Appleton International Airport

Appleton International Airport , formerly Outagamie County Regional Airport, is an airport located in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States, 3 miles west of Appleton in the town of Greenville. Although ATW is an international airport, currently there are no scheduled international flights. Rather, private aircraft arriving in the United States can clear Customs at the airport.

It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2019–2023, in which it is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility. It is the third busiest of eight commercial airports in Wisconsin in terms of passengers served. In 2016 the airport contributed $676 million to the Northeastern Wisconsin economy. In May 2018, Appleton International Airport was the fourth fastest growing airport in the US.

It is the main base of privately owned regional airline Air Wisconsin and was the original home of Midwest Airlines. Midwest Airlines grew out of Kimberly-Clark subsidiary K-C Aviation, which was sold in 1998 to Gulfstream Aerospace, which retains a major facility at the airport, focusing on maintenance and interior completions.

The airport attracts people heading back and forth between the EAA's AirVenture, Air Academy and other programs in nearby Oshkosh. Starting in 2017, the airport began to offer camping for AirVenture. Appleton International is also used for people heading to events at Lambeau Field in nearby Green Bay, most popularly Green Bay Packers games. Most visiting NFL teams also fly into ATW as they stay at the nearby Red Lion Paper Valley Hotel.

History
The airport opened with the  runway 12/30 around 1965.

In the 1920s, Appleton's airport was George A. Whiting Field, three miles (5 km) south of town.  When Northwest was awarded Contract Airmail Route No. 9 in 1926, Whiting Field became one of the original six airports in the airline's route network.  Passenger service on Northwest began in 1927 but was short lived.  By 1936 the municipal airport had opened northeast of town on the south side of US 41, southeast of the intersection (). At its closing, it had a  paved runway; North Central DC-3s landed there after 1958–59.

Construction of the current facility began in 1963; the field was dedicated on 1965-08-22 along with Air Wisconsin who started operations out of the airport the day after.

Late 2010s growth
Over the last few years, the airport has seen a period of mass growth. In May 2018 a report by Bloomberg News revealed that Appleton International Airport was the fourth fastest growing airport in the US with a 26.8% increase in passengers compared to 2 years prior.

This expansion is the result of the introduction of American Airlines and an increase in flights from Air Wisconsin flying under the United Express brand. New routes like Denver and Punta Gorda, an upgrade in the size of aircraft being utilized by airlines and cheaper airfare have also contributed towards the large growth.

In 2019, the airport handled just over 762,000 passengers, the most in its history.

Historical air service
Through the years, the airport has been served by North Central Airlines, Air Wisconsin (headquarters), Midwest Express (original headquarters), Republic Airlines (1979–1986), Northwest Airlines, Britt Airways, United Express, Skyway Airlines, Northwest Airlink, Comair, Delta Connection, Chicago Express Airlines, Frontier Express, Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines, and American Eagle.  In addition, for a brief period in the mid 1980s, Pan American provided service under a unique code sharing operation with Republic.

Renaming
The Outagamie County Board rejected a proposal in 1983 to change the name to "Fox Cities Metro Airport," and three more name change efforts failed between 2003 and 2011.

In February 2014, the county board voted to rename the airport "Appleton International Airport." The new name was officially implemented in 2015 on August 21, during the golden anniversary celebration of the airport.

Facilities

The airport covers  at an elevation of  above sea level. It has 2 concrete runways:
 Runway 3/21: 8,002 x 150 ft (2,439 x 46 m.), Surface: Concrete, ILS/DME equipped, with approved GPS approaches.
 Runway 12/30: 6,501 x 150 ft (1,982 x 46 m.), Surface: Concrete, ILS/DME equipped, with approved GPS approaches.

For the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2018, the airport had 34,369 aircraft operations, an average of 94 per day: 56% general aviation, 25% air taxi, 19% commercial airline and less than 1% military. In February 2020, there were 74 aircraft based at this airport: 50 single-engine, 17 multi-engine and 7 jet. The airport is an international port of entry capable of processing planes of 20 or fewer people as well as cargo planes and their cargo.

CAVU Flight Academy is the flight school of the airport.

Terminal
The airport added a new ground level seven-gate concourse in 2000 and renovated the existing passenger terminal, which was designed by architect Paul W. Powers.  The architectural theme was representative of the river flowing through the historic paper manufacturing region.

The terminal was built in 1974, with expansions in 1983, 1990, and 1998. The terminal underwent its most extensive renovation and expansion to date in 2001. The new  gate area included more spacious seating areas with natural lighting, in floor heating, new passenger paging system, and five aircraft boarding bridges; a 6th bridge for larger planes was added later.  It cost $10.7 million and was designed by Mead & Hunt, Inc.

The terminal has 6 gates with jet bridges; numbered 3-8. Gates 1 and 2 are rarely used due to their close proximity to the main terminal building and the resulting difficulty maneuvering aircraft in those tight spaces. The layout can best be explained by looking at the Terminal map

The global headquarters for Air Wisconsin is located on the second floor of the terminal.

Renovation projects

Since October 2009 the airport has been completing a number of renovation projects under a PFC plan. Parts of the project already completed include rehabilitating runway 12/30 and taxiway B as well as expanding taxiway N and installing runway guard lights throughout the field. In January 2017, a new rental car facility opened across from the terminal building.

In December 2017, the airport started a project to remodel the terminal with the addition of meeting space, a brand new restaurant with airfield views, remodeled/expanded security area, and remodeled check-in area.

In the future, the airport plans to reconstruct the terminal loop road and replace all seven jet bridges to handle larger aircraft types.

Energy efficiency
In 2011, the airport was one of ten nationwide airports selected to participate in an FAA airport sustainability project with a goal to make the airport 70% more energy efficient by 2030. In 2017, the airport constructed solar carports (covered parking structure with solar panels on the roof) in the short-term parking lot. Additional solar carports were constructed and completed in October 2019. The solar carports supplement a system of solar panels installed on the roof of the terminal building which were installed in the early 2010s.

The Platinum Flight Center Terminal, which was constructed in 2013, is a LEED-certified facility and features zero VOC finishes, a roof-mounted 26 kW photovoltaic system, a ground source heat pump, in-floor radiant conditioning, and a rainwater collection system. The terminal was the nation’s first airport terminal to achieve a net-zero energy designation, receiving a Class D Net Zero Energy Building rating and is widely considered to be a leader in airport energy sustainability.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Cargo operations

Statistics

Carrier shares

Top destinations

Annual traffic

Passenger development

Other uses

Old Glory Honor Flights
ATW holds the Old Glory Honor Flights for the Northeast Wisconsin area. The Old Glory Honor Flights have been bringing veterans from World War II and the Korean war to see their memorials in Washington. The airport has hosted many community events to raise money for these flights including a plane pull event in September 2017. The flights are flown by Sun Country Airlines.

NFL use
The airport is often used for visiting teams playing the Green Bay Packers.

Wings for Autism
The airport along with Allegiant Air hosts a bi-annual event called "Wings for Autism". The event allows children with a disability on the Autism spectrum along with their parents to go through a rehearsal flight in which they practice checking in for their flight, going through airport security, flight boarding, and collecting checked baggage. The event is sponsored by many local organizations and companies. It is one of the largest versions of the event held nationally.

Every year in April the airport celebrates autism awareness month by lighting up the terminal blue.

Civil Air Patrol
The airport is home to the Fox Cities Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, which houses a fleet of Cessna 182s at the airport.

Ground transportation
Appleton International Airport is located  west of Interstate 41 and  north of US Highway 10.

Valley Transit bus service does not have a stop servicing the airport, but there are stops nearby.

Transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft as well as taxis are allowed to pick-up and drop off passengers on airport property.

Six car rental companies offer service at the airport out of a consolidated rental car facility across from the terminal.

Accidents and incidents
 On , Air Wisconsin Flight 671, a DHC-6 Twin Otter, collided over Lake Winnebago with North Central Airlines Flight 290 while on approach to the airport; both planes crashed into the lake and sank, resulting in 13 fatalities.
 On , a chartered Delta Air Lines Airbus A330 (N802NW) carrying an NFL team, the Minnesota Vikings, slid off a taxiway after landing, stranding the team on board for four hours before they were rescued using fire ladders.

References

External links

 
  from the Wisconsin DOT Airport Directory
 
 

Category:Airports in Wisconsin
Category:Buildings and structures in Outagamie County, Wisconsin
Category:Transportation in Outagamie County, Wisconsin
Category:1965 establishments in Wisconsin