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| Topeka Regional Airport (Forbes Field) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Topeka Regional Airport (Forbes Field) |
| Nativename | Forbes Field |
| Iata | FOE |
| Icao | KFOE |
| Faa | FOE |
| Type | Public / Military |
| Owner | Shawnee County, Kansas |
| Operator | Shawnee County, Kansas |
| City-served | Topeka, Kansas |
| Location | Shawnee County, Kansas |
| Opened | 1939 |
| Elevation-f | 1,046 |
Topeka Regional Airport (Forbes Field) is a joint civil–military airport located in Shawnee County, Kansas serving Topeka, Kansas and northeastern Kansas. Established as a municipal field in the late 1930s and expanded during World War II as an Air Corps base, the airport currently supports regional airline service, general aviation, and host units from the Kansas Air National Guard and the United States Air Force. The field is named for Major General Charles C. Forbes and has alternated between civilian and military roles during its history.
Forbes Field began as Topeka Municipal Airport in 1939 and was taken over by the United States Army Air Corps during World War II for training and support, becoming Forbes Army Air Field. Postwar, control passed to the United States Air Force with use by the Continental Air Command and later by the Air Force Reserve Command. In the Cold War era Forbes hosted strategic operations tied to the Strategic Air Command and saw interactions with units associated with Fort Riley and air defense initiatives involving the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Civil airline service traces to early links with carriers such as American Airlines, Continental Airlines, and commuter operations affiliated with Republic Airlines and regional partners. The airport’s administrative control shifted to Shawnee County, Kansas government and civilian authorities while retaining an enduring military presence tied to national readiness and Operation Noble Eagle air defense missions. Economic and infrastructure changes in the late 20th and early 21st centuries involved partnerships with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Kansas Department of Transportation, and local development agencies.
Forbes Field features multiple runways including a principal runway long enough to accommodate large transport aircraft used by the United States Air Force and civilian airliners. The field has a passenger terminal serving regional carriers and fixed-base operator services such as Signature Flight Support-style operations and general aviation support for aircraft types including Cessna Citation business jets and Beechcraft King Air turboprops. Hangar complexes and apron space have hosted transient aircraft from FedEx Express and UPS Airlines charters as well as aerial firefighting and medical evacuation flights associated with Air Evac Lifeteam. Groundside facilities include cargo handling adjacent to Interstate 70 and airport maintenance through partnerships with Shawnee County, Kansas public works and contractors. Instrument approaches are supported by navigation aids and procedures aligned with Federal Aviation Administration standards and the airport participates in National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems planning.
Commercial service at Forbes Field has been provided intermittently by regional carriers and national airlines over the decades. Historic and contemporary carriers with service or codeshare links to the airport have included Frontier Airlines, Delta Air Lines regional affiliates, American Eagle, and commuter operations connected to United Airlines through hubs such as Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Denver International Airport, and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Cargo operators have included feeder services for FedEx and UPS integrated with broader logistics networks involving Kansas City International Airport and Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. Route networks have reflected demand to Chicago, Denver, Dallas, and connections to Atlanta. Seasonal and charter services have linked the field to vacation gateways like Orlando International Airport and Las Vegas McCarran International Airport during peak travel periods.
Forbes Field hosts an enduring military component including units of the Kansas Air National Guard and tenant units from the Air National Guard system. The field has been home to operations associated with the 184th Intelligence Wing lineage and has hosted detachments supporting Air Mobility Command and Air Combat Command missions. Historically significant military occupants include formations under the Strategic Air Command and reserve wings aligned with Air Force Reserve Command. The installation has supported training exercises alongside units from Fort Riley and integrated with regional homeland defense operations run by North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command taskings.
Forbes Field is accessible via Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 75, with local connections provided by the City of Topeka road network and Shawnee County arterial routes. Regional public transit links include services coordinated with the Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority and ground shuttle providers connecting to Downtown Topeka and nearby communities such as Lawrence, Kansas and Manhattan, Kansas. Rental car companies with presence at the terminal have historically included national firms like Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Avis Budget Group, while freight access integrates with regional trucking carriers and intermodal logistics nodes tied to the Kansas City metropolitan area.
The field’s operational history includes incidents involving military and civil aircraft during training and commercial operations. Notable events have involved investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board and coordination with Federal Aviation Administration safety oversight. Specific occurrences have entailed emergency responses by joint civilian and military fire and rescue units, coordination with Topeka Fire Department, and after-action reviews with units from the Kansas Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command.
Category:Airports in Kansas Category:Buildings and structures in Topeka, Kansas