Airport type Public Code TTN Phone +1 609-882-1601 | Owner County of Mercer Elevation AMSL 212 ft / 65 m Elevation 65 m | |
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Address 1100 Terminal Circle Drive, Ewing Township, NJ 08628, USA | ||
Trenton–Mercer Airport (IATA: TTN, ICAO: KTTN, FAA LID: TTN) is a county-owned, joint civil–military, public airport located four miles northwest of Trenton in the West Trenton section of Ewing Township, Mercer County, New Jersey. Formerly known as Mercer County Airport, the airport serves two scheduled airlines plus general and corporate aviation. The US Department of Transportation reports that approximately 399,000 passengers departed and 395,000 arrived at the airport between June 2014 and May 2015, a total of 794,000 passengers.
Contents
- History
- Ground transportation
- Public transportation
- Civilian facilities and aircraft
- Pilot training
- Civil Air Patrol
- Military facilities and aircraft
- Terminal and future developments
- Former commercial service
- References
Trenton–Mercer is the fourth busiest airport in New Jersey with an average of 203 aircraft operations per day (after Newark's 1153 per day, Teterboro's 434 per day and Atlantic City's 205 per day).
Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 24,634 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2007, 974 enplanements in 2008, 561 in 2009, 853 in 2010, 3,414 in 2011, 6,459 in 2012, 148,256 in 2013, and 377,961 in 2014. It is in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which called it a general aviation facility.
History
The first airplane landed at what is now Trenton–Mercer Airport in 1907, in what was then Alfred Reeder's farm field, just off of Bear Tavern Road in Ewing. Twenty-two years later in 1929 Skillman Airport opened to the public.
During World War II the nearby General Motors Inland Fisher Guide Plant ceased producing civilian vehicles and began making Grumman TBF Avenger carrier-based torpedo bombers for the United States Navy. Skillman Airport expanded to accommodate test flights of this aircraft, and after the airport returned to county control following the end of the war it was renamed Mercer County Airport. After the war, the navy reestablished a presence with the construction of Naval Air Warfare Center Trenton adjacent to the airport, which remained open until 1997.
Airport Air Traffic Control operations based in the control tower were 6 AM to Midnight during the 1980s and early 1990s. Since January 1994, tower operations have been shortened to 6 AM to 10 PM.
In 1995 the airport's name was changed to Trenton–Mercer Airport in an effort to identify it with the city of Trenton (the capital of New Jersey and county seat of Mercer County).
On March 11, 1998 an NWS/FAA Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) became operational at the airport, replacing the human weather observers which had previously reported weather conditions.
For many years the county has planned to expand the airport and attract more commercial airlines. The plans have been opposed by residents of suburban housing tracts in Ewing, Lawrence, Hopewell, and Pennington and, across the Delaware River, Yardley and Lower Makefield, in Pennsylvania. Most of these developments were built after the airport.
In 1994 as a cost-cutting measure, the Mercer County Airport Police and Fire Department was disbanded and replaced by the Mercer County Sheriff's Office (police) and ProTec Fire Services (Aircraft Fire Rescue).
Ground transportation
Trenton–Mercer Airport has rental cars available in the terminal with no shuttle needed. Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental are available 7 days a week from 6am to Midnight.
Avis and Budget car rentals are available at the Signature Flight Support Center with shuttle service from the commercial terminal building. Normal hours of operation are 6:30am to 12:00am 7 days a week.
Mercer County has a variety of taxi cab companies which operate from the Trenton Transit Center which services the Northeast Corridor via Amtrak, New Jersey Transit and SEPTA railroads.
Public transportation
No public transportation options actually pick up or drop off passengers in front of the terminal, but nearby bus and train routes exist. There are no sidewalks, nor shoulders, along the roads that lead to the passenger terminal.
The Trenton–Mercer Airport is within walking distance (1.5 miles) of the West Trenton train station. This train station serves Philadelphia and points west, but not New York or points east.
On weekdays, NJ Transit's 607 bus stops just outside the airport grounds, at Bear Tavern Rd and Cardinal Dr. The 608 bus, which connects to the Hamilton NJT Train Station and Trenton Transit Center, stops less than a mile from the airport terminal at the intersection of Grand Ave and Upper Ferry Rd (weekdays only).
Civilian facilities and aircraft
Trenton–Mercer Airport covers 1,345 acres (544 ha) at an elevation of 212 feet (65 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways: 6/24 is 6,006 by 150 feet (1,831 x 46 m) and 16/34 is 4,800 by 150 feet (1,463 x 46 m). The airport has three helipads, H1, H2, and H3, each 64 by 64 feet (20 x 20 m). To meet FAA requirements that certain runways be equipped with an EMAS bed before the end of 2013, the airport installed EMAS beds at both ends of runway 16/34 in 2012; officials announced plans in early 2013 to close runway 6/24 for two months that fall to install an EMAS bed at both ends.
In 2010 the airport had 84,614 aircraft operations, an average of 231 per day: 95% general aviation, 3% air taxi, and 2% military. 154 aircraft were then based at this airport: 48% single-engine, 10% multi-engine, 10% jet, 21% helicopter, and 10% military.
Pilot training
Trenton–Mercer Airport is home to multiple flight schools including Infinity Flight Group, which provides both flight training and aircraft rental, and Mercer County Community College's flight program which provides degree programs in aviation.
The airport is also home to ATP Flight School.
Civil Air Patrol
The airport is also home to the Twin Pine Composite Squadron (NER-NJ-092) of the New Jersey Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.
Military facilities and aircraft
The airport is home to Army Aviation Support Facility #2 and the 1st Battalion, 150th Aviation Regiment, otherwise known as the 1-150th General Support Aviation Battalion of the New Jersey Army National Guard. Equipped with UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, the battalion provides ground force commanders of the 42nd Infantry Division (Mechanized) with additional air assault, transportation, re-supply, and command and control assets. In its state role under Title 32 United States Code, the unit also provides emergency logistical support in response to disasters or any other emergency support as may be directed by the Governor of New Jersey.
Terminal and future developments
Trenton–Mercer Airport has one terminal with two gates. Gate 2 is divided into 3 sub gates labeled Gates 2-4. On the upper level of the terminal (before security) is an observation lounge as well as a restaurant, Sky Lounge at Ewing, serving pub food. Sky Lounge has another location past security near Gate 1 that serves drinks and pre-packaged sandwiches and wraps. Parking is $2 per hour and $8 per day. On November 8, 2013, Mercer County opened a renovated terminal, including a new modular trailer baggage claim outside the terminal, restrooms in the gate area (there were previously no restrooms past security), and using the space where the baggage claim was to add more passenger seating and an additional gate. In August 2014, the Airport was awarded $2.2 million to rehabilitate 3 taxiways. A spokesperson for the county said that this is the first phase of a three-year plan to make further improvements.
In a study commissioned by the county released in 2013, a new passenger terminal, a corporate office park, medical offices and laboratories, and commercial space would be part of a plan to develop available land at the airport. On September 29, 2016, Mercer County in conjunction with firms Urban Engineers and McFarland Johnson held a public meeting at the nearby West Trenton Ballroom meeting hall. Several aspects of the proposed master plan for the airport were revealed. Plans call for a new terminal sized at 115,000-125,000 square feet. The current terminal is 24,780 square feet. The rental car area will house up to 5 rental car agencies and with concession, restrooms and gate area expanding to four times the current area