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{{short description|Airport in Wood County, Ohio, USA}}
{{Infobox airport
{{Infobox airport
| name = Toledo Executive Airport
| name = Toledo Executive Airport
| image =
| image = [[File:Toledo Executive Airport, January 2022.jpg|250px]]
| image-width =
| image-width =
| caption =
| caption =
Line 13: Line 14:
| location = [[Wood County, Ohio]]
| location = [[Wood County, Ohio]]
| elevation-f = 623
| elevation-f = 623
| elevation-m = 189.8
| elevation-m = 190
| coordinates = {{coord|41|33|53|N|083|28|56|W|region:US_type:airport}}
| coordinates = {{coord|41|33|53|N|083|28|56|W|region:US_type:airport}}
| website =
| website = https://toledoexecutiveairport.com/
| pushpin_map = USA Ohio#USA
| pushpin_map = USA Ohio#USA
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in Ohio / United States
| pushpin_label = '''TDZ'''
| pushpin_label = '''TDZ'''
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_label_position = right
| r1-number = 4/22
| r1-number = 4/22
| r1-length-f = 3,799
| r1-length-f = 3,799
| r1-length-m = 1,158.2
| r1-length-m = 1,158
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt]]
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| r2-number = 14/32
| r2-number = 14/32
| r2-length-f = 5,829
| r2-length-f = 5,829
| r2-length-m = 1,777
| r2-length-m = 1,777
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| stat-year = 2009
| stat-year = 2021
| stat1-header = Aircraft operations
| stat1-header = Aircraft operations
| stat1-data = 90,600
| stat1-data = 90,700
| stat2-header = Based aircraft
| stat2-header = Based aircraft
| stat2-data = 51
| stat2-data = 44
| footnotes = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name=FAA>{{FAA-airport|ID=TDZ|use=PU|own=PU|site=18579.*A}}, effective 2008-07-31.</ref>
| footnotes = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name=FAA>{{FAA-airport|ID=TDZ|use=PU|own=PU|site=18579.*A}}, effective 2023-08-10.</ref>
}}
}}


'''Toledo Executive Airport''' {{airport codes|TDZ|KTDZ|TDZ}} is seven miles southeast of [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]], in [[Wood County, Ohio|Wood County]], [[Ohio]]. It is an FAA designated reliever to Toledo Express Airport (TOL), which is Toledo's primary airport.<ref name=FAA /> Toledo Executive Airport was renamed from Metcalf Field in 2010.<ref name=Fox>[http://www.foxtoledo.com/dpp/news/local/Call-it-Toledo-Executive-Airport Call it Toledo Executive Airport]</ref>
'''Toledo Executive Airport''' {{airport codes|TDZ|KTDZ|TDZ}} is seven miles southeast of [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]], in [[Wood County, Ohio|Wood County]], [[Ohio]]. It is an FAA designated reliever to [[Toledo Express Airport]] (TOL), Toledo's primary airport.<ref name=FAA /> Toledo Executive Airport was renamed from '''Metcalf Field''' in 2010.<ref name=Fox>[http://www.foxtoledo.com/dpp/news/local/Call-it-Toledo-Executive-Airport Call it Toledo Executive Airport] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930153736/http://www.foxtoledo.com/dpp/news/local/Call-it-Toledo-Executive-Airport |date=2011-09-30 }}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==


The airport began as a grand dream on June 22, 1927 with the establishment of The Toledo Airport Committee. A site was chosen and funds were quickly raised, and on June 3, 1928 "The Transcontinental Airport of Toledo, Incorporated." was dedicated to a large crowd. The dream was soon realized, as the airport set records for air mail and became the second largest airport East of the Rocky Mountains.
The airport began as a grand dream on June 22, 1927 with the establishment of The Toledo Airport Committee. $257,000 were raised in early 1928 to fund the airport in 33 1/2 hours, which is the time it took [[Charles Lindbergh]] to fly from [[New York City]] to [[Paris]]. Six hundred and twenty shares of stock were sold to 620 Toledo citizens.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />


A site was chosen based on proximity to an air route from Chicago to New York, and land was purchased in the spring of 1928.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" /> On June 3, 1928, "The Transcontinental Airport of Toledo, Incorporated" was dedicated to a large crowd. The dream was soon realized, as the airport set records for air mail and became the second largest airport east of the Rocky Mountains.
⚫
The boom period did not last, however. Inadequate construction began to crumble, driving away business. The Great Depression hit. Ultimately, however, neighboring developments prevented the airport from expanding its runways to meet the needs of increasingly larger commercial aircraft. When the larger Toledo Express Airport was built in 1954, the field became redundant.


⚫
The airport received a complete weather station, and the [[National Weather Service|US Weather Bureau]] of Toledo operated at the airport until early 1955.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
⚫
The field languished for over a decade, being used for things such as fireworks displays and drag racing. Finally, the influence of General Aviation and business jets in the late 1960s and early 1970s brought the field back into use as an airport. Private, business and charter flights continue to be the primary activities through the present.<ref name="AHoLTWCO">


[[National Air Transport]] began service with passenger and air mail flights to Chicago and Cleveland, and a national record amount of mail was carried through the airport in 1929.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />

By 1931, National and three other airlines had merged becoming [[United Airlines]], and Toledo had become a stop on a transcontinental air route extending from San Francisco to New York.

⚫
The boom period did not last. Inadequate construction began to crumble, driving away business. The Great Depression hit. However, President Franklin D Roosevelt allocated $216,077 in [[Works Progress Administration]] funds for upgrades to the airport in 1936. The city of Toledo provided $52,000 in matching funds. These funds provided three paved runways.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />

⚫
The airport was purchased by the City of Toledo soon after. In 1937, it airport became a Class One port and the second largest airfield east of the Rocky Mountains.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />

⚫
United Airlines paused service in 1938 when the airport's runways began to buckle, leaving the airport unused. Federal grants were provided in 1940 to rebuild the runways, and the airport reopened in 1941.<ref name="ToledoHistoryBox" /><ref name="Blade8PageSpecial">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KMcwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Hv8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4018,4435763 Reopening of Airport is Real Achievement for Toledo]</ref>

⚫
A terminal building and [[Air traffic control|Air Traffic Control]] tower were built in 1948. Funds were provided by the City of Toledo and the federal government.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />

⚫
Ultimately, neighboring developments prevented the airport from expanding its runways to meet the needs of increasingly larger commercial aircraft. When the larger [[Toledo Express Airport]] was built in 1954, Toledo Executive became redundant, and it was ultimately abandoned.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />

⚫
The field languished for over a decade, used for things such as fireworks displays and drag racing. General Aviation and business jets in the late 1960s and early 1970s brought the field back into use as an airport; private, business and charter flights continue to be the main activities.<ref name="AHoLTWCO">
{{cite book|
{{cite book|
last1=Welling|first1=Alwin F.|
last1=Welling|first1=Alwin F.|
Line 60: Line 75:
</ref><ref name="ToledoHistoryBox">[http://www.toledohistorybox.com/2011/05/02/toledo-executive-airport-history/ A brief history of Toledo Executive Airport]</ref>
</ref><ref name="ToledoHistoryBox">[http://www.toledohistorybox.com/2011/05/02/toledo-executive-airport-history/ A brief history of Toledo Executive Airport]</ref>


In 1966, Executive Aviation signed a fifteen-year lease and invested $250,000 in a new main hangar, 20 T-hangars, and a fuel facility.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" /> Astro Aviation took over operations at the airport in 1970, and Crow Executive Air was founded in 1974.<ref name="CrowCorp">[http://www2.sos.state.oh.us/pls/bsqry/f?p=100:7:0::NO:7:P7_CHARTER_NUM:461206 Ohio Secretary of State]</ref>
=== Timeline ===

* June 22, 1927 – The Toledo Airport Committee was established, selecting a name of "The Transcontinental Airport of Toledo, Incorporated."<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
⚫
In 1975, the airport was put under the control of the [[Toledo–Lucas County Port Authority]].<ref name="AHoLTWCO" /> In 1977, it was renamed in honor of Tommy Metcalf, Toledo's second commissioner of aviation.<ref name="RenameToMetcalf">[http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2010/04/23/Process-begins-for-renaming-Metcalf-Field.html Process Begins for Renaming Metcalf Field]></ref>
* January 25, 1928 – $257,000 was raised in 33 1/2 hours, which is the time it took [[Charles Lindbergh]] to fly from [[New York City]] to [[Paris]]. Six hundred and twenty shares of stock were sold to 620 Toledo citizens.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />

* March 1928 – 515 acres purchased from local farmers. The site was chosen partly because it was near the route from [[Chicago]] to [[New York City|New York]].<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
⚫
In April 2007, a [[FedEx]] [[Boeing 727]] landed at the airport to be decommissioned and provided to [[Owens Community College]] for ground-based training.<ref name="Fedex727">[http://www.toledoblade.com/Education/2007/04/19/FedEx-delivers-gift-plane-to-Owens.html FedEx Delivers Gift Plane to Owens]</ref> The airport's name was changed to Toledo Executive Airport in 2010.<ref name="name change">[http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/1452853/call_it_toledo_executive_airport Call It Toledo Executive Airport]</ref>
* June 3, 1928 – The airport was dedicated to a crowd of 30,000 to 50,000 people.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" /><ref name="ToledoHistoryBox" />

** 14-year-old Nan Beth Jackson, daughter of Mayor [[William T. Jackson]], christened a [[National Air Transport]] plane "Miss Toledo".<ref name="AHoLTWCO" /><ref name="ToledoHistoryBox" />
⚫
On [[Tornado outbreak of June 5–6, 2010|June 5, 2010]], an [[EF4]] tornado passed along the south edge of the airport. Neighboring [[Lake High School (Millbury, Ohio)|Lake High School]] and other structures were severely affected.<ref name="Tornado2010">[http://www.erh.noaa.gov/cle/wx_events/2010/June/Jun5-6/toledo.php June 5, 2010 Tornado Touchdown: Wood & Ottawa Counties ]></ref>
** Leo McGinn piloted the first mail plane, a [[Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company|Curtiss]] biplane carrying a passenger, sixty pounds of mail, and fifty pounds of express from Cleveland on this day.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
** Airmail postage was ten cents to send a letter to any destination, nationwide.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
⚫
* 1928 – A complete weather station was installed. The [[National Weather Service|U.S. Weather Bureau]] of Toledo operated here until January 12, 1955.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* January 16, 1929 – A national record-setting quantity of mail was carried from the airport.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* 1929 – A 500,000,000 candlepower field floodlight was installed that "literally lit up the field like daylight" to support night operations.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
⚫
* November 11, 1936 – [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] approved allocating $216,077 in [[Works Progress Administration]] funds for upgrades. The city of Toledo provided $52,000 in matching funds. These funds provided three paved runways.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* November 25, 1936 – The City of Toledo purchased the airport and renamed it "The Toledo Municipal Airport".<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
⚫
* 1937 – The airport became a Class One port and the second largest airfield east of the Rocky Mountains.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
⚫
* August 23, 1938 – The two-year-old runways proved to be unfit and started to buckle, causing [[United Airlines]] to suspend service, leaving the airport largely unused.<ref name="ToledoHistoryBox" /><ref name="Blade8PageSpecial">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KMcwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Hv8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4018,4435763 Reopening of Airport is Real Achievement for Toledo]</ref>
* 1940 – Two concrete runways were built with federal money for $275,000.<ref name="ToledoHistoryBox" />
* June 29, 1941 – The airport reopened.<ref name="Blade8PageSpecial" />
⚫
* 1948 – A terminal building with a control tower was built for $175,000 with funds from the federal government and the City of Toledo.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* 1954 – Major airline service was transferred to the new [[Toledo Express Airport]].<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* Fall of 1954 – Toledo city council voted to abandon the field.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* Unknown Dates – The site was used for fireworks displays after being abandoned.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* February 1955 – The H. H. Buggie Company bought 47.1 acres of land and buildings in the Southwest corner of the airport, leaving the field with no buildings or hangars. The hangars were torn down, with the exception of the Curtiss hangar.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* 1960s – The field was used for automotive drag racing between aircraft landings. It was first known as "Vettesville", then "Greater Toledo Dragway".<ref name="AHoLTWCO" /><ref name="PressDragRacing">[http://www.presspublications.com/from-the-press/4600-for-a-decade-motor-heads-were-drag-racing-at-metcalf For a Decade Motor Heads Were Drag Racing at Metcalf]</ref>
* November 28, 1966 – Executive Aviation signed a fifteen-year lease and invested $250,000 in a new main hangar, 20 T-hangars, and a fuel facility.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* October 22, 1967 – The airport officially reopened.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* March 1970 – Astro Aviation took over operations at the airport.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* December 23, 1974 – Crow Executive Air, Inc. was established at the field.<ref name="CrowCorp">[http://www2.sos.state.oh.us/pls/bsqry/f?p=100:7:0::NO:7:P7_CHARTER_NUM:461206 Ohio Secretary of State]</ref>
* February 12, 1975 – The airport was put under the control of the [[Toledo–Lucas County Port Authority]].<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
⚫
* August 28, 1977 – Renamed "Metcalf Field" after Tommy Metcalf, Toledo's second commissioner of aviation.<ref name="RenameToMetcalf">[http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2010/04/23/Process-begins-for-renaming-Metcalf-Field.html Process Begins for Renaming Metcalf Field]></ref>
⚫
* April 18, 2007 – A [[FedEx]] [[Boeing 727]] landed at the airport to be decommissioned and provided to [[Owens Community College]] for ground-based training.<ref name="Fedex727">[http://www.toledoblade.com/Education/2007/04/19/FedEx-delivers-gift-plane-to-Owens.html FedEx Delivers Gift Plane to Owens]</ref>
* May 11, 2010 – Name changed to "Toledo Executive Airport"<ref name="name change">[http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/1452853/call_it_toledo_executive_airport Call It Toledo Executive Airport]</ref>
⚫
* June 5, 2010 – An [[EF4]] tornado passed along the Southern edge of the airport. Neighboring [[Lake High School (Millbury, Ohio)|Lake High School]] and other structures were severely affected.<ref name="Tornado2010">[http://www.erh.noaa.gov/cle/wx_events/2010/June/Jun5-6/toledo.php June 5, 2010 Tornado Touchdown: Wood & Ottawa Counties ]></ref>


=== Early Nearby Airports ===
=== Early Nearby Airports ===
* 215-acre airfield on Stickney Avenue, just North of Toledo.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* 215-acre airfield on Stickney Avenue, just north of Toledo.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* Franklin Airport – 5035 Monroe Street in Toledo. It was closed on September 15, 1952.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* Franklin Airport – 5035 Monroe Street in Toledo. It was closed on September 15, 1952.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* National Airport – 165-acre airfield located at Telegraph and Alexis road in Toledo. It was sold in the early 1960s.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* National Airport – 165-acre airfield located at Telegraph and Alexis road in Toledo. It was sold in the early 1960s.<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
Line 107: Line 97:
* [[Douglas Corrigan]] – August 19, 1938<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* [[Douglas Corrigan]] – August 19, 1938<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] – October 15, 1953<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />
* [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] – October 15, 1953<ref name="AHoLTWCO" />

== Facilities and aircraft ==


===Facilities===
===Facilities===
Toledo Executive Airport covers 450 acres (180 ha) and has two [[asphalt]] [[runways]]: 4/22 measuring 3,799 x 75&nbsp;ft (1,158.2 x 22.9 m), and 14/32 with a 5,829 x 100&nbsp;ft (1,777 x 30.5 m).
Toledo Executive Airport covers 450 acres (180 ha) and has two [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]] runways: 4/22 is 3,799 x 75&nbsp;ft (1,158 x 23 m) and 14/32 is 5,829 x 100&nbsp;ft (1,777 x 30 m).
⚫
Air America Aviation Services provides [[fixed base operator|fixed-base operations]].


Blue Horizons Flying Club operates from the field;
⚫
Crow Executive Air, provides [[fixed base operator|fixed-base operations]].


Blue Horizons Flying Club operates from the field.
EAA Chapter 582 is on the field.


EAA Chapter 582 is located on the field.
Air America Aerial Ads, LLC, operates from the field;

===Operations===
In the year ending May 18, 2009 the airport had 90,600 aircraft operations, average 248 per day: 64% general aviation, 22% air taxi, 14% transient general aviation, and <1% military.<ref>[http://www.airnav.com/airport/KTDZ KTDZ at AirNav]</ref>


===Aircraft===
===Aircraft===
As of May 2009, 51 aircraft are based at this airport. These include 34 single-engine aircraft, 16 multi-engine, 1 jet and 0 helicopters.<ref>[http://skyvector.com/airport/TDZ/Toledo-Executive-Airport KTDZ at SkyVector]</ref>
In the year ending July 29, 2021, the airport had 90,700 aircraft operations, average 248 per day: 78% [[general aviation]], 22% [[air taxi]], and <1% [[Military aviation|military]].<ref>[http://www.airnav.com/airport/KTDZ KTDZ at AirNav]</ref>

As of July 2021, there were 44 aircraft based at the airport: 36 single-engine and 6 multi-engine [[Airplane|airplanes]], 1 [[Jet aircraft|jet]], and 1 [[Glider (aircraft)|glider]].<ref>[http://skyvector.com/airport/TDZ/Toledo-Executive-Airport KTDZ at SkyVector]</ref>


==Accidents and incidents==
==Accidents and incidents==
*On October 18, 2009, a [[Pietenpol Air Camper|Pietnpol Air Camper]] crashed while operating at the Toledo Executive Airport. The pilot was conducting takeoffs and landings in the airport's [[Airfield traffic pattern|traffic pattern]] at the time of the accident. He added that he had been dealing with "moderate [[turbulence]] from [[Thermal|thermals]] and the shifting winds" during the flight. During the accident landing, the pilot stated that the airplane drifted left of the runway centerline during the landing roundout. As the left main wheel touched down, a gust of wind from the right caused the airplane to depart the left side of the runway. The pilot avoided a ground loop but still clipped a runway light with the horizontal stabilizer. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Skistmas George Pietnpol Aircamper crash in Ohio (N6186L) {{!}} PlaneCrashMap.com |url=https://planecrashmap.com/plane/oh/N6186L/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=planecrashmap.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Loss of control Accident Pietenpol Air Camper N23RT, |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/235207 |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Aviation Safety Network |publisher=Flight Safety Foundation}}</ref>
*On 1 July 2011, at 7:30&nbsp;p.m. after takeoff from TDZ, an ultralight Couvillion S-17, N433GC, lost power. Upon returning to the ground, it collided with a fence at a construction site. It also struck a pile of gravel before coming to rest in a barn. There were no injuries reported.<ref>[http://findmyaccident.com/ohio/2011/07/06/injuries-possible-when-ultralight-crashes-at-toledo-executive-airport/ Injuries Possible When Ultralight Crashes at Toledo Executive Airport]</ref>
*On 1 July 2011, at 7:30&nbsp;p.m., after takeoff from Toledo Executive Airport, an ultralight [[Couvillion S-17]], N433GC, lost power. Upon returning to the ground, it collided with a fence at a construction site. It also struck a pile of gravel before coming to rest in a barn. There were no injuries reported.<ref>[http://findmyaccident.com/ohio/2011/07/06/injuries-possible-when-ultralight-crashes-at-toledo-executive-airport/ Injuries Possible When Ultralight Crashes at Toledo Executive Airport] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130123032626/http://findmyaccident.com/ohio/2011/07/06/injuries-possible-when-ultralight-crashes-at-toledo-executive-airport/ |date=2013-01-23 }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of airports in Ohio]]


==References==
==References==
Line 133: Line 129:
* {{FAA-procedures|TDZ}}
* {{FAA-procedures|TDZ}}
{{US-airport-minor|TDZ}}
{{US-airport-minor|TDZ}}
{{toledo}}


[[Category:Airports in Ohio]]
[[Category:Airports in Ohio]]
[[Category:Transportation in Toledo, Ohio]]
[[Category:Transportation in Toledo, Ohio]]
[[Category:Works Progress Administration in Toledo, Ohio]]
[[Category:Aviation in Ohio]]
[[Category:Transportation in Lucas County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Lucas County, Ohio]]

Revision as of 23:15, 30 April 2024

Toledo Executive Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerToledo–Lucas County Port Authority
ServesToledo, Ohio
LocationWood County, Ohio
Elevation AMSL623 ft / 190 m
Coordinates41°33′53″N 083°28′56″W / 41.56472°N 83.48222°W / 41.56472; -83.48222
Websitehttps://toledoexecutiveairport.com/
Map
TDZ is located in Ohio
TDZ
TDZ
TDZ is located in the United States
TDZ
TDZ
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
4/22 3,799 1,158 Asphalt
14/32 5,829 1,777 Asphalt
Statistics (2021)
Aircraft operations90,700
Based aircraft44

Toledo Executive Airport (IATA: TDZ, ICAO: KTDZ, FAA LID: TDZ) is seven miles southeast of Toledo, in Wood County, Ohio. It is an FAA designated reliever to Toledo Express Airport (TOL), Toledo's primary airport.[1] Toledo Executive Airport was renamed from Metcalf Field in 2010.[2]

History

The airport began as a grand dream on June 22, 1927 with the establishment of The Toledo Airport Committee. $257,000 were raised in early 1928 to fund the airport in 33 1/2 hours, which is the time it took Charles Lindbergh to fly from New York City to Paris. Six hundred and twenty shares of stock were sold to 620 Toledo citizens.[3]

A site was chosen based on proximity to an air route from Chicago to New York, and land was purchased in the spring of 1928.[3] On June 3, 1928, "The Transcontinental Airport of Toledo, Incorporated" was dedicated to a large crowd. The dream was soon realized, as the airport set records for air mail and became the second largest airport east of the Rocky Mountains.

The airport received a complete weather station, and the US Weather Bureau of Toledo operated at the airport until early 1955.[3]

National Air Transport began service with passenger and air mail flights to Chicago and Cleveland, and a national record amount of mail was carried through the airport in 1929.[3]

By 1931, National and three other airlines had merged becoming United Airlines, and Toledo had become a stop on a transcontinental air route extending from San Francisco to New York.

The boom period did not last. Inadequate construction began to crumble, driving away business. The Great Depression hit. However, President Franklin D Roosevelt allocated $216,077 in Works Progress Administration funds for upgrades to the airport in 1936. The city of Toledo provided $52,000 in matching funds. These funds provided three paved runways.[3]

The airport was purchased by the City of Toledo soon after. In 1937, it airport became a Class One port and the second largest airfield east of the Rocky Mountains.[3]

United Airlines paused service in 1938 when the airport's runways began to buckle, leaving the airport unused. Federal grants were provided in 1940 to rebuild the runways, and the airport reopened in 1941.[4][5]

A terminal building and Air Traffic Control tower were built in 1948. Funds were provided by the City of Toledo and the federal government.[3]

Ultimately, neighboring developments prevented the airport from expanding its runways to meet the needs of increasingly larger commercial aircraft. When the larger Toledo Express Airport was built in 1954, Toledo Executive became redundant, and it was ultimately abandoned.[3]

The field languished for over a decade, used for things such as fireworks displays and drag racing. General Aviation and business jets in the late 1960s and early 1970s brought the field back into use as an airport; private, business and charter flights continue to be the main activities.[3][4]

In 1966, Executive Aviation signed a fifteen-year lease and invested $250,000 in a new main hangar, 20 T-hangars, and a fuel facility.[3] Astro Aviation took over operations at the airport in 1970, and Crow Executive Air was founded in 1974.[6]

In 1975, the airport was put under the control of the Toledo–Lucas County Port Authority.[3] In 1977, it was renamed in honor of Tommy Metcalf, Toledo's second commissioner of aviation.[7]

In April 2007, a FedEx Boeing 727 landed at the airport to be decommissioned and provided to Owens Community College for ground-based training.[8] The airport's name was changed to Toledo Executive Airport in 2010.[9]

On June 5, 2010, an EF4 tornado passed along the south edge of the airport. Neighboring Lake High School and other structures were severely affected.[10]

Early Nearby Airports

  • 215-acre airfield on Stickney Avenue, just north of Toledo.[3]
  • Franklin Airport – 5035 Monroe Street in Toledo. It was closed on September 15, 1952.[3]
  • National Airport – 165-acre airfield located at Telegraph and Alexis road in Toledo. It was sold in the early 1960s.[3]

Notable Visitors

Facilities and aircraft

Facilities

Toledo Executive Airport covers 450 acres (180 ha) and has two asphalt runways: 4/22 is 3,799 x 75 ft (1,158 x 23 m) and 14/32 is 5,829 x 100 ft (1,777 x 30 m). Air America Aviation Services provides fixed-base operations.

Blue Horizons Flying Club operates from the field;

EAA Chapter 582 is on the field.

Air America Aerial Ads, LLC, operates from the field;

Aircraft

In the year ending July 29, 2021, the airport had 90,700 aircraft operations, average 248 per day: 78% general aviation, 22% air taxi, and <1% military.[11]

As of July 2021, there were 44 aircraft based at the airport: 36 single-engine and 6 multi-engine airplanes, 1 jet, and 1 glider.[12]

Accidents and incidents

  • On October 18, 2009, a Pietnpol Air Camper crashed while operating at the Toledo Executive Airport. The pilot was conducting takeoffs and landings in the airport's traffic pattern at the time of the accident. He added that he had been dealing with "moderate turbulence from thermals and the shifting winds" during the flight. During the accident landing, the pilot stated that the airplane drifted left of the runway centerline during the landing roundout. As the left main wheel touched down, a gust of wind from the right caused the airplane to depart the left side of the runway. The pilot avoided a ground loop but still clipped a runway light with the horizontal stabilizer. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.[13][14]
  • On 1 July 2011, at 7:30 p.m., after takeoff from Toledo Executive Airport, an ultralight Couvillion S-17, N433GC, lost power. Upon returning to the ground, it collided with a fence at a construction site. It also struck a pile of gravel before coming to rest in a barn. There were no injuries reported.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b FAA Airport Form 5010 for TDZ PDF, effective 2023-08-10.
  2. ^ Call it Toledo Executive Airport Archived 2011-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Welling, Alwin F. (1998). "Metcalf Field". In Meadows, Cathy J. (ed.). A History of Lake Township Wood County, Ohio. Ada, Ohio: The Ada Herald. pp. 255–270.
  4. ^ a b A brief history of Toledo Executive Airport
  5. ^ Reopening of Airport is Real Achievement for Toledo
  6. ^ Ohio Secretary of State
  7. ^ Process Begins for Renaming Metcalf Field>
  8. ^ FedEx Delivers Gift Plane to Owens
  9. ^ Call It Toledo Executive Airport
  10. ^ June 5, 2010 Tornado Touchdown: Wood & Ottawa Counties >
  11. ^ KTDZ at AirNav
  12. ^ KTDZ at SkyVector
  13. ^ "Skistmas George Pietnpol Aircamper crash in Ohio (N6186L) | PlaneCrashMap.com". planecrashmap.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  14. ^ "Loss of control Accident Pietenpol Air Camper N23RT,". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  15. ^ Injuries Possible When Ultralight Crashes at Toledo Executive Airport Archived 2013-01-23 at archive.today

External links

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