Essex County Airport

Essex County Airport is a public airport located in Fairfield, New Jersey, approximately 20 miles west of New York City. The airport is owned and operated by Essex County, New Jersey, and serves as a reliever airport for Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. It is also close to Morristown, New Jersey and Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey. The airport is home to several flight schools, including Pentagon Helicopters and Helicopter Flight Services, which offer training and charter services to Teterboro Airport and Westchester County Airport.

History

The airport was established in 1942, during World War II, as a training facility for the United States Army Air Forces. After the war, it was converted to a public airport and has since been expanded and improved to accommodate growing demand for general aviation services. In the 1960s, the airport was a popular destination for Eastern Air Lines and Mohawk Airlines, which offered scheduled passenger service to Boston Logan International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport. Today, the airport is a hub for NetJets and Flexjet, and is also used by FedEx Express and UPS Airlines for cargo operations to Memphis International Airport and Louisville International Airport.

Facilities

The airport has two runways, including a 4,552-foot asphalt runway and a 3,301-foot turf runway, which are suitable for a variety of aircraft, including Cessna 172s and Beechcraft Bonanzas. The airport also has a range of facilities, including a fixed-base operator (FBO) offering fuel, maintenance, and hangar services, as well as a restaurant and lounge with views of the New York City skyline. The airport is also home to several aviation businesses, including Aviation Management Systems and Essex County Aviation, which provide services such as aircraft management and charter brokerage to Atlantic City International Airport and Trenton-Mercer Airport.

Airlines and destinations

Although the airport does not have any scheduled commercial passenger service, it is used by a number of charter airlines, including Wings Air and Talkeetna Air Taxi, which offer flights to destinations such as Nantucket Memorial Airport and Martha's Vineyard Airport. The airport is also a popular destination for private aviation operators, including VistaJet and Gulfstream Aerospace, which offer luxury charter services to Van Nuys Airport and McCarran International Airport. Additionally, the airport is used by cargo airlines such as DHL Aviation and Amerijet International, which operate flights to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Miami International Airport.

Accidents and incidents

There have been several accidents and incidents at the airport over the years, including a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigation into a Cessna 421 crash in 2007, which was en route to Republic Airport. In 2011, a Piper PA-28 crashed while attempting to land at the airport, resulting in injuries to the pilot and passenger, who were traveling from Lehigh Valley International Airport. The airport has also been the subject of several National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigations, including a probe into a Beechcraft Baron crash in 2015, which was headed to Pittsburgh International Airport.

Statistics

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airport had over 140,000 aircraft operations in 2020, including general aviation flights, air taxi operations, and military aviation activities. The airport is also a popular destination for business aviation operators, including NetJets and Flexjet, which offer fractional ownership and charter services to Dallas Love Field and William P. Hobby Airport. The airport's proximity to New York City and its range of facilities make it an attractive option for pilots and passengers traveling to destinations such as Los Angeles International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The airport is also close to several major highways, including Interstate 80 and Interstate 287, which provide easy access to Newark, New Jersey and Jersey City, New Jersey. Category:Airports in New Jersey