St. Paul Downtown Airport

St. Paul Downtown Airport
Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0 · source
Name	Downtown Airport
Nativename	Holman Field
Iata	STP
Icao	KSTP
Faa	STP
Type	Public
Owner	Saint Paul
Operator	Saint Paul Port Authority
City-served	Saint Paul, Minnesota
Location	Saint Paul, Minnesota
Elevation-f	701

St. Paul Downtown Airport is a public airport located on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Saint Paul, Minnesota, adjacent to downtown Saint Paul and near the Xcel Energy Center and the Science Museum of Minnesota. Historically known as Holman Field, the airport serves general aviation, air taxi, and limited commercial services while occupying a strategic location between Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The airport has been associated with regional aviation development, municipal planning initiatives, and waterfront redevelopment projects involving the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Saint Paul Port Authority.

History

Holman Field opened in the 1920s amid aviation expansion alongside contemporaries such as Wright Field and Curtiss Field, reflecting the influence of pioneers like Charles Lindbergh and institutions such as the U.S. Air Mail Service. The airfield was renamed for municipal leader Horace Holman and played roles in World War II-era training linked to Army Air Forces Training Command facilities and nearby Fort Snelling. Postwar developments brought involvement from carriers that later consolidated into major airlines like Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines, while municipal authorities including the Saint Paul City Council and the Minnesota Historical Society influenced preservation of hangars and terminals. Redevelopment proposals in the late 20th and early 21st centuries intersected with projects by Hibernia Bank investors and urban planners from the Metropolitan Council (Minnesota), prompting debates involving National Park Service riverfront guidelines and the Environmental Protection Agency over riverfront land use.

Facilities and operations

The airport comprises multiple runways, fixed-base operators such as Signature Flight Support and flight schools analogous to Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University satellite programs, and maintenance facilities used by corporate operators comparable to General Dynamics contractors. Air traffic control coordination involves the Federal Aviation Administration and integrates with Minneapolis–Saint Paul regional airspace alongside Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. The field supports Beechcraft and Cessna turboprops, rotorcraft by manufacturers like Sikorsky Aircraft, and business jets similar to the Gulfstream series. Ground operations are managed in cooperation with Saint Paul Police Department aviation units and regional emergency services including Hennepin County medical evacuation protocols.

Airlines and destinations

Commercial service at the airport has been intermittent, with small carriers and commuter airlines comparable to historical operators such as North Central Airlines and regional affiliates of Republic Airways and Comair offering limited scheduled flights. Present-day activity emphasizes charter operations, corporate flights for entities like 3M and Target Corporation, and sightseeing flights connected to attractions such as the Minnesota State Capitol and the Science Museum of Minnesota. Air taxi and on-demand services coordinate with booking platforms and operators similar to JetSuite and NetJets for charter connectivity to regional airports including Rochester International Airport, Duluth International Airport, and La Crosse Regional Airport.

Accidents and incidents

The airport's safety record includes general aviation incidents investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration. Notable events in regional aviation history include training mishaps during the World War II era and postwar accidents involving commuter aircraft types analogous to the Short 360 and British Aerospace Jetstream families. Response efforts have involved Saint Paul Fire Department crews, Metropolitan Airports Commission liaisons, and interagency coordination with Minnesota State Patrol for incident management and safety recommendations.

Ground transportation and access

Ground access is provided via Minnesota State Highway 5, local arteries linking to Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 10, and public transit connections operated by Metro Transit with bus routes serving downtown Saint Paul. Proximity to Union Depot (Saint Paul) and intercity rail services such as Amtrak makes multimodal transfers feasible, while riverfront trails connect to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and bicycle networks promoted by Saint Paul Bicycle Coalition and Great Rivers Bicycle Tour initiatives. Parking and rental car arrangements are coordinated with municipal parking authorities and operators similar to Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Environmental and community impact

The airport's waterfront location has prompted environmental reviews under statutes enforced by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding migratory bird interactions on the Mississippi River. Community engagement has involved stakeholders such as neighborhood associations in the Lowertown, Saint Paul district, advocacy groups like the Trust for Public Land, and academic partners at the University of Minnesota for noise studies and land-use planning. Redevelopment proposals have weighed economic interests represented by the Saint Paul Port Authority against conservation priorities championed by the National Park Service and local preservationists from the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota.

Category:Airports in Minnesota Category:Buildings and structures in Saint Paul, Minnesota