Long Island MacArthur Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Long Island MacArthur Airport

---

image-width = 150
caption = FAA airport diagram
IATA = ISP
ICAO = KISP
FAA = ISP
type = Public
owner-oper = Town of Islip, New York
city-served = Long Island, New York metro area
location = Ronkonkoma, New York
elevation-f = 99
elevation-m = 30
coordinates = coord|40|47|43|N|073|06|01|W|type:airport
website = http://www.macarthurairport.com/
r1-number = 6/24
r1-length-f = 7,006
r1-length-m = 2,135
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 10/28
r2-length-f = 5,034
r2-length-m = 1,534
r2-surface = Asphalt
r3-number = 15L/33R
r3-length-f = 3,175
r3-length-m = 968
r3-surface = Asphalt
r4-number = 15R/33L
r4-length-f = 5,186
r4-length-m = 1,581
r4-surface = Asphalt
h1-number = H1
h1-length-f = 50
h1-length-m = 15
h1-surface = Asphalt
h2-number = H2
h2-length-f = 50
h2-length-m = 15
h2-surface = Asphalt
stat-year = 2005
stat1-header = Aircraft operations
stat1-data = 173,346
stat2-header = Based aircraft
stat2-data = 302
footnotes = Source: Federal Aviation AdministrationFAA-airport|ID=ISP|use=PU|own=PU|site=15481.*A, effective 2007-07-05]

Long Island MacArthur Airport Airport codes|ISP|KISP|ISP is a public airport located on Long Island, in Ronkonkoma, Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is seven miles (11 km) northeast of the central business district of the Town of Islip, which owns and operates the airport. It is named for General Douglas MacArthur and also known locally as Islip Airport; it is the only airport in Suffolk or Nassau County with scheduled service on major airlines and serves over two million passengers a year.

History

The airport began in 1942 as three paved runways built by the Civil Aeronautics Administration (predecessor of the Federal Aviation Administration) during World War II. Lockheed Aircraft Corporation built the first hangar at the airport in 1944. The Town of Islip built a terminal in 1949, after taking the airport back from the Army Air Corps at the end of the war. Through the 1950s, MacArthur was used by Sperry Corporation for aviation research.

Allegheny Airlines was its first commercial airline in 1960, offering flights to Boston, Philadelphia and Washington. The Douglas MacArthur terminal was completed in 1968 and American Airlines began operating non-stop flights to Chicago in 1971. American Eagle did hold non-stop flights to Boston too, but later discontinued service into the airport. Continental Express and Continental Connection flew into the airport as well, offering non-stop flights to Albany and to Cleveland, but discontinued service in 2005. Spirit Airlines also had scheduled service to Florida and Detroit before they moved their New York destination to LaGuardia Airport in Queens. However, in May 2008, the airline resumed service to Fort Lauderdale. On July 3, Spirit Airlines once again announced they would discontinue service from Long Island MacArthur Airport on August 1, 2008 due to the rising cost of oil. In the same release, the airline announced that service would return when economic conditions improve. [ [http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-liisli155578112feb15,0,2977696.story Spirit Air considering ISP service to FLL] ] [ [http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080703/clth053.html?.v=101 Spirit Airlines Attacks Record Fuel Prices] ] Currently, US Airways operates short distance shuttles out of the old B concourse, featuring only one jetway and other gates that board from the tarmac, however only one jetway is really necessary due to light traffic. Delta Express, which offered non-stops to Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale pulled out of Islip in the summer of 2003, after experiencing a decline in passenger traffic, dramatically decreasing passenger traffic at the airport. The airline then ceased operations in November 2003 after it was replaced by Song Airlines. Delta has previously added service to and from Atlanta on Delta Connection, but that service ended on May 1, 2008. Southwest Airlines has established service to Florida, Baltimore, Chicago and Las Vegas.

In late September 2007, Ryanair, an Ireland-based airline, proposed to fly between MacArthur Airport and Dublin, Ireland. This will force the airport to build a customs and immigration area and will make MacArthur Airport the second airport in the state of New York having scheduled flights to another continent, the first being John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. As of right now, Ryanair has pulled their offer until they get aircraft with long enough range.

On May 1, 2008, Spirit Airlines returned to MacArthur Airport. They previously discontinued service into ISP during the early part of 2001. They now provide nonstop service to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, competing with Southwest Airlines in the Miami Area. These flights also serve as connecting flights to many Caribbean destinations. On August 1, 2008, Spirit Airlines discontinued service to Islip once again. They indicated that they will resume air service when market conditions improve.

2004 Expansion and Corruption Scandal

The airport embarked on an expansion in 2004 that included a $65 million Southwest Airlines terminal which was constructed and approved per all state regulations and codes. During the expansion construction period investigators discovered that the Islip town officials made modifications to the existing town-owned airport (not the Southwest expansion project) while ignoring state regulations for fire detection and suppression.

A major proponent of the expansion was Peter J. McGowan, the former Islip town supervisor and one of the most influential Republicans on Long Island. McGowan saw his name emblazoned on the new terminal. It was removed after he resigned in disgrace in March 2006 under felony indictments of grand larceny, tampering with a witness, bribe receiving, and filing a false instrument. He was jailed for 56 days for taking kickbacks and misusing more than $30,000 in campaign donations. The new terminal was renamed "Veterans Concourse" to honor Islip's servicemen and women.

The Phase I expansion area consists of an Irish pub, A&W Restaurant, an Italian eatery, a Rapidos sandwich shop, a CNBC store, and four new gates. Phase II consisting of four new Southwest gates opened in November 2006, giving them a total of eight gates. The new gate area is also the exit point of the terminal to the baggage claim, when before passengers would have to pass back through the ticketing area of the airport. All food in the Airport is run by HMSHost after taking over from Anton Airfood.

2008 Renovations

Announced on May 5, 2008, the FAA has granted $1,305,705 to be used for repaving the worn runway 6/24. Work is predicted to start in July 2008 and carried out overnight as to not disrupt airport functions during the day. The FAA is also breaking ground for the construction of a new control tower.Furthermore, Southwest Airlines will be starting work on repairing the cracked pavement outside its terminal. [http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/tuesday/news/ny-liair065675264may06,0,4881720.story]

Airlines and destinations

* Southwest Airlines Gates A1-A8 (Baltimore/Washington, Chicago-Midway, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Las Vegas, Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach)
* US Airways Gate B16-B17
** US Airways Express operated by Air Wisconsin (Philadelphia)
** US Airways Express operated by Piedmont Airlines (Philadelphia)

Incidents

*On April 4, 1955, United Airlines test flight crashed shortly after take off at MacArthur. The flight killed everyone onboard which included three crew members. The New York - LaGuardia bound flight lost control soon after take off.
*On July 25th, 2008, at approximately 6:50 am, a bomb threat was received for a Chicago bound Southwest Airlines plane at gate A4, Flight 2622. The Southwest terminal was evacuated for several hours and a thorough search of the airplanes and buildings commenced with the Suffolk County bomb squad and K9 units. No bomb was found and the terminal reopened around noon the same day. [ [http://www.news12.com/LI/topstories/article?id=215028 News12 Authentication ] ]

Ground transportation

Ground transportation includes shuttles that connect the airport with the nearby Long Island Rail Road station at Ronkonkoma. Taxi, rental car, and limousine service are readily available. Many hotels in the surrounding area also provide shuttle service to and from the airport.

Facilities and aircraft

Long Island Mac Arthur Airport covers an area of 1,311 acres (531 ha) which contains four runways and two helipads.

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2005, the airport had 173,346 aircraft operations, an average of 474 per day: 79% general aviation, 15% scheduled commercial, 6% air taxi and <1% military. There are 302 aircraft based at this airport: 58% single engine, 13% multi-engine, 18% jet aircraft, 9% helicopters, 1% ultralight and 3% military (percentages rounded).

The Suffolk County Police Aviation Section bases a Law Enforcement and MEDEVAC helicopter at the airport. The base is staffed 24 hours a day by Police Officer pilots as well as a Flight Paramedic employed by Stony Brook University Hospital. Long Island MacArthur Airport Fire Rescue provides fire protection, EMS, and rescue services, and operates out of one station adjacent to the control tower. The department is equipped with two crash trucks in addition to rescue and medical units.
Until the early '90's, the 2d Battalion (Attack), 142d Aviation Regiment of the 42nd Infantry Division's Aviation Brigade (NYARNG), flying Bell AH-1F Cobra gunships, was based at MacArthur Airport.

The New York Flight Service Station is located on the field, near the main terminal. [cite web |url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/KISP |title=AirNav: KISP - Long Island Mac Arthur Airport |accessdate=2007-07-15 |format= |work=]

References

External links

* [http://www.isliptown.org/index.php/long-island-macarthur-airport Long Island MacArthur Airport] - official site
*FAA-diagram|00948
*PDFlink| [https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/divisions/operating/opdm/aviation/repository/air_dir/isp.pdf New York State DOT Airport Diagram]
*US-airport|ISP