Roberta Aguirre
Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) is a joint civil-military public airport in Gary, Indiana, 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The airport has a varied history, having been served by several airlines, including Pan Am, Skybus Airlines, and Allegiant Air, which ceased operations in 2013 due to low demand. Currently, the airport caters mainly to executive aircraft, students, UPS cargo operations, and the occasional small airline. The airport features state-of-the-art facilities, excellent infrastructure, and reasonable fees, making it a convenient option for pilots and passengers alike. While there are currently no scheduled commercial passenger flights, charter flights are available through Linear Air to various destinations across the United States.
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What You'll Learn
- Gary/Chicago International Airport is a joint civil-military airport
- The airport is located 25 miles from downtown Chicago
- It has been used for air shows and by obscure passenger airlines
- Aircraft operational limits prevented Allegiant Air from serving the airport
- The airport is home to an Army Aviation Support Facility
Gary/Chicago International Airport is a joint civil-military airport
As a civil-military airport, Gary/Chicago International Airport serves a variety of users, including general aviation, corporate, commercial, and cargo operations. It is home to an Army Aviation Support Facility that supports UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter operations of the Indiana Army National Guard. The airport also has a National Guard installation on-site. In addition, several businesses, including Boeing, Menards, and White Lodging Services, base their corporate aircraft at the airport.
Gary/Chicago International Airport has a history of serving passenger airlines, with carriers such as Pan Am, Southeast Airlines, SkyValue Airlines, Skybus Airlines, and Hooters Air offering flights to various destinations in the past. However, there have been periods where there were no scheduled passenger flights, and the airport has primarily been utilised by charter airlines and corporate jets.
In recent years, there have been efforts to expand and promote the airport as Chicago's "third airport," supplementing the major airports of O'Hare and Midway. The airport has received federal funding for expansion projects, including extending the main runway and adding gates to the passenger terminal. Gary/Chicago International Airport continues to offer excellent infrastructure, convenient location, and reasonable fees for pilots and passengers alike.
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The airport is located 25 miles from downtown Chicago
Gary/Chicago International Airport is located 25 miles from downtown Chicago, in Gary, Lake County, Indiana. The airport is just minutes away from the shores of Lake Michigan. It is a full-service airport, serving general aviation, corporate, commercial, and cargo users.
The airport is conveniently situated close to Chicago, yet far enough to avoid the congestion of larger airports. It offers excellent facilities and services for pilots and passengers, including a primary runway that is nearly 9,000 feet long, accommodating aircraft of all sizes. The airport also provides top-tier Jet A fuel services, efficient customs processes, and seamless travel experiences with real-time updates on runway availability, weather conditions, and safety measures.
Gary/Chicago International Airport has been designed with growth in mind, and the administration actively courts airlines to use the airport. The airport has received federal funding for expansion, including extending the main runway and adding gates to the existing passenger terminal building. The airport is also home to an Army Aviation Support Facility and a National Guard installation.
Being just 25 miles from downtown Chicago, Gary/Chicago International Airport is an ideal alternative to Chicago's major airports, O'Hare and Midway. It provides easy access to the city of Chicago and is well-connected to nearby highways, including I-90, I-80, I-94, I-65, and the Chicago Skyway. The South Shore Line commuter rail train also serves the airport, with a station located near Second Avenue, about a mile south of the terminal.
Gary/Chicago International Airport is more than just a gateway to the skies; it is your partner in cargo transportation. With its convenient location, excellent infrastructure, and reasonable fees, it is the premier destination for aviation excellence in the region.
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It has been used for air shows and by obscure passenger airlines
Gary/Chicago International Airport is located in Gary, Indiana, 25 miles from downtown Chicago. It is a joint civil-military public airport. The airport has been used for air shows and by obscure passenger airlines.
The airport has hosted the Gary Air Show since 1999, with aerial acts performing along the south shore of Lake Michigan at Marquette Park. The event is free to attend, with additional charges for parking and transportation. The park offers food, vendors, and beachfront activities, in addition to spectacular aerial performances.
The airport has also been used by passenger airlines, such as Pan Am, Southeast Airlines, SkyValue Airlines, Skybus Airlines, and Hooters Air. These airlines offered flights to various cities, including Hartford, Connecticut, and St. Petersburg, Florida. However, there was a period between 2008 and 2011 when there were no scheduled passenger flights out of the airport. During this time, charter airlines flew casino guests to destinations like Atlantic City and Harrah's Tunica.
In 2011, Allegiant Air announced service to Orlando Sanford International Airport, but this service was later cancelled due to low demand. Since Allegiant Air ended its scheduled flights, there have been no commercial passenger airline services operating from Gary Airport. The airport is, however, used by UPS for their cargo operations and is well-suited for corporate jets.
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Aircraft operational limits prevented Allegiant Air from serving the airport
Gary/Chicago International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport in Gary, Indiana, United States. It is located three miles northwest of Gary's city centre and 25 miles southeast of the Chicago Loop. The airport is operated by the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority, which was created by an interstate compact between Gary, Chicago, and Indiana.
The airport has been served by several airlines in the past, including Pan Am, Southeast Airlines, SkyValue Airlines, Skybus Airlines, and Hooters Air. However, between 2011 and 2012, there were no scheduled passenger flights out of the airport.
In December 2011, Allegiant Air, an ultra-low-cost airline, announced its intention to begin service to Orlando Sanford International Airport from Gary/Chicago International Airport. However, Allegiant Air had considered Gary/Chicago International Airport earlier but decided against it due to aircraft operational limits. The railroad embankment just 130 feet from the end of the main runway posed a significant challenge for the airline's operations.
To address this issue, the airport embarked on a $153 million expansion plan, which included extending the main runway to 8,859 feet (and later to 9,000 feet). The runway expansion was completed in June 2015, removing the operational limitations for Allegiant Air. However, in May 2013, Allegiant Air cancelled its service out of Gary due to low demand for the flights, with the final scheduled flight departing in August 2013.
Since Allegiant Air's departure, there have been no scheduled commercial passenger airline services operating from Gary Airport. The airport now primarily serves executive aircraft, corporate jets, students, and UPS cargo services.
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The airport is home to an Army Aviation Support Facility
Gary/Chicago International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport in Gary, Indiana, United States. It is located three miles northwest of Gary's city centre and 25 miles southeast of the Chicago Loop. The airport is home to an Army Aviation Support Facility, which supports UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter operations of the Indiana Army National Guard.
The airport has a long history of aviation support, dating back to its early days of service by airlines such as Pan Am, Southeast Airlines, SkyValue Airlines, Skybus Airlines, and Hooters Air. These airlines offered flights to various cities, including Hartford, Connecticut, and St. Petersburg, Florida. Gary/Chicago International Airport also served as the base for the Chicago Air & Water Show, featuring aircraft like the U.S. Air Force's C-5 Galaxy.
The airport covers 763 acres of land, with two asphalt runways: 12/30, measuring 8,859 by 150 feet, and 2/20, measuring 3,604 by 100 feet. In 2022, 114 aircraft were based at the airport, including 39 single-engine planes, 9 multi-engine planes, 53 jets, 6 helicopters, and 7 military aircraft.
The Army Aviation Support Facility at Gary/Chicago International Airport plays a crucial role in supporting military operations and ensuring the readiness of the Indiana Army National Guard's UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. The facility provides maintenance, repair, and operational support to these aircraft, enabling their critical missions.
The airport has also been the subject of expansion plans and political debates. In 2006, a proposal to turn it into Chicago's third major airport gained momentum with the approval of $48 million in federal funding. However, there have also been considerations for constructing a new airport near Peotone, Illinois. The expansion of Gary/Chicago International Airport has the support of the mayors of Gary and Chicago, who favour the tax revenue benefits for their cities.
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