El Dorado/Captain Jack Thomas Memorial Airport

El Dorado/Captain Jack Thomas Memorial Airport (IATA: EDK, ICAO: KEQA, FAA LID: EQA) is a general aviation public use airport located three miles (5 km) southeast of the central business district of El Dorado, in Butler County, Kansas, United States. This airport is publicly owned by City of El Dorado.[1]

El Dorado/Captain Jack Thomas Memorial Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of El Dorado
OperatorLarry Arnold
LocationEl Dorado, Kansas
Elevation AMSL1,378 ft / 420 m
Coordinates37°46′27″N 096°49′03″W
Websitewww.eldoks.com/El-Dorado-Municipal-Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
4/22 4,204 1,281 Asphalt
15/33 4,200 1,280 Concrete
Statistics
Aircraft operations (2017)13,225
Based aircraft (2018)42

Although most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, this airport is assigned EQA by the FAA and EDK by the IATA. The airport's ICAO identifier is KEQA.[2] It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, in which it is categorized as a local general aviation facility.[3]

History

The El Dorado/Captain Jack Thomas Memorial Airport was named after Captain Wilbur Jackson Thomas[4] a local hero and World War II Fighter Pilot Ace. Thomas flew with the United States Marine Corp VMF-213 Hellhawks from 1943 to 1947. The City of El Dorado, Kansas claims USMC Captain Wilbur "Jack" Thomas (aka Gus) as its most famous hometown war hero. Captain Thomas received the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross during his tour of duty as a marine aviator in the Pacific Fleet of World War II. He is credited with shooting down 18.5 Japanese planes, sharing a kill with another pilot. El Dorado was also used as a location for the flying movie, “The Gypsy Moths”. Several homes and businesses from the movie can still be seen today.

Services

El Dorado/Captain Jack Thomas Memorial Airport operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week including Holidays. The fuel pumps are self-service 24 hours a day and an attendant is available Monday through Friday from 7 am to 3 pm. The airport carries Jet A with prist, 100LL, and Mogas (91 Octane) and is available from pumps in front of the terminal. The Airport has two multi storage hangars and 24 individual T hangars. There are also Tie Downs and a single enclosed transient spot for overnight guests. A courtesy car is available 24 hours a day and there are several nearby motels. Aircraft rental and flight instruction are available on site from Marsh Flying Services. Also on site is Peterson Performance Plus Inc. the manufacturers of the Kenai and King Katmai aircraft.

Facilities and aircraft

El Dorado/Captain Jack Thomas Memorial Airport covers an area of 220 acres (89 ha) which contains two intersecting runways:[1]

  • Runway 4/22: 4,204 x 75 ft (1,281 x 23 m), Surface: Asphalt
  • Runway 15/33: 4,200 x 75 ft (1,280 x 23 m), Surface: Concrete

For the 12-month period ending November 2, 2017, the airport had 13,225 aircraft operations, an average of 36 per day: 99% general aviation and <1% military. In July 2018, there are 42 aircraft based at this airport: 41 single-engine and 1 ultralight.[1]

References
  1. FAA Airport Form 5010 for EQA PDF, effective July 19, 2018
  2. Great Circle Mapper: EDK / KEQA - El Dorado, Kansas (Captain Jack Thomas)
  3. "List of NPIAS Airports" (PDF). FAA.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  4. Imes, Carol. "Find A Grave Captain Wilbur Jackson Thomas". Find A Grave. Carol Imes. Retrieved 6 August 2018.


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