly 70 rooms and primarily serves business travellers.

Facility and Operations:

Joe Foss Field is located at an altitude of 1,430 feet and spans 1,570 acres (635 ha) (436 m). There are three concrete runways there: 9/27 is 3,148 by 75 feet (960 x 23 m) by by 150 feet, and 3/21 is 9,000 by 150 feet (2,743 x 46 m). It has one 50 by 50-foot asphalt helipad, designated H1 (15 x 15 m).

Seven gates, all with loading bridges, make up the terminal. Gate number 5 can accommodate up to a Boeing 757, whereas gate number 2 can only accommodate a CRJ 200 or ERJ-145. Five gates can support up to an Airbus A320 family or Boeing 737 family size aircraft.

2017 had 73,221 aircraft operations at the airport, or 201 every day on average: 38% were air taxis, 39% were general aviation, 16% were airlines, and 7% were military. At that time, this airport was home to 111 aircraft: 31% multi-engine, 16% military, 49.5% single-engine, and 4% jet.