Tweed New Haven Airport

Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner City of New Haven
Operator Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport Authority
Serves New Haven, Connecticut
Elevation AMSL 12 ft / 4 m
Coordinates 41°15′50″N 072°53′12″W / 41.26389°N 72.88667°W / 41.26389; -72.88667Coordinates: 41°15′50″N 072°53′12″W / 41.26389°N 72.88667°W / 41.26389; -72.88667
Website flytweed.com
Maps

FAA airport diagram
HVN
Location of airport in Connecticut/United States
HVN
HVN (the US)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
2/20 5,600 1,707 Asphalt
14/32 3,626 1,105 Asphalt
Statistics (2017)
Aircraft operations 25,783
Based aircraft 56
Sources: FAA[1]

Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport[2] (IATA: HVN, ICAO: KHVN, FAA LID: HVN) is a public airport located three miles southeast of downtown New Haven, in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States.[3] The airport is partly located in the City of New Haven, which owns the airport,[3] and partly in the town of East Haven.

Tweed is one of two airports with regularly-scheduled commercial service in Connecticut, the other being Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks. An American Airlines affiliate, PSA Airlines, is New Haven's sole airline.

It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, in which it is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.[4] Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 28,662 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2017 and 27,911 in 2016,[5] 30,955 in 2015, [6] 33,625 in 2014 and 37,434 in 2013,[7] 36,975 in 2012 and 40,074 in 2011, [8] 35,854 in 2010 and 33,000 in 2009,[9] 33,988 in 2008 and 37,637 in 2007,[10] 38,144 in 2006 and 65,142 in 2005, [11] 39,739 in 2004 and 15,446 in 2003,[12] 21,904 in 2002 and 28,766 in 2001,[13] 38,159 in 2000 and 44,883 in 1999.[14]

History

Ground-breaking ceremonies for the new airport occurred on November 11, 1929. The facility was later dedicated and opened for traffic on August 29, 1931 as the New Haven Municipal Airport. In 1961 it was renamed in honor of John H. "Jack" Tweed, its first airport manager. The first airline to serve New Haven was Li-Con Airways, Inc., (Long Island-Connecticut Airways) of Islip, Long Island, New York. That carrier commenced service on November 10, 1933 and provided passenger and air mail service until July, 1934. In the fall of 1934, American Airlines began serving New Haven, pulling out in 1960 and being replaced by Allegheny Airlines and Allegheny Commuter (Ransom, Suburban, Pennsylvania Airlines). Allegheny flew BAC 1-11 jets at Tweed in the mid-1970s. Eastern Airlines started in 1948 and left in 1972, having flown Boeing 727 and DC-9 aircraft in later years.

1970s and 1980s

Fixed-Base Operator "New Haven Airways" started scheduled flights and became New Haven's home town airline, NewAir.[15] The airline had flights to New York's JFK and LaGuardia Airports, Philadelphia, Baltimore/Washington International, and Washington National Airports, on Twin Otters, EMB-110s, and Shorts-360s.

Competing was Pilgrim Airlines based at Groton–New London,[16] to New York–JFK and LaGuardia, as well as Boston, on Twin Otters and F-27s. By the mid-1980s the two airlines merged and were purchased by Hartford-based Business Express Airlines, which initially flew only from Brainard Airport to Boston and Philadelphia.

In 1987 Hyannis-based Provincetown-Boston Airlines (PBA), a commuter airline for Peoplexpress Airlines and then Continental Airlines, began flights to New Haven. PBA flew EMB-110s from Tweed to Continental's hub at Newark and to Hyannis and Nantucket MA.

US Air Express (PSA, Piedmont, Allegheny) flew to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington, DC area airports.

Jet flights from New Haven to Chicago–O'Hare started in 1985–86, initially on Air Wisconsin's BAE-146s as "United Express”. From 1991 to 1996, United Airlines 737-300s and 737-500s flew non-stop to O'Hare. Tweed was also served by United Express (Atlantic Coast Airlines).

Continental Express (Britt Airways) service continued, on Beech 1900s and ATR-42s, while Business Express flights became Saab 340s and Beech 1900s.

Other small air carriers serving New Haven over the years: Ocean Airlines, Astec Air East, East Hampton Aire, Transworld “TW” Express (Pocono Airlines), Northwest Airlink (Precision Airlines/Northeast Express Regional Airlines) and Trans International Express.

Service Decline

By the late 1990s Business Express service ended, as it put its Saab-340s out of service, after its acquisition by AMR Corporation. Continental Express flights ended in the 1990s, then came back, and then left again by the late 1990s.

Comair (Delta Connection) began service to HVN in 2004 with three daily flights to Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport using CRJ-200 aircraft. The Airline ceased operations at HVN during the month of January, 2006.

Pan Am Clipper Connection, operated by Boston-Maine Airways, began non-stop flights to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Hanscom Field, and Pease International Airport on March 8, 2007 using 19-seat Jetstream 31 aircraft. Service ended on July 30, 2007.[17]

This left US Airways Express (Piedmont) as the only airline at Tweed, which in 2015 became American Eagle.

Present day

American Eagle is the only passenger airline currently serving New Haven. As of November 29, 2017, PSA replaced Piedmont’s Dash 8-100 turboprop service with three daily round trips to and from Philadelphia on Canadair CRJ-200, Canadair CRJ-700 and occasionally Canadair CRJ-900 regional jets.

United Airlines connects to New Haven's Union Station in downtown New Haven via Amtrak train to/from Newark (EWR); the airport code for New Haven in this case is ZVE, but United does not fly to Tweed.

Tweed Airport is popular with private aircraft and companies carrying tourists who want to view the Connecticut shoreline. During events at Yale University, the general aviation ramp is often crowded with private jets – during the 1997 commencement, the corporate jets of Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble were parked nose to nose. The airport also gets heavy use during the annual New Haven Open at Yale tennis tournament.

Today, the airport is operated by AFCO AvPorts of Dulles, Virginia, under contract with the Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport Authority.

Public transit to the airport is available on Connecticut Transit's 206 route.

Planned Expansion and Opposition

The future of the airport has been the subject of disagreement between the City of New Haven and the Town of East Haven. New Haven has advocated airport runway expansion, which would be required to attract more commercial air service and larger planes. Some groups of local residents have historically been opposed, saying that expansion would negatively affect the local environment and health of New Haven and East Haven residents.[18][19]

In 2002, the Federal Aviation Administration and the State of Connecticut had approved the airport's layout plan which specified the installation of safety overruns and extending the length of Tweed's main runway 02-20. In 2007, the Federal Aviation Administration and the State of Connecticut approved the addition of safety overruns to Tweed's main runway. The City of New Haven issued the wetlands and building permits for the project, but officials in East Haven voted to reject the upgrade proposal and deny permits for work on the East Haven (North) side; the Airport Authority and the City of New Haven filed a lawsuit against the Town of East Haven to allow work on the north overrun and won.

Since the lawsuit, The Airport Authority has completed the work for the $25 million safety overruns on the New Haven (south) side of the airport, as well as the East Haven (north) side.[20]

On March 16, 2009 New Haven and East Haven announced that an agreement had been reached, keeping the main runway at 5,600 feet (1,700 m), with all obstructions in the approach zones to be removed. Departures are to be capped at 30 per day, with a passenger cap of 180,000 boardings per year.[21]

In July 2014, the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority and the City of New Haven sought federal grant money as a part of the Small Community Air Service Development Program. Language within this air service proposal described the airport's hope to lengthen the main runway past 5,600 feet (1,700 m).[22] In the same month, the airport also sought an increase in annually-appropriated State of Connecticut funds, specifically to pave the runway safety areas in order to expand the length of the runway.[23] This legislation was not enacted and federal money for air service development was not granted. In 2015, Mayor Toni Harp of New Haven and Rep. Rosa DeLauro wrote a joint letter to residents pledging their support for runway expansion.[24]

Opposition to the airport runway expansion is strong among some local residents, resulting in a small grassroots campaign.[25] Tensions flared up at May 20, 2015[26][27] and May 21, 2015[28][29][30][31] community meetings. East Haven voters and Mayor Joseph Maturo still oppose Tweed expansion proposals.[32]

In November 2015, the Airport Authority's Board of Directors voted to sue the State of Connecticut in Federal court.[33][34]

Tim Larson, Executive Director and sitting Connecticut Senator for East Hartford described Tweed as "an airport at a critical juncture. Commercial carriers are interested in servicing the Southern Connecticut market but will not consider coming to Tweed until the runway is lengthened." He added that "American (formerly US Airways), may discontinue our existing service when in the next few years they replace the current Dash-8 aircraft with planes that require a longer runway."[35] Activist residents responded with a new effort against the expansion and a reporting app for noise, health, and quality of life complaints.[36] East Haven Mayor Maturo described the lawsuit as "foolish".[37][38]

Facilities and Aircraft

All non-airline traffic at New Haven is handled by Robinson Aviation. Shoreline Aviation's maintenance base and seaplane service is also located on Tweed's east ramp.

Tweed-New Haven Airport covers 394 acres (159 ha) at an elevation of 12 feet (4 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways: 2/20 is 5,600 by 150 feet (1,707 x 46 m) and 14/32 is 3,626 by 100 feet (1,105 x 30 m).[3]

Between 02/28/2014-02/28/2015, the airport served 33,346 aircraft operations, averaging 91 per day: 81.9% general aviation, 8.2% scheduled commercial, 8.4% air taxi, and 1.5% military. 65 aircraft were then based at this airport: 87.6% single-engine, 6.2% multi-engine, and 6.2% jet.[3]

According to the FAA Air Traffic Activity System (ATADS) database, for calendar year 2017, Tweed hosted some 25,783 aircraft operations. Each takeoff and landing counts as an aircraft operation.

View of East Ramp during visit of Boeing 737-700 Business Jet.

General aviation operations at the airport are handled by the Fixed-Base Operator, Robinson Aviation, Inc, which has been providing FBO services at the airport since 1989. Services offered include on-site maintenance, flight training via American Flight Academy, and aircraft rental in addition to normal ground handling, fueling and concierge services. General aviation accounts for the majority of traffic at the airport, catering to corporate, charter, and private use aircraft of all sizes.

The Connecticut Wing Civil Air Patrol 73rd Minuteman Squadron (NER-CT-073) operates out of the airport.

Airlines and destinations

Airport Administration Building (left), Passenger Terminal (right) and two US Airways Express aircraft seen from West Ramp, October 2015.
Piedmont Airlines (dba American Eagle) departs New Haven, as seen from the control tower.
American Eagle (Piedmont Airlines) Dash 8-100 aircraft at Tweed-New Haven Airport

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
American Eagle Charlotte (begins December 22, 2018),[39] Philadelphia
Shoreline Aviation Seasonal: New York–Skyport[40]
A CRJ-700, operated by PSA Airlines, sits on the ramp on 12/09/2017 after its final flight of the night from Philadelphia International Airport.
The CRJ-900 and CRJ-200 share ramp space at Tweed during an evening turn on 3/25/2018.
The first commercial service CRJ-900 at Tweed, operated by PSA Airlines, is parked on March 25, 2018.

Accidents and incidents

  • On March 1, 1958 an American Airlines Convair CV-240-O with eight passengers destined for Bridgeport Airport crashed on the runway after the landing gear was retracted before the aircraft had lifted off. The plane landed on its belly and a small engine fire occurred. No injuries.
  • On June 7, 1971 an Allegheny Airlines Convair 580 with 30 passengers arriving from Groton-New London Airport crashed, striking cottages 4,890 feet (1,490 m) from the runway. Twenty-eight occupants died. It was blamed on pilot error.[41]
  • On January 7, 2011 a Bombardier Dash 8-100, operating as Piedmont Airlines flight 4507 from Philadelphia International Airport to New Haven was struck by lightning over the Long Island Sound. The captain reported electrical problems and diverted safely to Long Island Macarthur Airport due to better weather. The flight carried 33 passengers who were bused to New Haven.
  • On August 9, 2013, a Rockwell International Turbo Commander 690B from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey crashed into two houses in an East Haven residential neighborhood while on approach to this airport. The impact and the resulting fires destroyed both houses.[42] The incident resulted in the deaths of both people on the plane (the 54-year-old pilot Bill Henningsgaard and his 17-year-old son Maxwell) and two children in one of the homes (13-year-old Sade Brantley and her 1-year-old sister Madisyn Mitchell).
  • On February 22, 2017, a single-engine Piper PA-38-112, which was operated by the Connecticut Flight Academy, crashed southeast of Runway 2 in a swamp. This is the second deadliest crash for the flight academy. The student pilot was killed on impact, the flight instructor was listed in critical condition. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the plane nosedive prior to crashing. The NTSB wrapped up its investigation and published a final report on the accident on February 12, 2018. A plastic valve inside the fuel selector was found to have failed in such a position as to restrict fuel flow to the engine, resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Final blame was shared between the flight school, whom the NTSB said failed to properly address progressive wear and binding of the part, as well as the flight instructor's exceeding the critical angle of attack for the plane while attempting an emergency return to the airport, resulting in an aerodynamic stall/spin.[43]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Air Traffic Activity System". Federal Aviation Administration. February 9, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Tweed New Haven Airport". official website.
  3. 1 2 3 4 FAA Airport Master Record for HVN (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective Sep 15, 2016.
  4. ↑ "List of NPIAS Airports" (PDF). FAA.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2017" (PDF, 189 KB). Federal Aviation Administration.
  6. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2016" (PDF, 189 KB). Federal Aviation Administration.
  7. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2014" (PDF, 189 KB). Federal Aviation Administration.
  8. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2012" (PDF, 189 KB). Federal Aviation Administration.
  9. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2010" (PDF, 189 KB). Federal Aviation Administration.
  10. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2008" (PDF, 189 KB). Federal Aviation Administration.
  11. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2006" (PDF, 189 KB). Federal Aviation Administration.
  12. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2004" (PDF, 189 KB). Federal Aviation Administration.
  13. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2002" (PDF, 189 KB). Federal Aviation Administration.
  14. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2000" (PDF, 189 KB). Federal Aviation Administration.
  15. ↑ "NewAir – New Haven Airways". Airline Timetable Images. November 3, 2006. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Pilgrim Airlines". AirTimes. February 8, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  17. ↑ Baruzzi, Cara (July 21, 2007). "Pan Am ending flights at Tweed". New Haven Register. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
  18. ↑ "Jet Service protested at New Haven". Associated Press. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Protesters decry the resumption of Jet Airline Service". Associated Press. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  20. ↑ Zapana, Victor (April 23, 2008). "Tweed renovations could take off even though East Haven remains opposed". Yale Daily News. Archived from the original on April 25, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  21. ↑ Tweed New Haven Airport Authority (2009-03-16). "Memorandum of Agreement Concerning Tweed New Haven Regional Airport Between the City of New Haven, the Town of East Haven, and the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-05-29. Runway 2-20 shall be limited to the existing paved runway length of 5,600 linear feet.
  22. ↑ City of New Haven (2014-07-31). "Proposal Under The: Small Community Air Service Development Program" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-05-29. Phase 3 is crucial to developing future air service as it involves the paving of the safety areas of Runway 02 and 20 which would effectively provide 6,200 feet of runway for takeoffs and enable HVN to handle larger jets flying to further destinations. The Airport continues to work with the FAA to secure approval and funding for Phase 3 implementation.
  23. ↑ TRA (2014-07-01). "AN ACT CONCERNING TWEED -NEW HAVEN AIRPORT" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-05-29. The proceeds of the sale of said bonds, to the extent of the amount stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Transportation for the purpose of trimming or removing trees and paving existing runway safety areas at Tweed - New Haven Airport.
  24. ↑ City of New Haven (2015-04-28). "Letter from Toni M. Harp, Mayor" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-05-29. ...the 5600ft runway remains too short for many modern types of commercial aircraft. It is proposed, therefore, to pave 1,000 feet of the existing safety zone to the south and 500 feet of the existing safety zone to the north of the existing runway.
  25. ↑ Voters Opposed to Tweed Expansion (2015-05-20). "StopTweed.org Media Release". Retrieved 2015-05-29. The community activist group who are calling themselves Voters Opposed to Tweed Expansion (VOTE) have been meeting in their homes to review assessments and national airline data and have launched www.stoptweed.org, to help others learn what the potential impact on the environmental, quality of life and taxpayer impacts of the proposed airport expansion.
  26. ↑ "Crowd turns out to slam proposed Tweed runway expansion". New Haven Register. 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2015-05-29. Well over 100 people crammed into the old terminal at Tweed, at one point filling most of its available space, including a staircase overlooking the action.
  27. ↑ ""We Don't Want It!" Tweed Neighbors Declare". New Haven Independent. 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2015-05-29. City and Tweed-New Haven Airport pitched plane-weary Morris Cove neighbors Wednesday night on a plan to pave another 1,500 feet of runway to boost air service into town—and received a ritual chorus of angry opposition from an overflow crowd.
  28. ↑ "Shoreline Residents Up in Arms Over Airport Expansion Plans". NBC Connecticut. 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2015-05-29. The city and Tweed agreed not to pave the runway safety areas in 2009. Many residents wonder why that appears to be changing now.
  29. ↑ "Neighbors furious over proposed runway expansion at Tweed-New Haven Airport". Fox CT. 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2015-05-29. The second of two planned meetings saw another at-capacity crowd at Nathan Hale Elementary Thursday night after the room was packed on Wednesday. Angry neighbors clashed with airport officials from Tweed New Haven Airport over a plan to expand the airport’s primary runway from 5,600 feet to 6,100 feet.
  30. ↑ "Emotions run high at community meeting about Tweed Airport expansion". WTNH. New Haven. 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2015-05-29. The event was supposed to be an opportunity to for residents to talk to city officials about their plans to support a proposal that would increase the size of the airport’s runway and dramatically bring in more plane traffic in the coming years. People did speak, but you have to wonder how much they were truly listening to one another. There was a lot of shouting among people in the crowd, and those who asked questions didn’t hesitate to interrupt those they asked the questions to.
  31. ↑ "More outcry as Tweed, New Haven officials hear community concerns on possible airport expansion". New Haven Register. 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2015-05-29. “We are all trying to do what we think is best for New Haven,” Nemerson said, adding this is being completed despite the proposal’s controversy.
  32. ↑ "UPDATE: Mayor Maturo Still Opposed to Tweed Airport Expansion Plans. East Haven residents greatly oppose the expansion plans". East Haven Patch. 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2015-05-29. A statement from East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. regarding plans by some to expand Tweed Airport. “The City of New Haven, in conjunction with state and federal legislators, have begun more actively discussing the future of Tweed Airport. However, there are still many questions that remain unanswered. Moving ahead, I am committed to ensuring that our residents’ concerns and voices will be heard and that all of our questions will be answered. Until those questions are answered to the satisfaction of my constituents, I will continue to stand opposed to any expansion of Tweed and will continue to fight to protect the interests of our residents.”
  33. ↑ "Tweed Suing State Over Runway". New Haven Independent. 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2015-11-30. The airport authority’s board voted 11-2 Wednesday, with one abstention, to file a lawsuit against the state seeking to declare illegal a 2009 law limiting the main runway to 5,600 feet.
  34. ↑ "Press Release and Resolution" (PDF). Tweed New Haven Airport Authority. 2015-11-18. Retrieved 2015-11-30. WHEREAS the Authority wishes to seek a declaratory ruling from the U.S. District Court that Connecticut General Statutes Section 15-120j(c) is illegal and invalid because Federal law provides that control over the nation’s airspace, including determinations as to the length and character of runways and taxiways, is exclusively within the jurisdiction of the federal government, and state governments are pre-empted from making such determinations.
  35. ↑ Voters Opposed to Tweed Expansion (2015-11-21). "Desperate Times, Desperate Measures". Retrieved 2015-11-30. Tim Larson, Executive Director of the Authority, described Tweed as “an airport at a critical juncture. Commercial carriers are interested in servicing the Southern Connecticut market but will not consider coming to Tweed until the runway is lengthened.” “in addition,” he said, “our current carrier, American (formerly US Airways), may discontinue our existing service when in the next few years they replace the current Dash-8 aircraft with planes that require a longer runway.” “More than $35 million of public funds have been invested in this airport,” Larson said, “and that investment makes no sense if there is no commercial service here.”
  36. ↑ Voters Opposed to Tweed Expansion (2015-11-21). "Help Test Our Incident Reporting App". Retrieved 2015-11-30. We’re rolling out a new incident reporting tool called Tweedle. Contact us if you’d like to help test it. We’re providing this alternative because the complaint form provided by Tweed is not only limited to just noise, it’s also frequently broken or ignored. Tweedle is a Ruby on Rails app based upon Toronto’s Doored. It is 100% Free/Open-Source Software, and we’re looking for devs who are interested in working on it (we know New Haven has a vibrant Ruby programming community!).
  37. ↑ "Tweed New Haven Airport Authority to sue Connecticut over runway". New Haven Register. 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2015-11-30. Maturo questioned the path the authority was taking. “I just think it’s foolish to sue the state,” Maturo said. “I think we have better ways to spend our money than to give it to attorneys. I think what would be better would be to go to the legislative delegation from New Haven and East Haven” and ask them “to change the bill instead of suing.”
  38. ↑ "Tweed Sues State Over Runway Limitation: Report, East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. said he doesn't think it's wise to sue the state, according to a report". East Haven Patch. 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2015-11-30. Maturo said he does not understand the action being taken by the authority. “I just think it’s foolish to sue the state,” said Maturo via the New Haven Register.
  39. ↑ http://www.courant.com/business/hc-biz-tweed-american-airlines-20180806-story.html
  40. ↑ http://www.shorelineaviation.com/crbst_10.html Shoreline Aviation New Haven
  41. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Convair CV-580 N5832 New Haven Airport, CT (HVN)". aviation-safety.net.
  42. ↑ "Pilot, Child Dead After East Haven Plane Crash". NBC Connecticut. Aug 9, 2013.
  43. ↑ "NTSB Aviation Accident Final Report". National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Database. 03/29/2018. Retrieved 03/29/2018. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
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