Sioux Falls Regional Airport

Runway layout at FSD

Sioux Falls Regional Airport was originally laid out and constructed on its present site as an airfield in 1937. In early 1942, at the height of the Second World War, the city approached the Federal Government and subsequently leased the airport and surrounding property to become the Sioux Falls Army Air Base. The major function of the base was the establishment of a radio operator training facility. Between 1942 and 1945, approximately 40,000 radio operators were trained in Sioux Falls. The base was also a logistical supply center and its grid of streets now make up a distinct industrial area just south of the present day airport. In 1946, the airport and surrounding land was transferred back to the city and the South Dakota Air National Guard was also established under the direction of future airport namesake Joe Foss. The Air National Guard Base portion of the airport is located south and west of the commercial and general aviation areas, north of Russell Street and has all the standard facilities of any small USAF installation except for family housing. The 114th's F-16C and F-16D aircraft are a frequent sight over the Sioux Falls area, conducting training flights and routine operations.

In 2005, Sioux Falls Regional Airport became one of the first airports in the country to de-federalize its workforce. Covenant Aviation Security previously provided baggage and passenger screening under contract with the Transportation Security Administration under the Screening Partnership Program. Currently, the Trinity Technology Group provides security screening functions.

Joe Foss Field covers an area of 1,570 acres (635 ha) at an elevation of 1,430 feet (436 m) above mean sea level. It has three runways with concrete surfaces: 3/21 is 8,999 by 150 feet (2,743 x 46 m), 15/33 is 8,000 by 150 feet (2,438 x 46 m), and 9/27 is 3,151 by 75 feet (960 x 23 m). It also has one helipad designated H1 with an asphalt surface measuring 50 by 50 feet (15 x 15 m).[2]

The terminal has 7 gates, all equipped with loading bridges. Five gates can accommodate up to an Airbus A320 family or Boeing 737 family size aircraft while gate number 5 can accommodate up to a Boeing 757 and gate number 2 can only accommodate a CRJ 200 or ERJ-145.[4] CBP facilities exist for general aviation and cargo use, but large charter and scheduled passenger are not accepted.[4]

For a 12-month period ending December 31, 2017, the airport had 73,221 aircraft operations, an average of 201 per day: 38% air taxi, 39% general aviation, 16% scheduled commercial and 7% military. At that time there were 111 aircraft based at this airport: 49.5% single-engine, 31% multi-engine, 16% military and 4% jet.[2]

The Costello Terminal building was opened in 1970 and has undergone numerous renovations over the years including ones in 1990, 2003 & 2005.

Beginning in the spring of 2009, the Sioux Falls Regional Airport embarked on a major 3 phase multi-year, multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion project, designed by Koch Hazard Architects[5] to freshen up and update the look and feel of the airport as a whole. Projects included renovating and expanding the ticketing and check-in counter area, moving all TSA screening equipment behind the ticketing counters into a more secure location, renovating and relocating the ground floor gift shop, updating and renovating the concourse, adding a new business lounge, and renovating the restaurant in the upper concourse, installing 3 new jet bridges, and updating and reconfiguring the airport's parking operations. By 2012, these projects were successfully completed and more updates and improvements were announced. From March to October 2012, the terminals lower level restaurant was completely overhauled and renovated to become Wildcat Corner. Additionally, another long term parking lot was constructed due to high demand; and from August to September 2012, the airport was closed over a course of four weekends to almost all air traffic to allow a major runway intersection to be rebuilt. In 2014, work commenced on another major renovation project to replace the dated escalators with new ones and to open up and finish renovating the lobby of the terminal along with expanding the security checkpoint. Work also commenced on an onsite hotel the same year that is attached to the north end of the current terminal building. The hotel mainly caters to business travelers and has approximately 70 rooms.

Future short and long term projects envisioned for the airport include construction of additional holding aprons for aircraft at the end of each runway, continued pavement rehabilitation, completion of a west side access road, continued improvements to airport parking, a new control tower, new landing and updated navigational aids for all runways, additional land easements for flood control, runway safety zones, conservation efforts, an additional baggage carousel, a parking ramp and a new concourse.

As of February 2020, the airport provides service to 12 destinations across the United States.

The following airlines offer scheduled passenger service:

Map of destinations

Map of Destinations
Sioux Falls Atlanta Chicago–O'Hare Minneapolis/Saint Paul Las Vegas Orlando/Sanford Phoenix/Mesa Phoenix-Sky Harbor St. Petersburg/Clearwater Denver Los Angeles Dallas/Fort Worth Punta Gorda Nashville San Diego All passenger destinations from Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD). (Red) = Year-round Destination (Green) = Seasonal Destination (Blue) = Future Destination

On March 8, 1972, two people died after a Cessna arriving from Fairmont, Minnesota hit power lines on final approach.[10]

On June 16, 1981, one person died and three people were injured after a single-engine Cessna experienced engine failure and crashed on takeoff.[10]

On November 30, 1982, two people died after a Cessna P210 crashed short of the runway at night in fog.[10]

On September 24, 1983, a modified ultralight aircraft crashed during an air show, killing its pilot and only occupant.[10]

On November 6, 1983, a Convair 580 operating for Republic Airways struck a bird on landing, which penetrated the windshield and hit the captain in the face. The first officer completed the landing without further incident.[11]

On December 20, 1983, Ozark Air Lines Flight 650 struck a snow plow on the runway while landing, killing the driver of the snow plow.

On December 9, 2011, a Cessna 421-C aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff less than a mile from the airport into an open field. All 4 passengers on board were killed when the aircraft burst into flames upon crashing.[10]

On April 8, 2018, an Allegiant Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83 arriving from Las Vegas overran the runway due to snow and ice. No passengers were injured.[12]

On December 25, 2018, a Beechcraft Baron, registered N6745V, crashed in southeast Sioux Falls while approaching runway 33. The pilot and one passenger died.[13][14][15]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sioux Falls Regional Airport.

• Sioux Falls Regional Airport, official website
• "Joe Foss Field" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2010-12-10.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link) (134 KB) at South Dakota Airport Directory
• Aerial image as of August 1991 from USGS The National Map
• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective June 18, 2020
• FAA Terminal Procedures for FSD, effective June 18, 2020
• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNav airport information for KFSD
  • ASN accident history for FSD
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KFSD
  • FAA current FSD delay information