Aberdeen Regional Airport

Aberdeen Regional Airport (IATA: ABR, ICAO: KABR, FAA LID: ABR) is a city-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles (3.7 km) east of the central business district of Aberdeen, a city in Brown County, South Dakota, United States.[1] It is mostly used for general aviation, and is also served by one commercial airline.

This article is about the public-use airport in Aberdeen, South Dakota. For other Airports named Aberdeen, see Aberdeen Airport (disambiguation). For other uses of Aberdeen, see Aberdeen (disambiguation).

Aberdeen Regional Airport Aberdeen Army Airfield
IATA: ABR ICAO: KABR FAA LID: ABR
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	City of Aberdeen
Serves	Aberdeen, South Dakota
Elevation AMSL	1,302 ft / 397 m
Coordinates	45°26′53.8″N 098°25′21.9″W
Website	www.aberdeen.sd.us/...
Map
ABR Location of airport in South Dakota / United States Show map of South Dakota ABR ABR (the United States) Show map of the United States
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 13/31 6,901 2,103 Concrete 17/35 5,500 1,676 Asphalt
Statistics (2017)
Aircraft operations 40,152 Based aircraft 55
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Airline and destination

The airport is one of two commercial airports in the state of South Dakota with airline service to only one destination, the other being Pierre Regional Airport. Rapid City & Sioux Falls serve 13 destinations each, while Watertown serves two destinations.

Airlines	Destinations
Delta Connection	Minneapolis/St. Paul

Map of destinations

Map of Destinations
Aberdeen Minneapolis/Saint Paul All passenger destinations from Aberdeen Regional Airport (ABR).

Top destinations

Busiest route out of ABR
(Jan 2019 - Dec 2019)

Rank	City	Passengers	Carriers
1	Minneapolis/St. Paul	29,700	Delta Connection

FedEx Feeder is operated at the field by CSA Air. UPS Feeder is operated by Encore Aviation

Facilities and aircraft

Aberdeen Regional Airport covers an area of 1,284 acres (520 ha) at an elevation of 1,302 feet (397 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways: 13/31 is 6,901 by 100 feet (2,103 x 30 m) with a concrete surface; 17/35 is 5,500 by 100 feet (1,676 x 30 m) with an asphalt surface.[1]

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2017, the airport had 40,152 aircraft operations, an average of 110 per day: 83% general aviation, 4% scheduled commercial, 13% air taxi and <1% military. At that time there were 55 aircraft based at this airport: 34 single-engine, 15 multi-engine, 5 jet and 1 helicopter.[1]

The passenger terminal is one of four terminals in South Dakota that boasts a moving jet bridge, the other three being Sioux Falls Regional Airport, Rapid City Regional Airport, and Pierre Regional Airport. The loading bridge allows passengers to board the aircraft from directly inside the terminal and right onto the aircraft without having to walk outside. As of March 2018, Delta Connection is the only commercial airline currently operating out of Aberdeen Regional Airport, providing jet only service on daily flights to Minneapolis/St. Paul on their Canadair Regional Jet 200.

Remarks:[1]

• 605-626-7020 Airport Administration Office.
• For services after hours call [phone]/8008.
• Prior Permission Required for unscheduled air carrier operations with more than 30 passenger seats call airport manager 605-626-7020. After hours call 605-216-0321.
• MIRL runway 17/35 & HIRL runway 13/31 preset on low intensity sunset - 00:00; to increase intensity & activate REIL runways 13; 17; 35 & MALSR runway 31 - CTAF.
• Gulls & geese on and in the vicinity of airport from March to December.
• Runway 13 & runway 17 approach ends are closely aligned. Verify correct runway and compass heading prior to departure.
• This airport has been surveyed by the National Geodetic Survey.

History

In 1923, Aberdeen hosted the first fly-in event in South Dakota. During World War II, the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a contract glider training airfield owned by Anderson & Brennan Flying Service, beginning on 25 May 1942. The mission of the school was to train glider pilot students in proficiency in operation of gliders in various types of towed and soaring flight, both day and night, and in servicing of gliders in the field. They primarily used C-47 Skytrains and Waco CG-4 unpowered Gliders.

Originally named Aberdeen Municipal Airport, the name was changed to Saunders Field in 1946.

Notable visitors

President George W. Bush landed here in the early 2000s (decade) to speak at a rally at Northern State University. Reba McEntire also made a stop here on July 22, 2013, when the Phenom 100 jet she was traveling in stopped at the airport to refuel. McEntire was on her way to a concert in Edmonton, Alberta.

See also

• South Dakota World War II Army Airfields
• 31st Flying Training Wing (World War II)

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History's Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.
• Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC

1. FAA Airport Master Record for ABR (Form 5010 PDF), effective 2009-08-27.

External links

• Aberdeen Regional Airport at City of Aberdeen website
• "Aberdeen Regional Airport" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-25. (146 KiB) at South Dakota DOT Airport Directory
• The WW II Glider Pilots
• FAA Terminal Procedures for ABR, effective August 13, 2020
• Resources for this airport:
  • FAA airport information for ABR
  • AirNav airport information for ABR
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for ABR