Roberta Aguirre
Cecil Airport, located in Jacksonville, Florida, is a public airport and commercial spaceport that services military aircraft, corporate aircraft, general aviation, and air cargo. The airport covers a total area of 6,082 acres and contains four runways and two helipads. Cecil Airport was previously known as Naval Air Station Cecil Field, a United States Navy airbase that was disestablished after World War II and then re-established until its final closure as a naval air station in 1999. Since then, Cecil Airport has expanded its operations and facilities, focusing on aerospace development. It is now one of eight FAA-licensed horizontal launch commercial spaceports in the United States, with the ability to launch and recover spacecraft using its existing 12,500-foot-long runway. The airport provides a significant economic impact, generating approximately $900 million in revenue and supporting over 6,000 aviation-related jobs in Northeast Florida.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Jacksonville, Florida, United States |
| Owner | Jacksonville Aviation Authority |
| Services | Military aircraft, corporate aircraft, general aviation, air cargo |
| Area | 6,082 acres (24.61 km2) |
| Number of runways | 4 |
| Number of helipads | 2 |
| Economic impact | $900 million in revenue and 6,225 direct and indirect aviation-related jobs in Northeast Florida |
| Tenants | The Boeing Company, Flightstar Aircraft Services, Jacksonville JetPort, Robinson Aviation, Wood Group Pratt and Whitney, Florida State College at Jacksonville, and several other government, private companies and organizations |
| Former name | Naval Air Station Cecil Field |
| FAA identifier when it was Naval Air Station Cecil Field | NZC |
| Year of closure as Naval Air Station | 1999 |
| Status as a commercial spaceport | Eighth licensed commercial spaceport in the US and first in Florida authorized to fly space vehicles that take off and land horizontally |
| Investment in infrastructure | More than $330 million |
| Investment in air facilities | Nearly $200 million |
| Emergency landing | Yes, a Delta Airlines flight with 200+ people on board made an emergency landing at Cecil Airport after smoke was reported in the cockpit |
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What You'll Learn
- Cecil Airport is a public airport and commercial spaceport
- It is located in Jacksonville, Florida, USA
- Cecil Airport was formerly known as Naval Air Station Cecil Field
- It is the eighth FAA-licensed horizontal launch commercial spaceport in the US
- A Delta Airlines flight made an emergency landing at Cecil Airport after smoke was reported in the cockpit
Cecil Airport is a public airport and commercial spaceport
Cecil Airport, also known as Cecil Commerce Center, is a public airport and commercial spaceport in Jacksonville, Florida. Covering an area of 6,082 acres, it contains four runways and two helipads. The airport is owned by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) and services military aircraft, corporate aircraft, general aviation, and air cargo. Cecil Airport is also home to the Florida State College Jacksonville (FSCJ) aviation course hangar and associated training aircraft.
Cecil Airport was previously known as Naval Air Station Cecil Field until its closure as a naval air station in 1999. Since then, it has undergone significant development, with over $200 million invested in its air facilities. The airport has a wide range of tenants, including major aerospace firms such as Boeing, Flightstar Aircraft Services, and Logistic Services International (LSI).
In 2010, Cecil Airport became the eighth licensed commercial spaceport in the United States and the first in Florida authorized to fly space vehicles that take off and land horizontally. The Cecil Spaceport, located within Cecil Airport, utilizes the existing 12,500-foot-long runway for launching and recovering spacecraft. The spaceport aims to capture the expected growth in the commercial space industry.
Cecil Airport also plays a crucial role in emergency situations. In June 2025, a Delta Airlines flight en route from Atlanta to Orlando made an emergency landing at Cecil Airport after smoke was reported in the cockpit. The Boeing 757-200 aircraft, carrying 200 passengers and crew, landed safely, and there were no reported injuries.
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It is located in Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Cecil Airport is located in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. It is a public airport and commercial spaceport owned by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. The airport services military aircraft, corporate aircraft, general aviation, and air cargo. Cecil Airport is also home to the Florida Army National Guard's primary Army Aviation Support Facility and the U.S. Coast Guard's Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON). The airport covers an area of 6,082 acres (24.61 km2) and contains four runways and two helipads.
Cecil Airport was previously known as Naval Air Station Cecil Field, a United States Navy air base located in Duval County, Florida. The naval air station opened in 1941 and was decommissioned in 1999 following the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure Commission decision. At the time of its closure, it was the largest military base in the Jacksonville area, covering a total area of 22,939 acres (92.83 km2).
The site of the former naval air station was transferred to the civilian sector, specifically the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, and became known as Cecil Commerce Center and Cecil Airport. The airport has since undergone significant development, with over $200 million invested in improving its facilities and infrastructure. Cecil Airport has become a hub for aerospace and aviation companies, with tenants including The Boeing Company, Flightstar Aircraft Services, Jacksonville JetPort, and Robinson Aviation, among others.
Cecil Airport also plays a crucial role in the region's economy, generating approximately $900 million in annual revenue and supporting over 6,200 direct and indirect aviation-related jobs in Northeast Florida. The airport's development has attracted major corporations, such as GE, Bridgestone, Fed Ex, and Lockheed Martin, to the Cecil Commerce Center. Additionally, the airport's designation as a licensed commercial spaceport further enhances its significance in the aerospace industry.
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Cecil Airport was formerly known as Naval Air Station Cecil Field
Cecil Airport, located in Jacksonville, Florida, was formerly known as Naval Air Station Cecil Field or NAS Cecil Field. It was a United States Navy air base located in Duval County, Florida. NAS Cecil Field was named in honour of Commander Henry Barton Cecil, USN, who died in the crash of the Navy airship USS Akron in 1933.
The history of the airbase dates back to just before World War II, when a 2,600-acre tract of land was purchased in western Duval County. Construction of the "U.S. Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Cecil Field" began, and the base started operating in June 1941 as an outlying field of NAS Jacksonville. The base was expanded during the war years, and in March 1943, it became the principal war-at-sea and dive-bombing training centre for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.
After the war, the base was disestablished, but it was later re-established and finally redesignated as a Naval Air Station Cecil Field in June 1952. NAS Cecil Field grew significantly in the following years, becoming the Navy's largest Master Jet Base. It played a crucial role during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, with aircraft from the base detecting the presence of nuclear-armed missiles in Cuba.
In the 1990s, as directed by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) and the U.S. Congress, NAS Cecil Field was decommissioned and transferred to civilian use. By late 1999, the base was converted into a civilian, public-use, joint civil-military airfield and industrial park, known as Cecil Commerce Center and Cecil Airport.
Since then, Cecil Airport has undergone significant development, with investments totalling nearly $200 million. It has expanded its operations to focus on aerospace development and has become a licensed commercial spaceport, the first in Florida authorised to fly horizontal space vehicles. Cecil Airport continues to service military aircraft, corporate aircraft, general aviation, and air cargo, while also housing educational institutions and major aerospace firms.
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It is the eighth FAA-licensed horizontal launch commercial spaceport in the US
Cecil Airport, located in Jacksonville, Florida, is a public airport and commercial spaceport. It is owned by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority and services military aircraft, corporate aircraft, general aviation, and air cargo. The airport covers an area of 6,082 acres and contains four runways and two helipads.
Cecil Airport is also home to the Florida State College Jacksonville aviation course hangar and associated training aircraft. Several major aerospace firms have facilities located at Cecil, including Boeing, Logistic Services International (LSI), and Flightstar Aircraft Services. These companies provide training, maintenance, and overhaul services for various U.S. military aircraft.
In 2010, Cecil Airport became the eighth FAA-licensed horizontal launch commercial spaceport in the United States. Known as Cecil Spaceport, it is the first such spaceport on the East Coast. The spaceport aims to utilise existing facilities, including the 12,500-foot-long runway, to launch and recover spacecraft.
The development of Cecil Spaceport is expected to capture the anticipated growth of the commercial space industry. The Jacksonville Aviation Authority has also approved various economic incentives and investments to further develop the airport's infrastructure and attract aerospace and aviation companies to the region.
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A Delta Airlines flight made an emergency landing at Cecil Airport after smoke was reported in the cockpit
On Monday, June 9, 2025, a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta to Orlando made an emergency landing at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida, after smoke was reported in the cockpit. There were no indications of fire on the aircraft.
Delta Flight 1576, a Boeing 757-200, was carrying 200 passengers and six crew members. The plane landed safely at Cecil Airport around 2 p.m. local time, according to a Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) spokesman. The flight plan had changed to land at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), but the flight map tracking showed the plane landing at Cecil Airport.
Passenger Peter Stewart, who was seated in the emergency exit row, described the terrifying experience. He said the cabin temperature started to rise, and the flight began to slow down. Suddenly, the oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling without warning. Another passenger, Danny Hare, recalled the rapid landing and abrupt stop.
Cecil Airport, formerly Naval Air Station Cecil Field, is a public airport and commercial spaceport owned by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. It covers 6,082 acres and features four runways and two helipads. The airport supports military, corporate, general aviation, and air cargo operations. Cecil Airport is also home to various aerospace firms and a flight training school. It has been licensed as a horizontal launch spaceport, aiming to facilitate the launch and recovery of space crafts.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Cecil Airport services private and corporate aircraft.
Yes, Cecil Airport is a licensed commercial spaceport and the first in Florida authorised to fly space vehicles that take off and land horizontally.
Yes, emergency landings are possible at Cecil Airport. In June 2025, a Delta Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after smoke was reported in the cockpit.
Yes, Cecil Airport has expanded its operations and facilities to focus on aerospace development. Hypersonic engine testing is the latest addition to the airport's research projects.
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