Erie–Ottawa International Airport

For the airport serving Ottawa, Kansas, see Ottawa Municipal Airport. For a list of airports that serve Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, see List of airports in the Ottawa area.

Erie–Ottawa International Airport Authority
Carl R. Keller Field
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerErie–Ottawa Airport Authority
ServesPort Clinton, Ohio
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (-5)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (-4)
Elevation AMSL590 ft / 180 m
Coordinates41°30′59″N 082°52′10″W / 41.51639°N 82.86944°W / 41.51639; -82.86944
WebsitePortClintonAirport.com
Map
PCW
Location of airport in Ohio
PCW
PCW (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
9/27 5,646 1,721 Asphalt
18/36 4,002 1,220 Asphalt
Statistics (2020)
Aircraft operations54,150
Based aircraft98
Sources: Airport website,[1] FAA[2]

Erie–Ottawa International Airport,[1] (Carl R. Keller Field) (ICAO: KPCW, FAA LID: PCW) is three miles east of Port Clinton, in Ottawa County, Ohio.[2] It is owned by the Erie–Ottawa Airport Authority.[2] The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a general aviation facility.[3] On November 9, 2013, Erie–Ottawa Airport obtained approval to handle international flights.

Most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, this airport’s IATA code is KPCW.

The airport is the base for a number of local businesses that operate in the surrounding areas.[4]

History

An agreement to move the Vickery emergency landing field to the airport was reached in mid June 1942. The deal included a plan to increase the size of the field to 105 acres (42 ha).[5] The site for the Peninsular Airport was acquired by the village of Port Clinton in early October 1946.[6]

The airport was closed by the Civil Aeronautics Administration in March 1952, following the crash of a Beechcraft Bonanza a week earlier that injured the four occupants. An investigation by the CAA a week before the accident revealed that the condition of the field had deteriorated to the point that there were large ruts in the runway.[7] By April, efforts had begun to build a 2,000-foot (610 m) stone runway to solve the problem.[8] By late May, a dispute arose over the expiration of an exclusive rights contract by Milt Hersberger, the operator of a local air service.[9] The possibility of continuing such a contract was rejected by the Board of Public Service and the airport committee in June, who both also proposed instituting a landing fee.[10]

The airport's flying club was renamed the Tin Goose Flying Club in November 1961.[11]

The subtitle Carl R. Keller Field was added the airport's name in late May 1968 to recognize the role of the eponymous former mayor and chairman of the airport advisory committee in promoting the airport.[12] A 4,500-foot (1,400 m) east-west runway was completed in early summer 1968.[13] It was selected as the location for the county's regional airport in early September, but later that month a group seeking that designation for the Griffing Sandusky Airport prevented the associated $100,000 grant from being assigned to it.[14][15] The airport was dedicated on 13 October 1968 and the following month the airport authority won a ruling allowing it to continue to apply for the grant.[16][17] By February 1970, the facility's name had been changed to the Regional Erie–Ottawa County Airport.[18] By September, a project to lengthen the east-west runway to 5,000 feet (1,500 m) and widen the north-south runway to 65 feet (20 m) was nearly complete.[19] Construction to extend the north-south runway to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) had begun by early October 1971.[20][21]

Island Airlines, which had operated out of the airport since 1930 was sold to Griffing Flying Service in September 1992.[22][23]

An increase in parking lot fees in November 2000 caused irritation for people that flew into the airport from islands in Lake Erie.[24] Avion Management Services, the airport operator, left in May 2001 due to a lack of business.[25] By mid October 2002, the ramp was being expanded to accommodate additional jet traffic.[26]

Following the construction of a Border Patrol facility in 2014, it became Erie–Ottawa International Airport. Work on a 1,760-square-foot (164 m2) Customs Service office began in September 2016.[27]

The airport received a series of grants starting in the mid-2010s, including: $639,000 in 2015 to rehabilitate the paved surfaces, $300,000 in 2017 to update its master plan and layout, $4.5 million in 2019 to build additional taxiways to allow for more hangar space at the airport and upgrade lighting, and $1.1 million in 2021 to rehabilitate a taxi lane and improve structural integrity at parking aprons.[28][29][30][31]

As of 2024, the airport was raising $10.3 million to upgrade its aircraft parking area. In 2023, Senator Sherrod Brown announced that a $294,000 grant was secured to begin construction of a new airplane parking ramp or new hangar, funded by the FAA Airport Terminal Program included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that was signed into law by President Joe Biden.[32][33]

Facilities and aircraft

Facilities

The airport covers 407 acres (165 ha) at an elevation of 590 feet (180 m). It has two asphalt runways: runway 9/27 measures 5,646 by 100 feet (1,721 by 30 m), and runway 18/36 measures 4,002 by 75 feet (1,220 by 23 m).[2]

The airport has a fixed-base operator that sells fuel. It offers services such as general maintenance, catering, hangars, courtesy transportation, and rental cars; it also has amenities such as conference rooms, a crew lounge, snooze rooms, and more.[34]

The airport has a US customs office, allowing it to accept inbound international flights.[27][35]

The airport is home to the Liberty Aviation Museum. There is also a diner at the airport.[36]

Aircraft

In the year ending October 21, 2020, the airport had 54,150 aircraft operations, average 148 per day: 74% general aviation, 26% air taxi, and <1% military. 98 aircraft were then based at the airport: 80 single-engine and 11 multi-engine airplanes as well as 7 jet airplanes.[2]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Griffing Flying Service Kelleys Island, Middle Bass Island, North Bass Island, Pelee Island, Put-in-Bay, Rattlesnake Island [37]
Island Air Taxi Put-in-Bay

Accidents and incidents

  • On 14 March 1952, a Beechcraft Bonanza crashed after taking off from the airport, injuring the pilot and three passengers.[38][7]
  • On 21 August 1972, a Ford Trimotor crashed after taking off from the airport.[39]
  • On 26 July 1977, a Cessna 172 crashed while taking off from the airport.[40]
  • On October 7, 1990, a Beech V35 crashed while flying an instrument approach procedure to the Erie–Ottawa International Airport. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to follow the proper instrument procedure and his failure to maintain the minimum descent altitude during an approach at night in instrument meteorological conditions.[41]
  • On December 29, 2014, a small plane crashed after takeoff from the Erie–Ottawa International Airport.[42]
  • On September 14, 2021, a Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six landed with its landing gear up at the Erie–Ottawa International Airport.[43]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Erie–Ottawa Regional Airport, official site
  2. ^ a b c d e FAA Airport Form 5010 for PCW PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective August 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on 2012-09-27.
  4. ^ Stinchcomb, Jon (4 March 2016). "Erie-Ottawa International Airport's Success Takes Off". Port Clinton News Herald. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  5. ^ "City Completes Deal for 105-Acre Airport". Ottawa County News. 12 June 1942. p. 1. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Ordinance No. 336". Ottawa County News. 11 October 1946. p. 9. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  7. ^ a b "CAA Classifies Airport as "Unsafe"; Orders It Closed Down". Port Clinton Herald and Republican. 21 March 1952. pp. 1, 8. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Efforts Afoot for Runway at City's Airport". Port Clinton Herald and Republican. 18 April 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  9. ^ "Officials Awaiting Columbus Ruling in Airport Controversy Before Any Action". Port Clinton Herald and Republican. 30 May 1952. pp. 1, 6. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  10. ^ "Airport Landing Fee Proposed by Boards". Port Clinton Herald and Republican. 13 June 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  11. ^ "Flying Goose New Club Name". Port Clinton Herald and Republican. 17 November 1961. p. 5. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Council Changes Name of Airport". Port Clinton Herald and Republican. 31 May 1968. p. 1. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  13. ^ Jenssen, Doug (5 December 1968). "Authority Will Apply for State Funds; Will Conduct Local Drive". The Daily News. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  14. ^ Jenssen, Doug (5 September 1968). "Port Authority Selects PC Facility for Area Airport". The Daily News. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  15. ^ "$100,000 Will Not Be Given to Bi-County Regional Airport". The Daily News. 18 September 1968. p. 1. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  16. ^ Lynn, Melda (14 October 1968). "New Jet Strip, Bypass Dedicated by Rhodes". The Blade. p. 17. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  17. ^ Jenssen, Doug (14 November 1968). "Court Ruling Gives Go-Ahead for Bi-County Airport Plans". The Daily News. p. 1. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  18. ^ "Airport Improvements Due to Aid Port Clinton". The Blade. 8 February 1970. p. 3. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  19. ^ "Airport Project Completion Near". News Herald. 30 September 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  20. ^ "Aerial View of Work". News Herald. 8 October 1971. p. 2. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  21. ^ "Airline Service in Airport Future". News Herald. 1 February 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  22. ^ Reinhart, Jan (24 September 1992). "Island Airlines Sold". News Herald. p. A1. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  23. ^ Stebbins, Clair C. (13 September 1953). "World's Shortest Airline is Sold". Sunday Times Signal. p. 10. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  24. ^ Dimich, Frank (13 November 2000). "Airport Parking Fee Increase Irks Islanders". News Herald. pp. A1, A3. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  25. ^ Cable, Josh (19 May 2001). "Avion Pulls Out of Airport in PC". The News-Messenger. p. A3. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  26. ^ Funk, Jennifer (12 October 2002). "Jet Parking Area Being Expanded at Erie-Ottawa Regional Airport". The News-Messenger. p. A3. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  27. ^ a b Jackson, Tom (13 October 2016). "New U.S. Customs Going Up at Erie-Ottawa Airport". Sandusky Register. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  28. ^ Stinchcomb, Jon (21 November 2015). "Erie-Ottawa Airport Wins Funding". News Herald. pp. 1A–2A. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  29. ^ "Kaptur: Erie-Ottawa International Will Receive $323,000 Federal Award". U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Captur. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  30. ^ Ouriel, Andy (30 September 2019). "$4.5M Arriving to Erie-Ottawa International Airport". Sandusky Register. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  31. ^ "Local Airports Awarded Federal Grants for Repairs, Operations". Fremont News Messenger. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  32. ^ LaPointe, Roger (10 December 2023). "Erie-Ottawa International Airport to Put Federal Funds Toward $10.3M Parking Expansion". Fremont News Messenger. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  33. ^ "Ottawa County Airports Awarded $633,000". The Beacon. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  34. ^ "Erie Ottawa International Airport". FlightAware. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  35. ^ "Erie-Ottawa County Airport Becomes International". WTOL. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  36. ^ "Get a Diner Breakfast at an Airport in Port Clinton, Ohio". Breakfast With Nick. 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  37. ^ "Erie Islands | Griffing Flying Service | United States". griffing. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
  38. ^ "Port Clinton Plane Crash Hurts Four". Cleveland Plain Dealer. 15 March 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  39. ^ "Crash Adds Uncertainty". News Herald. AP. 22 August 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  40. ^ "Pilot Survives Crash". News Herald. 27 July 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  41. ^ "Beech V35B crash in Ohio (N409E) | PlaneCrashMap.com". planecrashmap.com. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  42. ^ "Plane crashes near Port Clinton airport". WNWO. 2014-12-29. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  43. ^ "Piper PA-32R-301, N81593: Incident occurred September 13, 2021 at Erie-Ottawa International Airport (KPCW), Port Clinton, Ottawa County, Ohio". Kathryn's Report. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
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