Groton - New London Airport

Groton-New London Airport (IATA: GON, ICAO: KGON, FAA LID: GON) is a state-owned public-use airport located three miles (5 km) southeast of the central business district of Groton, a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. It serves the southeastern Connecticut region, including the shoreline localities of Groton, New London, and Mystic.

Over the years, and usually no more than one at a time, various domestic airlines served the airport, including Pan Am Clipper Connection and Pilgrim Airlines. Scheduled commercial passenger service was limited to small turboprop aircraft such as de Havilland Dash 8 and Beechcraft 1900. Eventually the airport became no longer a profitable destination, and US Airways Express, the last major carrier to serve the airport, terminated its GON-PHL service in 2004. Two charter airlines, however, do continue to shuttle passengers to and from the airport.

The airport has also been used by several presidents speaking at the commencement of the nearby US Coast Guard Academy. The most recent visit was by President Bush on May 23, 2007.

Facilities and aircraft

Groton-New London Airport covers an area of 489 acres (198 ha) which contains two asphalt paved runways: 5/23 measuring 5,000 x 150 ft (1,524 x 46 m) and 15/33 measuring 4,000 x 100 ft (1,219 x 30 m).

For the 12-month period ending June 30, 2006, the airport had 52,394 aircraft operations, an average of 143 per day: 87% general aviation, 8% military, 5% air taxi and <1% scheduled commercial. There are 69 aircraft based at this airport: 33% single engine, 25% multi-engine, 14% jet aircraft, 26% helicopters and 1% military.

Charter airlines

History

Groton-New London Airport was established as the first State of Connecticut airport in 1929. Originally called Trumbull Airport after Governor Jonathan Trumbull, the airport was taken over by the United States Army Air Corps in August 1941 as a First Air Force group training base, although the runways were still grass. In 1942, the Army constructed a base and hard-surfaced runways and designated the airport as Groton Army Airfield. Through all of 1943, a total of 10 squadrons of P-47 Thunderbolt fighter groups trained at the field, with the last unit departing for overseas combat in January 1944.

In January 1944, the USAAF turned the airfield to the United States Navy. The commissioning of Groton as a Naval Airfield occurred on February 1, 1944, as an auxiliary of Quonset Point. Initially, Groton hosted various individual squadrons. Later, entire CAGs of three or four squadrons formed up at the base. The CAGs attached here during the war included CAG 83, 10, 92, 152, and 4, with their F6Fs, F4Us, SB2Cs, and TBMs. CASU 28, on board in support of the CAGs, operated one OS2U Kingfisher, one J4F Widgeon, 12 SNJs, and one NH Howard. The station had one airplane assigned, a GH Howard.

In March 1944, station personnel consisted of 87 officers and 678 enlisted men with barracks for 114 officers and 1,091 men. The peak number of aircraft reached 114 in March 1945. Groton had three concrete runways: two of 4,000 feet and one of 5,000 ft. In July 1946, the Navy returned the airport to the State of Connecticut.

In 1980, the name of the airport changed to Groton-New London Airport. Today, the airport is one of two state-owned airports with commercial air carrier service. The funds necessary to operate Groton-New London Airport come from the Connecticut State Transportation Fund. Likewise, revenue derived from the airport is returned to the Transportation Fund.

The airport is integrated into the statewide transportation plan, as well as the National Airport System Plan. There were 80,319 aircraft operations during 1999 at Groton-New London Airport which included military, general aviation and commercial flights. The airport has recently undergone $2,000,000 in renovations. The passenger terminal has been updated with new counter and seating areas and improved lighting.

Groton-New London Airport serves the growing number of business commuters and leisure travelers in the Southeastern Connecticut region in the new millennium. We are proud of our cooperative relationship with Mystic & More, this region's convention and visitor's bureau. The visitor's bureau has made a significant investment in the airport with the addition of their information center in the terminal. Community partnership is a priority for Groton-New London airport.

Location & QuickFacts

FAA Information Effective:	2006-09-28
Airport Identifier:	GON
Longitude/Latitude:	072-02-42.5000W/41-19-48.2000N -72.045139/41.330056 (Estimated)
Elevation:	9 ft / 2.74 m (Surveyed)
Land:	489 acres
From nearest city:	3 nautical miles SE of Groton (new London), CT
Location:	New London County, CT
Magnetic Variation:	15W (1985)

Owner & Manager

Ownership:	Publicly owned
Owner:	State Of Connecticut
Address:	P O Box 317546 Newington, CT 06131-7546
Phone number:	860-594-2537
Manager:	Catherine Young
Address:	155 Tower Ave Groton, CT 06340
Phone number:	860-445-8549

Airport Operations and Facilities

Airport Use:	Open to public
Wind indicator:	Yes
Segmented Circle:	Yes
Control Tower:	Yes
Attendance Schedule:	ALL/ALL/0500-2100
Lighting Schedule:	DUSK-DAWN WHEN ATCT CLSD ACTVT HIRL RYS 05/23 & 15/33; MALSR RY 05 - CTAF.
Beacon Color:	Clear-Green (lighted land airport)
Landing fee charge:	Yes LANDING FEE FOR BUSINESS/CORPORATE & REVENUE PRODUCING ACFT.
Sectional chart:	New York
Region:	ANE - New England
Boundary ARTCC:	ZBW - Boston
Tie-in FSS:	BDR - Bridgeport
FSS on Airport:	No
FSS Phone:	866-293-5149
FSS Toll Free:	1-800-WX-BRIEF
NOTAMs Facility:	GON (NOTAM-d service avaliable)
Certification type/date:	I AS 5/1984 CLSD TO ACR OPNS WITH MORE THAN 9 PSGR SEATS EXCP 12 HR PPR CALL AMGR 860-625-0375.
Federal Agreements:	NGPY3

Airport Communications

CTAF:

125.600

Airport Services

Fuel available:	100LLA SELF-SVC 100LL AVBL 24 HRS.
Airframe Repair:	MAJOR
Power Plant Repair:	MAJOR
Bottled Oxygen:	HIGH/LOW
Bulk Oxygen:	HIGH/LOW

Runway Information

Runway 05/23

Runway 15/33

Radio Navigation Aids

Remarks

Based Aircraft

Operational Statistics

General Info
Country	United States
State	CONNECTICUT
FAA ID	GON
Latitude	41-19-48.208N
Longitude	072-02-42.488W
Elevation	10 feet
Near City	GROTON NEW LONDON

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