Dover, Delaware: Airport Accessibility And Travel Options

Dover, Delaware, is served by several airports, both local and international. The closest airport to Dover is Wilmington Greater Wilmington Apt (ILG) Airport, which is 36.4 miles away. The Dover Civil Air Terminal (CAT) is a joint civil-military airport located at Dover Air Force Base. The CAT is operated by the Delaware River & Bay Authority and is one of five regional airports managed by the organisation. The Dover Air Force Base is also open to civilian aircraft, provided they have prior clearance.

Dover Civil Air Terminal

Dover, Delaware, is served by the Dover Civil Air Terminal (CAT), a joint civil-military airport. The CAT is located at Dover Air Force Base and is operated by the Delaware River & Bay Authority (DRBA) under a joint-use agreement with the base. This agreement permits civilian aircraft to use the airfield facilities with prior permission. The CAT is one of five regional airports managed by the DRBA and is one of ten joint-use military airfields with the Air Force across the United States.

Civil aircraft must request clearance to land at the Dover AFB. Pilots must complete two forms: the Dover Civil Air Terminal Release and Indemnification Agreement. Once cleared by the DRBA, pilots can then use the airport for arrival. The Dover Civil Air Terminal is open 24/7.

The Dover Civil Air Terminal is located on the north side of Dover Air Force Base, with a separate, gated entrance. It is situated at 2199 Horsepond Road Dover, Delaware 19901, just minutes away from Delaware's capital, Dover. The Dover AFB's runways are the longest in the state of Delaware and serve as home to the 436th and 512th airlift wings.

The Dover Civil Air Terminal does not have many amenities. There are, however, plenty of rental car options available in Dover that can deliver a rental car to the Civil Air Terminal. There are also several local restaurants and beverage options in the nearby area.

Delaware Airpark Airport

Dover, Delaware, is served by the Delaware Airpark Airport, a public-use airport for corporate and recreational flyers. The airport is also used by Delaware State University for its flight training program, making it one of six HBCU aviation training programs in the nation.

The Delaware Airpark Airport is one of five regional airports managed by the Delaware River & Bay Authority (DRBA). It is located 7 miles from Dover, near Route 13 and Route 1, offering easy access to Delaware's capital, beaches, and the Dover Motor Speedway. The airport covers 319 acres of land, with a single runway measuring 4,200 by 75 feet.

The airport offers a range of services, including a fixed-base operator selling avgas, general maintenance, a conference room, and a crew lounge. There is also a pilot's lounge inside the terminal, with doors locking at 5 pm and accessible via a keypad after hours. Vending machines for snacks and beverages are available in the lobby.

In terms of aircraft operations, the Delaware Airpark Airport recorded 16,425 operations in the year ending December 1, 2020, averaging 45 per day. All operations were classified as general aviation. Additionally, 48 aircraft were based at the airport during this period, comprising 43 single-engine and 5 multi-engine airplanes.

The airport has undergone improvements, including a $6 million project completed in 2017 to bring it up to FAA code, and a 10-year development plan initiated in 2020 to further upgrade its facilities.

Dover Air Force Base

The construction of Dover Air Force Base began in March 1941 as a municipal airport, and the facility was opened on December 17, 1941. Just weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the airport was converted into a U.S. Army Air Corps airfield. The base has undergone several name changes and transfers of control throughout its history, reflecting the evolving needs of the U.S. military. During World War II, it served as a training centre for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) and was used for anti-submarine patrols off the Delaware Coast.

In addition to its military functions, Dover Air Force Base also serves as a joint civil-military airport through the Dover Civil Air Terminal (CAT). This terminal is operated by the Delaware River & Bay Authority under a joint-use agreement, providing an alternative for larger corporate and air carrier aircraft operators that cannot use the DRBA's general aviation airport, Delaware Airpark Airport (33N). Civil aircraft require prior clearance to land at CAT.

New Castle Air National Guard Base

Dover, Delaware, does indeed have an airport. The Dover Civil Air Terminal (CAT) is a joint civil-military airport located at Dover Air Force Base. The CAT is operated by the Delaware River & Bay Authority (DRBA) and is the perfect alternative for larger aircraft that cannot use the DRBA's Delaware Airpark Airport.

The closest major airport to Dover, however, is the New Castle Air National Guard Base, which is 45 miles from the centre of Dover. This base is a United States Air Force installation under the control of the Delaware Air National Guard, located at Wilmington Airport in New Castle County, Delaware.

The base is home to the 166th Airlift Wing (166 AW) of the Delaware Air National Guard, which operates eight permanently assigned Lockheed C-130 H2 Hercules transport aircraft. The aircraft have been deployed in Saudi Arabia, Panama, Bosnia, and as part of the Global War on Terrorism. The base opened in May 1943 and was originally named New Castle Army Air Base. It was assigned to the Air Corps Ferrying Command 2d Ferrying Group, with the primary mission of facilitating the movement of aircraft overseas for delivery to the British and other Allies.

The base population normally consists of 294 full-time Active Guard Reserve and Air Reserve Technician Program personnel, but this surges to 1150 personnel one weekend per month. The base covers 79.6 acres and includes 44 buildings, totalling 256,534 square feet.

Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport

Dover, Delaware, does not have a major airport of its own. However, there are several airports located within a reasonable distance of the city. One such airport is the Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport, situated 62 miles from Dover.

About the Airport

The Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport, often referred to as Salisbury Regional Airport, is located in Wicomico County, Maryland. It is situated 5 miles southeast of downtown Salisbury, which is the largest metropolitan area in Maryland's Eastern Shore. The airport serves a wide area, including Delaware, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, with towns like Ocean City, Cambridge, and Easton.

History

The airport was constructed in 1940 through a joint effort between Wicomico County and the City of Salisbury, in collaboration with the Works Progress Administration. It originally spanned 695 acres and cost $1.5 million. The airport officially opened its doors on November 11, 1943, and was initially leased to the U.S. Navy as a training base during World War II until 1945.

After the war, the airport began commercial operations under the management of Airfield Operating Corp., serving destinations like Easton, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. In 1949, the City and County resumed control of the airport, and various improvement projects were undertaken in the following decades, including runway resurfacing and the installation of taxiway lights.

Recent Developments

In 2011, several construction projects were completed to extend the main runway by 1,000 feet, allowing for the accommodation of larger aircraft. As of 2022, the airport spans 1,081 acres, making it the second-largest airport in the state of Maryland. The terminal, named the Richard A. Henson Terminal, opened in 1990 and offers amenities such as ticket counters, TSA bag scanning areas, departure and arrival gates, and security checkpoints.

Airlines and Destinations

The airport is a hub for American Eagle carrier Piedmont Airlines, which operates flights to Charlotte, North Carolina, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2012, Piedmont set a passenger record, serving 150,086 passengers through the Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport.

Frequently asked questions