Cheyenne Regional Airport

Cheyenne Regional Airport
source
Name	Cheyenne Regional Airport
Nativename	Jerry Olson Field
Iata	CYS
Icao	KCYS
Faa	CYS
Type	Public
Owner	City of Cheyenne
City-served	Cheyenne, Wyoming
Elevation-f	6,160

Cheyenne Regional Airport

Cheyenne Regional Airport, known as Jerry Olson Field, is a public civil airport serving Cheyenne, Wyoming and the Laramie County, Wyoming region. Located near Interstate 25 (Wyoming), the airport supports scheduled United Airlines regional jet service, general aviation, and air cargo operations. The field has played roles in United States Air Force training, regional transportation, and aerospace testing.

History

Established in the early 20th century, the airport developed alongside the growth of Cheyenne, Wyoming and the expansion of transcontinental air routes in the United States. During the World War II era and the onset of the Cold War, the facility hosted United States Army Air Forces and later United States Air Force activities connected with regional defense and training. Postwar commercial airline service arrived as carriers like Western Airlines, Frontier Airlines (1950–1986), and later Delta Air Lines affiliates and United Express expanded regional connectivity. The airport infrastructure saw major upgrades tied to federal aviation programs such as the Federal Aviation Administration airport improvement initiatives and regional development efforts supported by Wyoming Department of Transportation. The location’s high-elevation field aided experimental flights and cold-weather testing used by Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and other aerospace firms. Over decades, municipal stewardship by the City of Cheyenne oversaw modernization projects concurrent with economic shifts tied to the Union Pacific Railroad presence and the Wyoming energy sector.

Facilities and infrastructure

The airport has multiple runways, including a long primary runway suitable for narrow-body jets used by United Airlines regional equipment and cargo operators like FedEx Express contractors. Navigational aids include an Instrument Landing System aligned with primary runway approaches and VOR and GPS procedures adopted following Next Generation Air Transportation System initiatives. Fixed-base operators such as regional FBOs provide services comparable to peers near Denver International Airport and Casper–Natrona County International Airport. Hangars support corporate aviation for firms like Sierra Nevada Corporation and agricultural operators. Airport fire and rescue capabilities meet Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting standards under state aviation oversight. The field contains terminal facilities with passenger processing, ticketing counters, rental car concessions serving providers like Hertz and Avis, and perimeter access roads linking to Interstate 80 (Wyoming) and local arterial streets.

Airlines and destinations

Scheduled passenger service is provided by regional carriers operating under major airline brands; routes typically connect to hub airports such as Denver International Airport, enabling onward connections on carriers including United Airlines and partner networks. Cargo operators and contract carriers provide scheduled and on-demand freight links used by logistics providers supporting the Wyoming mining industry and regional commerce. General aviation flights serve business travelers, agricultural operations, and aerial survey missions for firms like Halliburton and Schlumberger.

Operations and statistics

Annual operations encompass a mix of scheduled airline sorties, general aviation flights, air taxi movements, and military operations from units associated with installations such as F.E. Warren Air Force Base. Statistical reporting to the Federal Aviation Administration classifies activity patterns including peak seasonal surges tied to events in Cheyenne Frontier Days and state government calendars in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Based aircraft include single-engine and multi-engine piston airplanes, turboprops, and business jets from corporations headquartered in Wyoming and neighboring states. Airport revenue sources have included passenger facility charges, federal Airport Improvement Program grants, and municipal funding streams.

Ground transportation and access

Ground access connects the airport to Cheyenne, Wyoming via municipal roads and regional highways like Wyoming Highway 212 and Interstate 25 (Wyoming), with parking facilities for short- and long-term stays. Rental car companies and local taxi and rideshare providers offer last-mile connectivity to destinations such as Laramie, Wyoming, Fort Collins, Colorado, and Denver, Colorado. Transit links and shuttle services operate seasonally for events including Cheyenne Frontier Days, while freight access leverages proximity to Union Pacific Railroad corridors for intermodal transfers.

Accidents and incidents

The airport’s incident history includes routine general aviation occurrences investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration; some events involved controlled flight into terrain or hard landings addressed through updated safety procedures and pilot education promoted by organizations like the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and Aviation Safety Network. Safety improvements have followed investigations similar to those led by the Transportation Safety Board-style panels, resulting in revised approach plates and runway safety enhancements.

Category:Airports in Wyoming Category:Transportation in Laramie County, Wyoming