Chapel Hill's Airport: Does It Exist?

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is home to the Horace Williams Airport, a public-use airport located one nautical mile (1.9 km or 1.2 mi) north of the city's central business district. The airport was originally known as Martindale Field, then renamed Chapel Hill Airport before the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill purchased and renamed it in 1940. While the airport has since been permanently closed, with plans to repurpose the land for a solar energy project, it played a significant role in the city's aviation history. The closest major airport to Chapel Hill is now the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), situated approximately 18 to 20 miles away.

Chapel Hill's Horace Williams Airport is now closed

The airport was purchased by the university in 1940 and renamed for Professor Horace Williams, who was Chair of Mental and Moral Science (Philosophy) at the university during the first half of the twentieth century. Williams also donated much of the land needed to expand the airport. The airport covered an area of 420 acres (170 ha) and had one runway, designated 9/27, with an asphalt surface measuring 4,005 by 75 feet (1,221 x 23 m).

Horace Williams Airport had a long history, dating back to the 1930s when it was part of a large gift of land to the university by Professor Williams. The airport has been in operation since 1933 and has played a significant role in aviation in the region. It offered pilot training and air shows, and even hosted visits from several US presidents, including Ford, George H. Bush, and John F. Kennedy.

Despite its historical significance, the university announced plans to close the airport in 2000 to make room for the construction of Carolina North, a planned major long-term expansion of its campus. The closure faced opposition from pilots and aviation advocates, who argued that the loss of the airfield would result in the irreversible loss of infrastructure. They also noted that the airport was well-maintained and kept up-to-date with current technology. However, critics of the airport raised concerns about its location in a residential area and the safety risks associated with nearby schools and other buildings.

After a lengthy back-and-forth, the university's plans for airport closure were finally executed in May 2018, with the official closure announced via a NOTAM. The closure paved the way for a solar energy project and marked the end of an era for Chapel Hill's Horace Williams Airport.

The closest airport is Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, does not have its own airport. The closest airport is Raleigh-Durham International Airport, located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The airport is approximately 14.8 to 20 miles from Chapel Hill, depending on your source. It is accessible via bus and taxi or shuttle services.

Raleigh-Durham International Airport is served by several airlines, and flights can be found from most hometowns. The airport has multiple parking locations, but they must be booked 24 hours in advance.

Horace Williams Airport was a public-use airport located one nautical mile (1.9 km or 1.2 miles) north of Chapel Hill's central business district. It was owned by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was used for pilot training and air shows. However, it closed permanently in May 2018.

Other nearby airports include Greensboro/High Point (51.3 miles away), Fayetteville Municipal (64.4 to 64.8 miles away), Roanoke (110.3 to 110.8 miles away), and Charlotte (117.1 to 146 miles away).

Other nearby airports include Greensboro/High Point

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, does not have its own airport. The closest airport to Chapel Hill is Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), which is approximately 14.8 to 20 miles away.

Greensboro/High Point (GSO) is 51.3 to 51.7 miles away from Chapel Hill. Piedmont Triad International Airport is located 64 miles from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This airport is a good alternative to RDU, although it is a little further away.

The airport is named after the two largest cities in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, Greensboro and High Point. It is a civil-military airport located in Guilford County, serving Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem. The airport is located in the central part of North Carolina, in the Piedmont Triad region, and is the third-busiest airport in the state. It is also a major cargo facility, with FedEx operating a large hub at the airport.

The airport has one runway and one terminal with two concourses and a total of 21 gates. The airport offers a variety of dining and shopping options for travellers, as well as free Wi-Fi. Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines all serve the airport, providing non-stop flights to a range of domestic destinations.

Chapel Hill is located in Orange County, North Carolina

Chapel Hill also had a local public-use airport called Horace Williams Airport, which was located just one nautical mile north of the city's central business district. However, this airport permanently closed in May 2018 to make way for a solar energy project. Horace Williams Airport was owned by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and had a rich history, dating back to the 1930s. It was originally known as Martindale Field and was one of the first airfields in North Carolina. The airport was later renamed Chapel Hill Airport and then Horace Williams Airport, after a professor who donated much of the land for its expansion.

Several US presidents had connections to Horace Williams Airport. Presidents Ford and George H. Bush received their primary flight training there, and President Kennedy used the airport when visiting UNC in 1961. Despite opposition from pilots and aviation advocates, the university ultimately closed the airport to make room for its planned expansion, known as Carolina North.

In terms of other nearby airports to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Greensboro/High Point Airport (GSO) is around 51-64 miles away, Fayetteville Municipal Airport (FAY) is approximately 64-64.8 miles away, and Roanoke Airport (ROA) is about 110-110.8 miles away. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is also an option, located 117.1-146 miles from Chapel Hill.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill owns the airport land

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is served by Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), which is located around 15-20 miles from the town. However, Chapel Hill also has its own airport, Horace Williams Airport, which is located just 2 miles from the town centre. Horace Williams Airport was a public-use airport owned by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Horace Williams Airport was originally known as Martindale Field, named after Chapel Hill contractor Lee Martindale, and was one of the first airfields in North Carolina. It was then renamed "Chapel Hill Airport", offering pilot training and air shows. The airport was purchased by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1940 and renamed for Professor Horace Williams, who was Chair of Mental and Moral Science (Philosophy) at the university during the first half of the twentieth century. Professor Williams also donated much of the land needed to expand the airport. The airport was part of a large gift of land to the university by Professor Williams in the 1930s, and while he did not restrict the use of the property to airport use, it has been an airport since 1933.

Horace Williams Airport covered an area of 420 acres at an elevation of 512 feet above mean sea level. It had one runway designated 9/27 with an asphalt surface measuring 4,005 by 75 feet. For the 12-month period ending July 31, 2007, the airport had 10,800 aircraft operations, an average of 29 per day. At that time, there were 47 aircraft based at the airport, with 77% single-engine and 23% multi-engine.

In 2000, the university announced plans to close the airport to make room for the construction of Carolina North, a planned major long-term expansion of its campus. However, these plans faced opposition from pilots and aviation advocates, who argued that the closure would result in the loss of valuable infrastructure. There was also a history of conflict between the town and airport advocates dating back to the 1980s, due to the airport's location in a residential area. Despite the opposition, the university's plans for airport closure were blocked in the state legislature on multiple occasions.

In May 2018, a notice appeared announcing the permanent closure of the airport, effective May 15, 2018, with local news sources citing the need to make way for a solar energy project. Thus, while the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill once owned and operated an airport, it no longer does so as of 2018.

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