Easton Airport

Easton Airport is a public airport located in Talbot County, Maryland, serving the Chesapeake Bay region, including Annapolis, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.. The airport is owned by the Town of Easton, Maryland, and is situated near the Choptank River. It is a popular destination for general aviation pilots, as well as a hub for charter flights to nearby destinations like Ocean City, Maryland, Assateague Island, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The airport is also close to several major United States Navy bases, including Naval Air Station Patuxent River and United States Naval Academy.

Overview

Easton Airport is classified as a reliever airport by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), providing relief to larger airports in the region, such as Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The airport is equipped with a single asphalt runway, designated as Runway 04/22, which is 5,500 feet long and 100 feet wide. The airport is also home to several fixed-base operators (FBOs), including Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support, which provide a range of services, including fueling, maintenance, and charter flights to destinations like New York City, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Nearby attractions include the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Fort McHenry, and the United States Naval Academy Museum.

History

The history of Easton Airport dates back to the 1940s, when it was established as a small grass airstrip serving the local community. During World War II, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a training base for pilot training and aircraft maintenance. After the war, the airport was expanded and improved, with the addition of a new runway and taxiway system. In the 1960s and 1970s, the airport experienced significant growth, with the establishment of several flight schools and charter airlines, including Piedmont Airlines and Allegheny Airlines. The airport has also been visited by several notable figures, including Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, and Jimmy Doolittle, who have flown to nearby destinations like Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Langley Air Force Base.

Facilities

Easton Airport has a range of facilities, including a terminal building, hangars, and maintenance facilities. The terminal building features a lobby, waiting area, and pilot lounge, as well as a restaurant and gift shop. The airport is also home to several flight schools, including Easton Aviation and Chesapeake Flight Center, which offer flight training and aircraft rental services to students from nearby institutions like University of Maryland, College Park and United States Naval Academy. The airport's fixed-base operators (FBOs) provide a range of services, including fueling, maintenance, and charter flights to destinations like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami. Nearby facilities include the NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Patuxent River Naval Air Station, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Operations

Easton Airport is operated by the Town of Easton, Maryland, which is responsible for the airport's management and maintenance. The airport is served by several airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, which offer scheduled flights to destinations like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and O'Hare International Airport. The airport is also a popular destination for general aviation pilots, who can access a range of services, including fueling, maintenance, and aircraft storage. The airport has also been used for several notable events, including the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and the National Championship Air Races, which have featured performances by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds and the United States Navy Blue Angels.

Statistics

Easton Airport is a busy airport, with over 100,000 aircraft operations per year. The airport serves a range of aircraft types, including single-engine airplanes, multi-engine airplanes, and helicopters. The airport's traffic pattern is typically busiest during the summer months, when recreational pilots and charter airlines are most active. The airport is also an important economic driver for the local community, generating over $10 million in annual revenue and supporting over 100 jobs, including those at nearby institutions like University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Salisbury University. Nearby airports include Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport, Cambridge-Dorchester Airport, and St. Mary's County Regional Airport, which are all connected to Easton Airport through a network of air taxi and charter flight services.