History of the DuBois Regional Airport
In the early 1950’s a group of progressive citizens in the City of
DuBois recognizing the importance of air travel would play in the economic
future of the Clearfield-Jefferson County area petitioned the DuBois City
Council to create and support an Airport Authority.
On March 24, 1953, the City of DuBois created the Municipal Airport Authority
of the City of DuBois, Pennsylvania, and appointed five prominent citizens
of DuBois to serve on that Authority. The city turned over the DuBois City Airport, located just east of DuBois, to the newly created Airport Authority.
It was decided that it was not practical to enlarge the present site of the DuBois
Airport to qualify for certification for air carrier service. Members of
the Authority began searching for a suitable site for a new airport with the goal of the location to be somewhere
within a radius of 25 to 30 miles of the City of DuBois. After investigation
of several possible sites, the Authority and their engineers settled on the
present site in Beechwoods.
It was perceived that the lack of satisfactory roads to the site
was the only serious drawback in the final selection of this location. Even
so, there were many reasons to favor this location, both economic and physical,
that the decision to proceed was made. One of the very strong arguments in
favor of locating in Beechwoods was the proximity of the corporate headquarters
of Brockway Glass Co., Inc.
A public campaign was held in 1957 and 1958 to raise money to construct a
new airport and a total of $200,000 was received, with contributions ranging
from $10 from some individuals to $50,000 from Brockway Glass Company. The
City of DuBois contributed $20,000 and another $45,000 was raised from the
sale of the DuBois City Airport. Nearly every major community in Jefferson
County had some contribution to the fund.
In 1958 land acquisition began and the necessary land was purchased for approximately
$70,000. Jefferson County agreed to be the sponsor required by the FAA. Construction
began immediately and by May 30, 1960 a 4,700 foot lighted runway,
taxiway, and administration building were constructedt and the Airport ready for use
at a total cost of $750,000. On June 1, 1960 Allegheny Airlines began passenger
service for the area from the DuBois Regional Airport.
The following
chronological highlights of the development of the Airport from that beginning
until today are provided:
1960-1965: Erect security fence, construct first T-hangars and pave T-hangar
area, construct FAA flight service station (FSS), make runway improvements,
purchase snowplow, and implement airport management contract with Beechwoods
Flying Service, Inc.
1966-1970: Pave apron in front of the terminal building, construct aircraft
rescue and firefighting station (ARFF), reconstruct and lengthen runway by
500 feet, and prepare site for installation of instrument landing system
(ILS).
1971-1975: Install glide slope, install medium intensity approach lighting
system with runway alignment indicator lights (MALSR), and initiate first
airport master plan.
1976-1980: Overlay and groove runway, overlay taxiway and apron, construct
new office building, purchase new snow plows, and construct additional T-hangars.
1980: Airport Authority is reorganized into the Clearfield-Jefferson Counties
Regional Airport Authority.
1981-1985: Construct new sand storage/equipment building, purchase snow blower,
and upgrade instrument approach system.
1986-1990: Acquire Oshkosh P-19 ARFF vehicle, grade additional 200 feet on
Runways 25 and 7 approach ends for runway safety areas, seal-coat ramp area,
repave and partially light T-hangar taxiway, install storm drainage sewers,
acquire 53.5 acres of land across State Route 830 for future expansion, expand
terminal building by 3000 feet, remodel existing facilities, construct threshold
lights, install automated weather observing station (AWOS), and Al Beiga
and Phil Burnaman purchase Crown Airways from Owens-Illinois.
1991-1995: Expand and remodel restaurant facility, initiate airport master
plan update, purchase snow removal vehicle, install pilot controlled lighting,
purchase ARFF clothing, update fuel farm – JetA and 100LL, realign
and construct partial parallel taxiway to Runway 25 end, extend parallel
taxiway to Runway 7 end (including taxiway lighting), install new airfield
signs, remove obstructions and acquire property easements, rehabilitate and
expand airport terminal parking lot, install Runway 25 precision approach
path indicators (PAPI), construct de-icing pad, expand airport maintenance
building, acquire additional snow removal equipment, approved to collect
first Passenger Facility Charge (PFC), and Mesa Air Group purchased Crown
Airways from local owners.
1996-2000: Design/build airport sewer and water system, install emergency
airport generator, acquire handicapped chair lift, expand and renovate airport
terminal building, acquire snow blower, replace airport security gates, AWOS
replaced with airport surface observing system (ASOS), approved to collect
second PFC, became Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ), and Airport Authority
assumed the duties of Fixed Base operator providing various general aviation
services including fueling, maintenance, and flight instruction.
2001-2004: Update airport master plan, rehabilitate Runway 7-25, rehabilitate
taxiways A, B, and C, rehabilitate airport terminal apron, acquire snow removal
equipment (truck and plow), acquire new aircraft rescue and firefighting
(ARFF) vehicle, electrical vault expansion, construct ARFF building expansion,
extend Runway 25 and Runway 7 safety areas by 300 feet, expand terminal apron,
add security system, replace perimeter fence, remark runway, expand snow
removal equipment building to house the newly acquired piece of snow removal
equipment (broom), approved to collect third PFC, began construction of access
road to Interstate 80, and designated Foreign Trade Zone No. 254.
The DuBois Regional Airport is one of three airports in Clearfield and Jefferson
Counties. The Punxsutawney Airport and the Clearfield-Lawrence Airport are
public use airports that serve general aviation aircraft only. The DuBois
Regional Airportis classified as a commercial, low-density, feeder airport
serving both regional and general aviation aircraft. The Airport is classified
as commercial service facility in the National Plan of Integrated Airport
Systems (NPIAS) and the Pennsylvania State Airport System Plan (SASP).