Fort Pierce Airport: Does It Exist?

Fort Pierce, Florida, is home to the Treasure Coast International Airport (IATA: FPR, ICAO: KFPR, FAA LID: FPR). The airport is located 5 km northwest of the central business district of Fort Pierce and is owned by the St. Lucie Board of County Commissioners. It primarily serves the general aviation and corporate flights community, with frequent use by private pilots, student pilots, and instructors from the on-site Aviator College flight school. The airport has a rich history, dating back to 1921, and has undergone various name changes and improvements over the years. While Vero Beach (VRB) Airport is the closest airport to Fort Pierce, located 15.2 miles away, Treasure Coast International Airport is well-equipped to serve the growing community and local tourism industry, providing a convenient gateway to the city of Fort Pierce and the surrounding areas.

Treasure Coast International Airport

Fort Pierce, a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, is served by the Treasure Coast International Airport. The airport is located 5 km northwest of Fort Pierce's central business district. It was previously known as St. Lucie County International Airport and, before that, Fort Pierce Airport.

The airport covers an area of 3,844 acres and features three asphalt runways: 10R/28L (1,979 x 46 m), 10L/28R (1,219 x 23 m), and 14/32 (1,449 x 30 m). For the 12-month period ending January 2, 2018, the airport recorded 196,000 general aviation aircraft operations, with an average of 537 per day.

In October 2024, the airport received its FAA Part 139 Certification, enabling it to provide commercial airline operations and scheduled passenger service to meet the growing demands of the local community and tourism industry.

Vero Beach Airport

Fort Pierce is served by the Treasure Coast International Airport (FPR), located 5 km northwest of the central business district of Fort Pierce in St. Lucie County, Florida. The airport is owned and operated by the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners.

Vero Beach Regional Airport is a public airport located 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest of Vero Beach in Indian River County, Florida. The airport is publicly owned and is home to Piper Aircraft. It is a tower-controlled facility with an FAR Part 139 operating certificate.

The airport was built in 1929 by a group that included Bud Holman, whose sons and grandsons now operate Sun Aviation. The airport was dedicated in 1930, and Eastern Air Lines began refuelling there in 1932. In 1935, Vero Beach Regional Airport began passenger and mail services, becoming the smallest airport in Florida to offer airmail services.

In 1942, the U.S. Navy selected Vero Beach Regional Airport for a naval air station, and it was commissioned as Naval Air Station Vero Beach. It served as a training unit for Naval Aviators and, later, for night fighter training. After the war, the base was returned to the city for use as a civil airport.

In 1948, Vero Beach Regional Airport hosted Major League Baseball when Bud Holman invited the Brooklyn Dodgers to use the barracks facilities for winter and spring training. The Dodgers liked the area so much that they established Dodgertown, a 110-acre tract next to the airport, as their training grounds.

In 1957, Piper Aircraft selected Vero Beach for a research and development centre, and in 1961, they moved their administrative and manufacturing operations to the former naval air station.

Today, the airport offers scheduled non-stop services on Breeze Airways to Hartford, Providence, Long Island, and White Plains. It is one of the few commercial airports in the United States to offer free long-term parking for up to 21 days.

Fort Pierce Airport history

Fort Pierce, Florida, is home to the Treasure Coast International Airport, which was previously known as the Fort Pierce Airport. The airport is located 3 miles (5 km) northwest of the central business district of Fort Pierce in St. Lucie County, Florida, and is owned by the St. Lucie Board of County Commissioners.

The history of the airport dates back to 1921 when the Commercial Club of Fort Pierce built an airport where the local American Legion building now stands on U.S. Route 1. However, the airline never took off the ground. In 1930, the county purchased 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) of land that eventually became the current airport, and in 1935, the first commercial airport was dedicated in the vicinity of U.S. Route 1 and Edwards Road.

During World War II, the U.S. Navy leased the airport, then called Fort Pierce Airport, as an auxiliary field for pilots and flight crews from nearby naval air stations. The airport was used for daytime and nighttime field carrier landing practice (FCLP) before landing on actual aircraft carriers. Scout aircraft, dive bombers, and torpedo attack bombers all used the runways, which were redesigned to better accommodate naval aviation training requirements. After the war, in 1947, the Navy disestablished operations and the U.S. government returned the airport to the county, including two newly constructed runways, without charging for the improvements.

For the next ten years, the airport languished due to a lack of financial capital for maintenance and operations. The facility became overgrown with vegetation and was frequently used for grazing by cattle from nearby farms and ranches. However, during the 1960s and 1970s, the airport underwent significant improvements, including the construction of an airport terminal, modern hangars, airfield lighting, navigational aids, and fuel facilities. Curtis King, who became the first full-time director in 1967, played a crucial role in the airport's development for 31 years.

The airport's name changed over the years, from Fort Pierce Airport to St. Lucie County Airport, then to St Lucie County International Airport in 1980, and finally to Treasure Coast International Airport around 2017. Fort Pierce briefly saw commercial airline service in 1988 when Delta Connection provided flights to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.

FAA Part 139 Certification

Fort Pierce is served by the Treasure Coast International Airport, which did receive its FAA Part 139 Certification in October 2024. This certification allows the airport to provide commercial airline operations.

Part 139 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) outlines the requirements for the certification and operation of airports in the United States that serve scheduled passenger-carrying operations of an air carrier operating aircraft configured for more than 9 passenger seats, as well as unscheduled passenger operations with aircraft configured for at least 31 passenger seats. The certification is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and ensures that airports meet specific safety and emergency response standards.

Requirements and Standards

To obtain Part 139 certification, airports must agree to comply with certain operational and safety standards. These standards include:

• Firefighting and rescue equipment
• Signs, lights, and markings
• Runway safety
• Aircraft rescue and firefighting capabilities
• Aviation fueling safety
• Snow and ice control
• Wildlife hazard management

The specific requirements vary depending on the size of the airport, the type of flights it serves, and the number of passengers it serves annually. Airports with few passengers per year may be exempt from certain requirements to avoid financial hardship.

Inspection and Enforcement

The FAA conducts certification inspections to ensure airports meet the requirements of Part 139. These inspections typically occur yearly but can also be unannounced. The basic phases of a Part 139 inspection include:

• Pre-inspection review of airport files and certification manual
• In-briefing with airport management
• Administrative inspection of paperwork
• Movement area inspection
• Aircraft rescue and firefighting inspection
• Fueling facilities inspection
• Night inspection (if applicable)
• Post-inspection briefing with airport management

If an airport is found to be non-compliant, the FAA may impose administrative actions, financial penalties, or, in extreme cases, revoke the airport's certificate.

Fort Pierce Airport runways

Fort Pierce is served by the Treasure Coast International Airport (IATA: FPR, ICAO: KFPR, FAA LID: FPR), which is located 3 miles northwest of the central business district of Fort Pierce, in St. Lucie County, Florida. The airport has a long history, dating back to 1921 when the Commercial Club of Fort Pierce first built an airport. However, the current airport was originally established during World War II, when it was leased by the U.S. Navy as an auxiliary field for pilots and flight crews from nearby Naval Air Stations. The Navy used the runways for daytime and nighttime field carrier landing practice (FCLP).

Today, the airport has three asphalt runways: 10R/28L, 10L/28R, and 14/32. Runway 10R/28L is the longest, measuring 6,492 x 150 ft (1,979 x 46 m), with a magnetic heading of 097°/277° and a true heading of 090°/270°. This runway is in fair condition. Runway 10L/28R measures 4,000 x 75 ft (1,219 x 23 m) and is in good condition. The final runway, 14/32, is 4,755 x 100 ft (1,449 x 30 m) and is in excellent condition.

The airport primarily serves the general aviation and corporate flights community, with frequent use by private pilots, student pilots, and instructors from the on-site Aviator College flight school. It also sees a lot of general aviation flight training traffic from various aviation flight schools in South Florida, including three based at the airport. The airport is well-equipped to handle these operations, with navigational aids, airfield lighting, and fuel facilities.

In October 2024, the airport received its FAA Part 139 Certification, allowing it to provide commercial airline operations and better serve the growing community of St. Lucie County.

Frequently asked questions