Grider Field

Grider Field (IATA: PBF, ICAO: KPBF, FAA LID: PBF) is a public airport five miles southeast of Pine Bluff, in Jefferson County, Arkansas.[1] The FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009–2013 categorized it as a general aviation airport.[2]

Grider Field
USGS image, 16 February 1994
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Pine Bluff
ServesPine Bluff, Arkansas
Elevation AMSL206 ft / 63 m
Coordinates34°10′28″N 091°56′08″W
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18/36 5,998 1,828 Asphalt
Statistics (2009)
Aircraft operations39,875
Based aircraft50
World War II postcard of Grider Field

Facilities

Grider Field covers 750 acres (300 ha) at an elevation of 206 feet (63 m). Its one runway, 18/36, is 5,998 by 150 feet (1,828 x 46 m).[1]

In the year ending May 31, 2009 the airport had 39,875 aircraft operations, average 109 per day: 94% general aviation, 5% military and 1% air taxi. 50 aircraft were then based at the 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.

Grider Field barracks 1942

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.

Trans-Texas DC-3s started landing at Pine Bluff in 1955; TI's last Convair 600 left in 1975.

Renovations

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

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See also

References
  1. 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) Archived 2011-08-06 at the Wayback Machine. Federal Aviation Administration. Updated 15 October 2008.
Other sources
  •  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


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