Ruth Haines
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is a medium-sized, multi-use airport located in Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. The airport was built as Naval Air Station Sanford, a Master Jet Base for carrier-based attack and reconnaissance aircraft, and was used by the U.S. Navy until 1969. The airport is known by the code SFB, which is derived from its name, Sanford, and is located about 20 miles north of Orlando International Airport (MCO). With a substantial volume of air carrier and air taxi traffic, as well as a thriving flight training programme, SFB is ranked among the top 30 busiest airports in the world in terms of total flight operations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Orlando Sanford International Airport |
| Location | Sanford, Florida, United States |
| Airport Codes | IATA: SFB, ICAO: KSFB, FAA LID: SFB, NRJ, KNRJ |
| Owner | Sanford Airport Authority |
| Operator | Sanford Airport Authority |
| Operating Base | Allegiant Air |
| Type | Commercial, Public Use Airport |
| History | Built as Naval Air Station Sanford, a Master Jet Base for carrier-based attack and reconnaissance aircraft |
| Usage | Secondary Commercial Airport for Orlando, Flight Training, Air Carrier, Air Taxi |
| Traffic | Majority of passenger traffic is domestic |
| Renovations | $60.6 million renovation to add 50,000 square feet of space |
| Bird Activity | High number of bird strikes due to large birds like eagles in the vicinity |
| Runways | 3 parallel runways with staggered thresholds and 1 intersecting runway |
| Air Traffic Control | FAA |
| Phone Number | 407-330-9816 |
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What You'll Learn
- Orlando Sanford International Airport was Naval Air Station Sanford
- The airport is 20 miles north of Orlando International airport
- It is a medium-sized multi-use airport
- The airport is owned and operated by the Sanford Airport Authority
- It is consistently in the top 30 busiest airports for total flight operations
Orlando Sanford International Airport was Naval Air Station Sanford
Orlando Sanford International Airport (IATA: SFB, ICAO: KSFB, FAA LID: SFB) was originally a Naval Air Station Sanford, a Master Jet Base for carrier-based attack and reconnaissance aircraft. The airport is located in Sanford, Florida, United States, about 20 miles north of Orlando.
The airport was commissioned on November 3, 1942, as a naval air station of the United States Navy, with the initial function of advanced land-based patrol bomber training. It was used as a training base for carrier-based fighter aircraft and briefly closed in 1946 before being reactivated in 1950. The City of Sanford took possession of the airfield in 1946, naming it Sanford Airfield, but the Navy resumed control in 1951 during the Korean War.
NAS Sanford served as a Master Jet Base for carrier-based heavy attack and reconnaissance aircraft until 1969. Upgrades to the base included lengthening the main runway to 8,000 feet, constructing additional hangars, barracks, and administrative buildings, and improving fuel storage and distribution systems. After its closure in 1969, the City of Sanford assumed control once again, reopening it as a civilian general aviation airport under various names, including Sanford Airport, Sanford Regional Airport, Central Florida Regional Airport, and Orlando Sanford Regional Airport.
The airport has since undergone significant infrastructure upgrades, including the construction of a new arrivals building, a freight centre, and a new control tower. In the mid-1990s, a new passenger terminal was built to accommodate jet airliners, attracting many charter airlines that previously used Orlando International Airport. Today, Orlando Sanford International Airport operates as a commercial airport with domestic and international airline services, serving as a base for airlines such as Allegiant Air, National Airlines, TUI Airlines Netherlands, and Interjet.
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The airport is 20 miles north of Orlando International airport
Orlando Sanford International Airport (IATA: SFB, ICAO: KSFB, FAA LID: SFB) is located in Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. It is approximately 20 miles north of Orlando International Airport (MCO). The distance between the two airports is about 38.73 kilometers or 24.06 miles. This distance can be covered in around 46 minutes by car.
Orlando Sanford International Airport started as Naval Air Station Sanford during World War II and was used by the U.S. Navy until 1969. After the Navy's departure, the City of Sanford took control of the airport, renaming it Sanford Airport and establishing the Sanford Airport Authority. Over the years, the airport underwent renovations and expansions, with new buildings and hangars added. It also went through several name changes, including Sanford Regional Airport, Central Florida Regional Airport, and Orlando Sanford Regional Airport, before becoming Orlando Sanford International Airport.
Sanford Airport is a commercial, public-use airport and serves as a base for Allegiant Air. It is Orlando's secondary commercial airport, located farther from downtown Orlando and popular attractions like Walt Disney World compared to the primary airport, Orlando International Airport. Due to its proximity to Orlando, Sanford Airport was initially popular among European charter services. However, since 2008, the majority of its passenger traffic has been domestic, largely due to the presence of Allegiant Air, for which Sanford is a focus city.
Orlando Sanford International Airport offers convenient and friendly services, with direct flights, efficient security lines, and reliable handling of luggage and pets. It provides access to various destinations across North America, including family-fun attractions, amusement parks, historic landmarks, and breathtaking cityscapes. The airport has also served as a filming location, with parts of the 1992 action film "Passenger 57" starring Wesley Snipes being shot there.
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It is a medium-sized multi-use airport
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is a medium-sized, multi-use airport. It is a commercial, public-use airport in Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. The airport is owned and operated by the Sanford Airport Authority. It was built as Naval Air Station Sanford, a Master Jet Base for carrier-based attack and reconnaissance aircraft, and was used by the U.S. Navy until 1969.
The airport has considerable air carrier and air taxi traffic, along with a robust flight training operation. It is located 20 miles north of Orlando International Airport (MCO) and serves as a reliever airport for the general and business aviation communities.
Orlando Sanford International Airport has a unique history, starting as an airfield constructed by the Sanford Mills in the 1930s with a single airstrip and hangar. With the United States' entry into World War II, the airfield was expanded by the U.S. Navy and formally commissioned as Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Sanford in 1943. After the war, the facilities were largely mothballed but remained staffed until the 1960s.
The City of Sanford took control of the airport in 1969 and renamed it Sanford Airport. The airport primarily served as a general aviation facility and hosted civilian and military air shows. Over time, the oldest Navy buildings were demolished, and new buildings and hangars were added. In the mid-1990s, a new passenger terminal capable of accommodating jet airliners was constructed.
Today, Orlando Sanford International Airport offers fast and affordable air travel. It has three parallel runways with staggered thresholds and one intersecting runway. The airport has a diverse range of operations, including charter services, flight training, and serving as an operating base for airlines like Allegiant Air.
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The airport is owned and operated by the Sanford Airport Authority
The Sanford Airport Authority (SAA) is responsible for owning and operating the Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB). The airport, located in Sanford, Florida, was initially a Naval Air Station during World War II and was commissioned on November 3, 1942, as a Fighter/Dive-Bomber training base. After the U.S. Navy relinquished control in 1969, the City of Sanford established the Sanford Airport Authority to manage the airport, then known as Sanford Airport.
Over the years, the airport underwent several name changes, including Sanford Regional Airport, Central Florida Regional Airport, and Orlando Sanford Regional Airport, before finally becoming the Orlando Sanford International Airport. The SAA played a pivotal role in the airport's development, overseeing significant upgrades and expansions. They constructed Runway 9L-27R to encourage aviation activity and attracted businesses to the adjacent Industrial Park.
The SAA also facilitated the construction of the International Terminal A, which included Customs and Immigration Services, enabling the commencement of International Commercial Aviation. Scheduled charter flights from the United Kingdom soon followed. The SAA continued to enhance the airport's infrastructure, constructing Runway 9R-27L to accommodate General Aviation and flight training.
The airport experienced a shift in passenger traffic demographics. Initially dominated by European charter services due to its affiliation with Orlando, the airport witnessed a change in 2008 when Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air entered the market, resulting in a majority of its passenger traffic becoming domestic. Today, the SAA strives to maintain, improve, and expand the airport, ensuring it remains a convenient and beneficial transportation hub for the Central Florida community.
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It is consistently in the top 30 busiest airports for total flight operations
Orlando Sanford International Airport (IATA: SFB, ICAO: KSFB, FAA LID: SFB) is a commercial, public airport in Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. It is consistently in the top 30 busiest airports for total flight operations. The airport was originally built as a Naval Air Station Sanford, a Master Jet Base for carrier-based attack and reconnaissance aircraft, and was used by the U.S. Navy until 1969. The City of Sanford took control of the airport in 1969 and renamed it Sanford Airport. For the next 25 years, the airport was a general aviation facility and hosted civilian and military air shows.
In the mid-1990s, a new passenger terminal capable of accommodating jet airliners was built, attracting many carriers that previously operated at Orlando International Airport. This was due to the reduced landing fees offered at Sanford. In 1996, Michael Jackson and his team rehearsed for the HIStory World Tour at the airport. In 2008, Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air entered the market, resulting in a majority of Sanford's passenger traffic becoming domestic.
Orlando Sanford International Airport has been used as a filming location, with parts of the film Passenger 57 starring Wesley Snipes being filmed there in 1992. The airport has also experienced several notable aviation incidents, including a safe emergency landing of Allegiant Air Flight 758 in 2007 due to hydraulic failure, and a Cessna 310 crash in the same year that resulted in five fatalities.
Today, Orlando Sanford International Airport is a convenient and friendly airport that provides direct flights and efficient security lines. It is a popular choice for families and those travelling with pets.
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Frequently asked questions
SFB.
SFB stands for Sanford, Florida, where the airport is located.
Yes, the airport has been renamed several times over the years, including Sanford Regional Airport, Central Florida Regional Airport, Orlando Sanford Regional Airport, and its current name, Orlando Sanford International Airport.
The airport uses two city names because tens of millions of people want to fly to Orlando each year.
The airport started as a Naval Air Station Sanford, a Master Jet Base for carrier-based attack and reconnaissance aircraft, and was used by the U.S. Navy until 1969. The City of Sanford took control of the facility in 1969 and renamed it Sanford Airport.
