Besides being a public airport, the Kent State University Airport is used by the College of Aeronautics and Engineering for its in-house Aeronautics program, which provides flight training and other professional aeronautical training, including Air Traffic Control, Airport Management studies, and air mobility, to enrolled Kent State University students. The airport also operates a Flight Clinic for the general public who are interested in attaining private pilot instruction. Kent State had a leading Pilot Training Bridge Program with United Express designed to help highly skilled and qualified students migrate as a pilot into the airline industry.[3]
In early 2019, the airport received a 5 million dollar grant from FedEx for expansion, including the creation of a new aeronautics center.[4][5]
The airport was named Ohio's Airport of the Year in 2017 by the Ohio Aviation Association. The airport was commended for promoting aviation by providing access and availability to the exchange of ideas and new methods as well as information and experiences.[6]
Facilities and aircraft
Kent State University Airport covers an area of 320 acres (130 ha), which contains one runway.[1] Designated as runway 1/19, the runway measures 4,000 x 60 ft (1,219 x 18 m) and is paved with Asphalt.[7]
The runway underwent a rehabilitation project in 2023.[8][9]
Kent State University manages a fixed-base operator at the airport that sells fuel. It also offers services such as catering, courtesy transportation, wifi, conference rooms, pilot supplies, and more.[10]
For the 12-month period ending August 11, 2017, the airport had 72,500 aircraft operations, an average of 198 per day: 97% general aviation, 2% air taxi and <1% military. There are 39 aircraft based at this airport: 37 single-engine and 2 multi-engine airplanes.[1][7]
Accidents and incidents
On September 16, 2007, an Aeronca 7AC Champion was substantially damaged during landing. The pilot reported that a wind gust hit the airplane, and the airplane departed off the right side of the runway. The pilot tried to get the aircraft back onto the runway, but it still continued into a drainage ditch. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the inadequate compensation for wind conditions and the directional control not obtained/maintained by the pilot during landing.[11]
On March 6, 2018, a Cessna 172 collided with a deer while landing at the Kent State University Airport at night. The pilot reported seeing a streak of motion in his peripheral vision, and he subsequently felt an impact with the aircraft's empennage. In a postaccident examination, it was revealed that a deer struck the horizontal stabilizer, which sustained substantial damage.[12]
