Topeka, Kansas: Airport Accessibility And Travel Options

Topeka, the capital city of Kansas, has an airport: the Topeka Regional Airport, formerly known as Forbes Field. It is a joint civil-military public airport owned by the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority and located seven miles south of downtown Topeka. The airport covers 2,854 acres and has two runways. It is used by the University of Kansas for charter flights for its athletic teams and by schools visiting the KU campus in Lawrence. The airport has had no airline service since September 2014.

Topeka Regional Airport history

Topeka Regional Airport, formerly known as Forbes Field, is a joint civil-military public airport in Shawnee County, Kansas, seven miles south of downtown Topeka, the capital city of Kansas. The airport is owned by the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority and is used by the University of Kansas for charter flights for its athletic teams and by schools visiting the KU campus in Lawrence.

The history of the airport can be traced back to the early days of aviation. In the 1930s, a small mail carrier called United States Airways began operating a route between Denver and Kansas City, with stops in Goodland, Salina, and Topeka, Kansas. During this time, the airline used a five-passenger Metal Aircraft Flamingo plane. In the early 1940s, three new airlines entered the market, offering flights to and from Topeka using Douglas DC-3 aircraft through the Philip Billard Municipal Airport near downtown Topeka. These airlines included Trans World Airlines, Braniff International Airways, and Continental Airlines.

In 1941, the United States entered World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor. As a result, Congress authorised the construction of the Topeka Army Air Field (TAAF), which was completed in just eight months. The air base included essential buildings, hangars, repair shops, steam heating plants, fuel storage, and three 7,000 by 150-foot paved runways. In August 1942, the first troops arrived and made the field their home. By 1945, the TAAF was one of three B-29 centres, playing a crucial role in the Pacific campaign against Japan.

In 1948, the TAAF was reactivated as a Strategic Air Command base, renamed the Forbes Air Force Base in memory of Major Daniel H. Forbes, a Topeka pilot who lost his life while testing a jet bomber. The base was assigned to the Tactical Air Command in 1964 and continued to play a significant role in military aviation.

In 1976, commercial air service was moved to Forbes Field, and Frontier Airlines initiated the first-ever jet service to Topeka. A new air terminal was completed in 1985, and the airport witnessed a boom in traffic during the 1980s, handling up to 180,000 passengers per year. However, the 1990s saw a decline in traffic, and despite efforts to revive scheduled airline service, the airport has not had any airline service since September 2, 2014.

Today, the Topeka Regional Airport continues to serve the Kansas Air National Guard's 190th Air Refueling Wing and the 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment, Kansas Army National Guard. The airport covers 2,854 acres and has two concrete runways, with the primary runway exceeding 12,800 feet in length.

Philip Billard Airport history

The Philip Billard Municipal Airport is a public airport located three miles (4.8 km) northeast of downtown Topeka, the capital of Kansas. The airport is owned by the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority and covers 920 acres (370 ha) of land. It was opened to the public in April 1940 and was dedicated to prominent Topeka resident and pilot, Philip L. Billard.

Billard, a native of Topeka, volunteered for military service as a pilot when the United States entered World War I. He was commissioned as a captain in the Kansas National Guard and was tasked with forming the state's first aviation unit. He then joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in France as a test pilot. Unfortunately, on July 24, 1918, Philip Billard was killed in a plane crash while testing a DeHaviland 4 aircraft.

In honour of his memory, the airport in Topeka was named after him in 1940. From the 1940s to the 1970s, the Billard Airport was owned and operated by the City of Topeka. During this time, commercial airline service for Topeka used this airport with carriers such as TWA, Continental, and Braniff Airways serving the airport. Ozark Airlines also briefly served the airport in the early 1950s. However, by the early 1970s, these airlines had ended their service to Topeka.

In January 1974, the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority was established to oversee the facilities at Forbes Field, which was previously a military base. In April 1976, these facilities were transferred to the city, and all airline flights moved from Philip Billard Municipal Airport to the newly established Forbes Field. The original Frontier Airlines scheduled the first jet out of Forbes Field, a Boeing 737-200, shortly after the transition.

Air traffic control

Topeka, Kansas is served by the Topeka Regional Airport (IATA: FOE, ICAO: KFOE, FAA LID: FOE), formerly known as Forbes Field. The airport is located seven miles south of downtown Topeka and is owned by the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority. It has two runways and more than 2 million square feet of apron space available for transient military, general aviation, and commercial aircraft.

The Air Traffic Control Tower at Topeka Regional Airport operates daily from 5:45 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. During non-towered times, pilot-controlled lighting is available, and emergency services are provided by a 24-hour staff. The airport covers 2,854 acres at an elevation of 1,078 feet above mean sea level.

In addition to Topeka Regional Airport, there are several other airports in close proximity to Topeka, Kansas. These include Philip Billard Municipal Airport, located just three miles east of downtown Topeka, and several other domestic and international airports within a few hours' drive.

The Air Traffic Control Tower plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe and efficient movement of aircraft in and around the airport. During their operating hours, air traffic controllers monitor the airspace within their jurisdiction and provide essential services such as clearance delivery, ground control, tower control, and approach and departure control. They maintain constant communication with pilots, providing them with critical information and instructions to ensure the safe takeoff, flight, and landing of aircraft.

The daily operations of the Air Traffic Control Tower at Topeka Regional Airport contribute significantly to the overall safety and efficiency of air travel in the region. By providing essential services and maintaining constant vigilance, the air traffic controllers play a vital role in ensuring the smooth flow of air traffic and the protection of lives and property. Their dedication and expertise are instrumental in maintaining the high standards of aviation safety that we rely on today.

Airlines and destinations

Topeka Regional Airport, formerly known as Forbes Field, is a joint civil-military public airport in Shawnee County, Kansas. It is located seven miles south of downtown Topeka, the capital city of Kansas. The airport covers 2,854 acres at an elevation of 1,078 feet above mean sea level. It has two concrete runways: Runway 13/31, which is 12,803 feet by 200 feet, and Runway 3/21, which is 7,001 feet by 150 feet.

The airport has a rich history of airline service dating back to the early 1930s. However, it has not had any airline service since September 2, 2014. Prior to that, several airlines offered flights to various destinations from Topeka Regional Airport.

In the early days, United States Airways, a small mail carrier, flew a route between Denver and Kansas City, with stops in Goodland, Salina, and Topeka, Kansas. This service was operated using a five-passenger Metal Aircraft Flamingo.

In the 1940s, three new airlines began serving Topeka: Trans World Airlines (TWA), Braniff International Airways, and Continental Airlines. TWA added Topeka as a stop on their transcontinental route between Los Angeles and New York, while Braniff offered a route between Chicago and Houston. Continental Airlines provided a connection between Denver and Kansas City, with a stop in Salina. Ozark Airlines also briefly served Topeka in the early 1950s with a route between Kansas City and Tulsa.

Over the years, other airlines that served Topeka Regional Airport include Central Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Capitol Air Service, Trans Central Airlines, Midway Airlines, United Airlines, and Air Midwest. These carriers offered flights to destinations such as Chicago, Denver, Wichita, Manhattan, KS, Joplin, MO, Oklahoma City, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Kansas City.

In more recent years, efforts have been made to revive scheduled airline service at Topeka Regional Airport. Allegiant Air provided nonstop jet flights to Las Vegas in 2006 and 2007, and United Express operated by ExpressJet offered flights to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in 2014. However, these services were short-lived and did not continue beyond 2014.

Airport communications

Topeka Regional Airport, formerly known as Forbes Field, is a civil-military public airport in Shawnee County, Kansas. It is owned by the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority and is located seven miles south of downtown Topeka, the capital city of Kansas.

The airport covers 2,854 acres at an elevation of 1,078 feet above mean sea level. It has two concrete runways: 13/31, which is 12,803 feet long and 200 feet wide, and 3/21, which is 7,001 feet long and 150 feet wide. The airport's air traffic control tower operates daily from 5:45 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. During non-towered times, pilot-controlled lighting is available, and emergency services are provided by a 24-hour staff.

Topeka Regional Airport utilises various communication methods and equipment to ensure efficient and safe operations. The airport's communications infrastructure includes radio frequencies, navigation aids, and lighting systems.

Radio frequencies are essential for coordinating aircraft movements and exchanging critical information between air traffic controllers, pilots, and ground personnel. Topeka Regional Airport uses specific frequencies for different purposes, such as tower communications, ground control, and approach and departure operations. These frequencies facilitate clear and timely communication between aircraft and ground personnel, ensuring efficient traffic flow and maintaining safety protocols.

Additionally, the airport is equipped with navigation aids, such as VOR/DME and TACAN systems, which assist pilots in navigating to and from the airport. These systems provide precise directional information, enabling pilots to accurately navigate during approach, departure, and taxiing.

To further enhance safety, particularly during low-visibility conditions, Topeka Regional Airport employs a lighting system. This system includes runway edge lights, approach lighting, and visual slope indicators. The runway edge lights help pilots maintain proper alignment during takeoff and landing, while the approach lighting systems, such as MALSF and MALSR, provide visual guidance for pilots during low-visibility approaches. The visual slope indicators (VASI and PAPI) assist pilots in maintaining the correct glide path angle during the final approach phase.

Topeka Regional Airport's communication systems are vital for maintaining efficient and safe operations. By utilising radio frequencies, navigation aids, and lighting systems, the airport ensures clear coordination between ground personnel and aircraft, facilitates safe and precise navigation, and enhances overall operational safety. These communication methods play a critical role in ensuring a smooth and secure experience for all stakeholders involved.

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