Airport type Public Serves Presque Isle, Maine Website FlyPresqueIsle.com Code PQI Phone +1 207-764-2550 | Owner City of Presque Isle Elevation AMSL 534 ft / 163 m 1/19 7,439 Elevation 163 m | |
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Address 650 Airport Dr, Presque Isle, ME 04769, USA | ||
Northern Maine Regional Airport at Presque Isle (IATA: PQI, ICAO: KPQI, FAA LID: PQI) is a mile northwest of Presque Isle, in Aroostook County, Maine. It serves the residents of Presque Isle and a vast area of northern Maine and northwestern New Brunswick. Airline flights to Logan International Airport in Boston are subsidized by the federal government's Essential Air Service program at a cost of $3,892,174 (per year).
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Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 13,385 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008, 13,513 in 2009 and 15,052 in 2010. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a primary commercial service airport (more than 10,000 enplanements per year).
The airport has the second longest commercial runway in Maine (second only to Bangor International Airport), and third longest overall (after the Loring Commerce Centre, formerly Loring Air Force Base). It was once hub to Aroostook Airways, a commuter airline in the 1970s, with service to several cities throughout New England.
World War II
During World War II the federal government appropriated the airport, establishing an air base for planes bound to and from Great Britain. Lane Construction of Hampden, Maine, was one of the contractors who worked on upgrading the airport for the military. Almost overnight, Presque Isle Army Airfield became a vital air transport installation and the city found itself a busy war center. During the Second World War, Clark Gable was briefly stationed at Presque Isle before being sent to England. Operations during this period were described by Ernest K. Gann, based upon his personal experiences in the Air Transport Command, in his book, Fate Is the Hunter.
Post war
When the United States Air Force closed Presque Isle Air Force Base in 1961, the former Air Force Base was redeveloped. Presque Isle is home the University of Maine at Presque Isle, as well as the Northern Maine Community College. Scheduled commercial air service is available through Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle. General aviation services are available through both Northern Maine Regional Airport and Caribou Municipal Airport.
In addition, the Skyway Industrial Park sits adjacent to Northern Maine Regional Airport which offers commercial airline as well as general aviation services to the entire region. FedEx and United Parcel Service augment park accessibility by air to and from major markets.
Skyway Industrial Park, owned by the city of Presque Isle and administered by the Presque Isle Industrial Council, has been attractive to a variety of new businesses. To date, over 40 companies have located on the park. The park consists of 440 acres (1.8 km2), of which 175 is prime industrial land served by all utilities, streets, subdivided and available for further development. Located adjacent to the airport and within 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of downtown, the park has become a dominant feature in the local and regional economy.
Facilities
The airport covers 1,489 acres (603 ha) at an elevation of 534 feet (163 m). It has two asphalt runways: 1/19 is 7,439 by 150 feet (2,267 x 46 m) and 10/28 is 5,994 by 100 feet (1,827 x 30 m).
In the year ending August 31, 2011 the airport had 4,364 aircraft operations, average 11 per day: 49% general aviation, 44% airline, 6% air taxi, and 1% military. 24 aircraft were then based at the airport: 79% single-engine and 21% multi-engine.
Aircraft servicing Presque Isle include: Saab 340 operated by Pen Air; Cessna 208 Caravan and Beechcraft C99 operated by Wiggins Airways.