Morristown Municipal Airport Community Information Guide. 8 Airport Road, Morristown, NJ Operated by:

Transcription

1 Morristown Municipal Airport Community Information Guide 8 Airport Road, Morristown, NJ Operated by: March 2013

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PURPOSE...3 MMU AT A GLANCE...4 ECONOMIC IMPACT...5 HISTORY FACILITIES ORGANIZATIONS AND CLUBS...12 EXPLORER POST # TOURS...14 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM...15 GENERAL AVIATION SERVICES AMERICA MEDIA ACCESS DURING AN EMERGENCY...23 MAPS

3 PURPOSE This Community Information Guide provides accurate background information about Morristown Municipal Airport. This guide contains valuable information and maps to help the local community and media learn about the airport. A telephone number list has also been included with appropriate contact representatives. While we continue to make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information, please understand that changes will occur and some portions of this guide may become outdated. Updates will be made in a timely manner on the Morristown Municipal Airport website and any additional information can also be found there at If in doubt, you are encouraged to call in order to confirm the information. 3

4 MMU AT A GLANCE MMU is the 3 letter Airport Identifier issued to the Airport by the FAA. LOCATION: Hanover Township, New Jersey Route 24 & Columbia Turnpike 27 stoplight-free miles to Manhattan 18 miles to Newark International Airport OWNERSHIP: Town of Morristown Managed by DM AIRPORTS, LTD. an affiliate of the DeMatteis Organizations AIRPORT TYPE: Morristown Municipal Airport is defined as a General Aviation Reliever Airport. The term General Aviation refers to all civil aircraft that are not classified as air carrier, commuter, or military. This category includes everything from a small single-engine propeller driven aircraft to large corporate jets. A Reliever Airport like Morristown pulls private aircraft away from the air carrier airports such as Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK to reduce air traffic delays and enhance safety. RUNWAY CONFIGURATION: Runway 5/23 6,000 Ft. x 150 Ft. Runway 13/31 4,000 Ft. x 150 Ft. 4

5 ECONOMIC IMPACT As stated in the 2008 Economic Impact Study, Morristown Municipal Airport supports over 1,550 jobs and $243.6 million in economic impact and, in aggregate, is the second highest tax payer in Hanover Township. The Airport generates over $13.3 million in State and local taxes and provides incomes in excess of $72 million to New Jersey residents. MMU provides services for several Fortune 500 companies in Morris County with gross revenues exceeding $176 billion. These companies employ a total of 451,000 people and account for a large amount of the county s tax revenues and employment opportunities. Companies such as Honeywell chose Morris County because it provided a prime location with all the aviation amenities required to maintain a flight department within close proximity of company headquarters and the financial capital of the world, New York City. 5

6 THE HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN AIRPORT The current site of the Morristown Municipal Airport was not the original site selected for its construction. In the late 1920 s, the first site identified for Morristown Airport was at Kennaday Farm on Mendham Road. Many years later, in July of 1929, a second site was selected on Bernardsville Road. It was to be built as part of a Country Aviation Club, directly adjacent to the proposed Women s Country Club. A third and final site was decided upon on July 31, 1931, after the Morristown Water Department purchased the Normandy and Whippany Water Company for $210,000 for the Town of Morristown. This purchase included over 200 acres of land in the Meadows off Columbia Road. The mayor at that time, Clyde Potts, purchased the moneymaking water department for the adjacent land to construct the Morristown Municipal Airport. To ensure enough property would be available for the airport, more land was purchased from the Kelleher Estate and the Edwin Ford Estate. Additionally a land swap was arranged with the Lloyd Smith estate. Other purchases brought the total area for the airport to around 400 acres. 6 Circa 1950 s

7 In January of 1934, the Federal government under the WPA Program, paid 222 men to clear the area to begin construction of the airport. While the men were happy to be employed, some were unprepared to work in such an environment. Some even came to work without socks and shoes. Later that year, 30 men were given relief allowance in lieu of pay using machinery loaned from the town to continue the preparation for the airport s construction. May 20, 1955 In 1936, the Graf Zeppelin Company of Germany took an interest in the area. Graf Zeppelin wanted to move its arrival terminal from Lakehurst, NJ, and Morristown appeared to be the ideal location. On October 9, 1936, Esso Marketers arranged to have the Hindenburg fly over the future site of Morristown Airport to run tests on wind and approach pattern to the field. When the Hindenburg crashed on May 6, 1937 the idea of a dirigible base dissolved. 7

8 After nearly seven years at the end of 1940, the persistent Mayor Potts succeeded in obtaining federal funds for the construction of Morristown Airport. Out of the 40 million dollar Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA) budget, $383,000 had been allotted for the construction of the airport next to the Normandy Water Works on Columbia Rd. Morristown Airport was one of 250 airports which the Administration had approved. During wartime, the Morristown area was considered one of the most desirable airport locations in the East with reference to the Atlantic Seaboard. The Administrator of the CAA, Col. David Connolly, believed it provided an excellent location for army transport planes in terms of protection of the Orange Mountains and its proximity to metropolitan cities on the East coast. It was determined that when the airport was no longer needed as a defense base, it would revert back to the Town of Morristown as a commercial field. May 20, 1955 Actual construction of the airfield began in May of 1941 and progressed quickly through the summer of On November 11, 1943, the completed airport was opened for public inspection. Many local citizens visited the airbase during the open house and marveled at the size and perfection of the airfield. This however would be the last time the public would be allowed to visit the airbase until after the war. 8

9 The airport played an important role during WWII as a test site and training facility for Bell Laboratories. In August 1945 with the end of WWII in sight, the airport became a public use facility and an asset for the Town of Morristown. The airport grew as quickly as the community with the influx of companies and commercial development. Many airport improvements were made from 1946 through 1960 which included the construction of the Airport Administration Building, hangars, taxiways and an Air Traffic Control Tower. During the early 70s, the main runway and taxiway extensions were completed to accommodate jet traffic. Additional facility improvements and navigational aides were constructed throughout the 1970s. Unfortunately, Morristown Airport did not thrive in the environment of municipal politics and conflicting funding priorities. The town government recognized this and committed itself to saving the airport from disrepair and potential closure. The town s solution was to look for a private sector partner to operate the airport under a management contract or lease. In 1981, the town entered into a lease with the DeMatteis Organization s DM AIRPORTS, LTD. (formerly D.M. Airport Developers, Inc.) to manage the airport. DM has successfully settled the airport s long term debt and turned the airport into an economic catalyst for Morris County. Home to several Fortune 500 companies Morristown Airport averages 194,000 aircraft operations per year. 9

10 FACILITIES Airport Administration Monday-Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm (973) Airport Operations 6:00 a.m. to 11:00pm (973) ext. 116 Control Tower 6:45 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. (973) Aircraft Rescue 24 Hour Index B Aircraft Rescue Coverage (973) U.S. Customs & Border Protection (User Fee Facility operated by Morristown Airport Customs Association) Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or by appointment (973) Noise Abatement Office (973) ext

11 GROUND SERVICES Signature Flight Support (973) FTC FBO, LLC (973) FLIGHT SCHOOLS American Flyers (973) Nova Aviation (973) Certified Flyers II (973) AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE Syrek-Mee Aviation (973)

12 ORGANIZATIONS AND CLUBS 150th Aero Club (973) Morris Aero Club (201) Skywagon Flight Club (973) Civil Air Patrol 12

13 EXPLORER POST # 523 What is Exploring? Exploring is Learning For Life s career education program for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed eighth grade) or 15 through 20 years old. What is Aviation Exploring? Aviation Exploring is a youth development program centered on Aviation careers. Some of the experiences Aviation Explorers can participate in include: flights in military transports, helicopters, gliders, or single engine general aviation aircraft, trips to Air Force bases, aviation museums, air shows, airports or FAA facilities. For More Information: Darren Large, Post Advisor ext

14 AIRPORT TOURS Tours are available* (recommended for grades 3 through 12) and are offered free of charge to groups such as schools, scouting organizations, etc. Our tours provide an up-close look at how Morristown Municipal Airport operates. We can customize a tour to fit the interest or special needs of different groups. There must be one adult escort for every three youth during any tour. Tours will last from 60 to 90 minutes and are available to both adults and children. Some of the things that can be included in a tour are: Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) Department Airport Operations Snow Removal Equipment FAA Tower Tour** Fixed Base Operator (Terminal) Tour** How to make arrangements Advanced reservations are required. To make reservations please contact the Manager, Operations & Security at (973) ext. 146 or PeterG@mmuair.com. *Tours may not always be possible due to safety and security restraints **These tours cannot be guaranteed 14

15 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM To help ease the transition from high school to college, five area collegebound high school graduates are the recipients of annual scholarships, awarded by DM AIRPORTS, LTD., (formerly D.M. Airport Developers, Inc.) operators of Morristown Municipal Airport. the airport managementsponsored program awards each student a one-time $1,000 scholarship that may be used for tuition, books or other eligible fees associated with college attendance. DM has awarded over $235,000 in scholarships under this program in the last twelve years. Airport management structured the criteria for the award of the scholarships to students who reflect the same qualities of the college graduates they seek when hiring. Awards are based on the overall achievements and activities of the student, emphasizing that grade point average is only part of the criteria. That philosophy mirrors DM s hiring practice at the airport, where we look for recent college graduates who not only did well in their college studies in aviation management, but who also exhibit a successful work history and a record of community involvement. This type of well-rounded individual serves the airport and its tenants best. DM AIRPORTS, LTD., the private company that operates Morristown Municipal Airport, funds the grant program and defined the selection criteria. Cherry Hill, New Jersey-based Scholarship Managers, a division of Career Opportunities Through Education, Inc administers the program by receiving and evaluating individual applications, and selecting the actual scholarship recipients. 15

16 GENERAL AVIATION SERVES AMERICA 16

17 GENERAL AVIATION SERVES AMERICA 17

18 GENERAL AVIATION SERVES AMERICA 18

19 GENERAL AVIATION SERVES AMERICA 19

20 Corporate Angel Network is the only charitable organization in the USA whose sole mission is to ease the emotional stress, physical discomfort and financial burden of travel for cancer patients by arranging free flights to treatment centers, using the empty seats on corporate aircraft flying on routine business. Based in White Plains, NY, Corporate Angel Network occupies an office donated by the Westchester County Airport. 50 part-time volunteers and five paid staff work with patients, physicians, corporations, flight departments and leading treatment facilities to arrange 2,500 flights a year. Eligibility to participate in the program is open to all cancer patients, bone marrow donors, and bone marrow recipients who are ambulatory and not in need of medical support while traveling. Eligibility is not based on financial need, and patients may travel as often as necessary. Thanks to the generous cooperation of 500 of America s top corporations, including 56 of the top 100 in the Fortune 500, Corporate Angel Network has coordinated more than 25,000 flights since it s founding in The program offers an obvious and meaningful benefit to cancer patients along with the opportunity for companies with corporate aircraft to provide a wonderful community service by merging business activities with social responsibility. For more information please call (914) or visit 20

21 Angel Flight Northeast is a non-profit organization that provides air transportation in private aircraft by volunteer pilots so that children and adults may access medical care free of charge. A volunteer corps of over 1,000 pilots and Earth Angels, who volunteer on the ground, help patients and families access the critical health care they need. Transportation is provided to those whose financial resources would not otherwise enable them to receive treatment or diagnosis, or who may live in rural areas without access to commercial airlines. Angel Flight NE is also a vital mode of transportation for organs, blood, and for patients awaiting organ transplants. Compassion flights and air care are also provided wherever there is a compelling human need. Through their membership in Air Care Alliance, flights can be arranged throughout most of the United States and Canada. Angel Flight Northeast flies extensively in the northeast portion of the country. For more information please visit: 21

22 Autism Escapes was started by a New Jersey couple who are parents of an autistic child. It is a non-profit company that serves as an Angel Network for families of children with autism. Its primary purpose is to arrange air travel on private jets for families and their autistic children with co-morbid medical problems who are in need of special medical care. About 50 percent of autistic children have these co-morbid medical problems, such as seizures and gastrointestinal disorders. Many cannot get the comprehensive specialized care that they need in New Jersey. In addition to flying families for medical care, Autism Escapes is also looking to fly families for respite care. One trip idea is to fly autistic children and their families to Disney World so that they may all experience the magic together. The goal of Autism Escapes is to bring hope to kids who have to experience life with autism. Autism Escapes relies on donations from individuals, grants from foundations, fund raising activities and donations of private jet hours from individual aircraft owners and corporations. Doctors and behaviorists also volunteer their time to assist families on these flights. For more information please visit: 22

23 MEDIA ACCESS DURING AN EMERGENCY It is the intent of the Airport to provide the media with access to the airport as soon as practical, without creating safety hazards, security concerns, or interfering with the emergency response teams. During an airport emergency, airport and emergency response crews are typically focused on the following priorities: Life Preservation During the initial response to an emergency, all available assets are focused on rescue and life saving efforts. During this time, no media access is provided within the restricted areas of the airport. Property Protection After rescue efforts have been exhausted, Airport staff and emergency responders will work to make the scene safe and focus attention on limiting any further harm to individuals or damage to other property and environment. Return to Normal Operation Clean up efforts for aviation related incidents vary based upon incident complexity. After any incident, Airport Operations may be suspended for a period of time until clean up efforts and safety inspections are completed. Staff, based on availability, will arrange for media access during this phase; however, each emergency scene will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. All media is asked to proceed to the Morristown Town Hall where a press room will be made available for information in the case of a major emergency. This is subject to change depending on the size and complexity of the incident. 23

24 MAPS 24

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26 5 Mile Radius / 10 Mile Diameter Class D Airspace 26

27 Airfield Diagram 27