South Dakota's Airports: A Comprehensive Guide To Air Travel

South Dakota is a US state with 75 airports for public use, including several regional airports. The major airports in South Dakota include the Aberdeen Regional Airport, Pierre Regional Airport, Rapid City Regional Airport, Sioux Falls Regional Airport, and Watertown Regional Airport.

Sioux Falls Regional Airport

South Dakota has 72 public airports, including 6 with scheduled passenger service, 51 general aviation airports, 15 other public-use airports, and one military airport. One of these airports is the Sioux Falls Regional Airport, also known as Joe Foss Field. The airport is named after Joe Foss, an aviator and Sioux Falls native who later served as the 20th Governor of South Dakota from 1955 to 1959.

The airport has three concrete runways and covers 1,570 acres of land at an elevation of 1,430 feet. In 2017, the airport recorded 73,221 aircraft operations, averaging 201 per day, including air taxi, general aviation, airline, and military flights. The airport also had 111 aircraft based on its grounds in 2017, including single-engine, multi-engine, military, and jet aircraft.

Ellsworth Air Force Base

South Dakota has 72 public airports, including 6 with scheduled passenger service, 51 general aviation airports, 15 other public-use airports, and one military airport. This military airport is Ellsworth Air Force Base, located about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Rapid City, just north of the town of Box Elder.

The base is named after Brigadier General Richard E. Ellsworth (1911-1953), a 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing commander who was killed in a training flight crash in 1953. Ellsworth Air Force Base was established during World War II, with its control tower opening on 30 September 1942, and runways, quarters, offices, and facilities completed the following day. The airfield had three concrete runways, measuring 7050x300 (N/S), 7000x300 (E/W), and 7872x300 (NW/SE). The Rapid City Army Air Base, as it was then known, was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Training Wing, II Bomber Command. The 88th Bombardment Group was reassigned to the base in October 1942 to serve as the Operational Training Unit.

In March 1944, the 225th Army Air Force Base Unit switched from training entire units to training individual replacements for the B-29 Superfortress. More runway improvements were completed in July 1949, allowing the base to switch from B-29s to the B-36 Peacemaker. In April 1950, the Air Staff reassigned the base from the 15th Air Force to the 8th Air Force. Unfortunately, in March 1953, an RB-36 crashed in Newfoundland, killing all 23 aboard, including Brigadier General Richard E. Ellsworth. The base was subsequently renamed Ellsworth AFB by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who visited to re-dedicate it in memory of Ellsworth.

In October 1955, the 28 BMW was reassigned from the 8th Air Force back to the 15th Air Force. The B-36s were replaced with the new all-jet B-52 Stratofortress, with the first one arriving in June 1957. In 1958, all base units came under the command of the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division, headquartered at Ellsworth. During the Cold War, the Air Defense Command activated the 740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron at Rapid City AFB, which was part of the ADC's planned deployment of 44 mobile radar stations across the United States. The site was given the designation M-97.

Today, Ellsworth Air Force Base is home to the 28th Bomb Wing (28 BW), one of the USAF's two B-1B Lancer wings. The base has a population of about 8,000 military members, family members, and civilian employees.

General aviation airports

South Dakota has 72 public airports, including 51 general aviation airports. One notable airport is the Sioux Falls Regional Airport, which is a public and military-use airport three miles northwest of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It was built in 1937 and was leased to the Federal Government in 1942 to become the Sioux Falls Army Air Field, whose major function was to establish a radio operator training facility. Today, the airport has seven gates, all with loading bridges, and is undergoing a multi-year, multi-million-dollar renovation and expansion project.

Another important general aviation airport in South Dakota is the Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, which serves as a military airport. The state's general aviation airports are part of the largest single group of airports in the US airport system, offering convenient access to various destinations within the state. These airports cater to a range of aircraft, from single-engine planes to multi-engine and jet aircraft, providing essential connectivity for both leisure and business travellers alike.

In addition to Sioux Falls Regional Airport and Ellsworth Air Force Base, other notable general aviation airports in South Dakota include smaller facilities located across the state. These airports play a vital role in connecting remote communities and supporting various aviation activities, such as aerial agriculture, flight training, and charter flights.

The general aviation airports in South Dakota are easily accessible and provide efficient services for pilots and passengers alike. They offer a range of facilities, including fuelling stations, maintenance services, and hangar spaces, ensuring that aircraft operations run smoothly. These airports also contribute to the state's economy by attracting businesses and promoting tourism, as they provide convenient access to the state's numerous attractions, such as Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the Black Hills.

Publicly-owned airports

South Dakota has 72 public airports, including 6 with scheduled passenger service, 51 general aviation airports, 15 other public-use airports, and one military airport. The Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City is the state's sole military airport.

Sioux Falls Regional Airport

The Sioux Falls Regional Airport, also known as Joe Foss Field, is a public and military-use airport located three miles northwest of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The airport is named after Joe Foss, an aviator and native of Sioux Falls who later served as the state's 20th governor from 1955 to 1959. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorised it as a primary commercial service airport, as it handles more than 10,000 passenger boardings (enplanements) per year. The airport had 423,288 enplanements in 2011, a significant increase of 18.92% from 355,939 in 2010, according to Federal Aviation Administration records. The terminal at Sioux Falls Regional Airport has seven gates, all equipped with loading bridges. While five gates can accommodate Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 aircraft, gate number 5 is capable of handling a Boeing 757, and gate number 2 can only accommodate smaller aircraft like the CRJ 200 or ERJ-145.

The airport's history dates back to 1937 when it was constructed as an airfield. In 1942, the city leased the airport to the federal government, and it became the Sioux Falls Army Air Field. During World War II, the base played a crucial role in training radio operators, with approximately 40,000 individuals receiving training between 1942 and 1945. After the war, in 1946, the airport was returned to the city, and the South Dakota Air National Guard was established under the leadership of Joe Foss. Mid-Continent Airlines initiated the airport's first airline flights around 1940, and subsequent carriers such as Western Airlines, North Central, and Ozark expanded its commercial services. By 1992, the airport boasted an impressive 28 daily flights from eight different airlines.

In recent years, the Sioux Falls Regional Airport has undergone significant renovations and expansions. Starting in 2009, a multi-year, multi-million-dollar project was undertaken to modernise the airport's appearance and functionality. Additionally, the airport has experienced several notable incidents. On December 9, 2011, a tragic crash claimed the lives of all four passengers on board a Cessna 421-C aircraft shortly after takeoff. On April 8, 2018, an Allegiant Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83 arriving from Las Vegas overran the runway due to snow and ice, but fortunately, none of the passengers were injured.

Military airports

South Dakota has 72 public airports, including 6 with scheduled passenger service, 51 general aviation airports, 15 other public-use airports, and one military airport. The military airport in South Dakota is the Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City.

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in South Dakota for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers. Most of these airfields were under the command of the Second Air Force or the Army Air Forces Training Command (AAFTC), the predecessor of today's United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command. Some were also commanded by other USAAF support commands, such as the Air Technical Service Command (ATSC), Air Transport Command (ATC), or Troop Carrier Command. Many of these wartime airfields were converted into municipal airports, returned to agriculture, or retained as United States Air Force installations.

Aberdeen Regional Airport, for example, was a contract glider training airfield owned by Anderson & Brennan Flying Service during World War II. In contrast, Watertown Regional Airport is a well-equipped terminal that meets the needs of its passengers, offering amenities like a vending machine and a large conference room.

While there are no international airports in South Dakota, the state's airports are well-maintained and connected to major cities in the US. Important regional airports include the Aberdeen Regional Airport, Pierre Regional Airport, Rapid City Regional Airport, Sioux Falls Regional Airport, and Watertown Regional Airport.

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