Grider Field

Grider Field

USGS aerial image, 16 February 1994
IATA: PBF – ICAO: KPBF – FAA LID: PBF
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner City of Pine Bluff
Serves Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Elevation AMSL 206 ft / 63 m
Coordinates 34°10′28″N 091°56′08″W / 34.17444°N 91.93556°W / 34.17444; -91.93556
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18/36 5,998 1,828 Asphalt
Statistics (2009)
Aircraft operations 39,875
Based aircraft 50
World War II postcard of Grider Field

Grider Field (IATA: PBF, ICAO: KPBF, FAA LID: PBF) is a city-owned, public-use airport located four nautical miles (7 km) southeast of the central business district of Pine Bluff, a city in Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States.[1] According to the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009–2013, it is categorized as a general aviation airport.[2]

Facilities and aircraft

Grider Field covers an area of 750 acres (300 ha) at an elevation of 206 feet (63 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 18/36 with an asphalt surface measuring 5,998 by 150 feet (1,828 x 46 m).[1]

For the 12-month period ending May 31, 2009, the airport had 39,875 aircraft operations, an average of 109 per day: 94% general aviation, 5% military and 1% air taxi. At that time there were 50 aircraft based at this airport: 84% single-engine, 12% multi-engine and 4% ultralight.[1]

History

Opened in April 1941 with 6,300' x 6,380' open turf field. Began training United States Army Air Corps flying cadets in under contract to Pine Bluff School of Aviation. Assigned to United States Army Air Forces Gulf Coast Training Center (later Central Flying Training Command) as a primary (level 1) pilot training airfield. Had five auxiliary airfields assigned for emergency and overflow landings. Flying training was performed with Fairchild PT-19s as the primary trainer. Also had several PT-17 Stearmans and a few P-40 Warhawks assigned. Also provided flexible gunnery training.

Inactivated on 30 November 1944 with the drawdown of AAFTC's pilot training program. Declared surplus and turned over to the Army Corps of Engineers on 30 September 1945. Eventually discharged to the War Assets Administration (WAA) and returned to being a civil airport.

Renovations

In November 2007, it was announced that Grider Field will undergo an extensive renovation, and modernization project. Also, a new partnership with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff has been announced.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 FAA Airport Master Record for PBF (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 8 April 2010.
  2. ↑ National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009–2013: Appendix A: Part 1 (PDF, 1.33 MB). Federal Aviation Administration. Updated 15 October 2008.
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