University Park Airport

University Park Airport (IATA: SCE, ICAO: KUNV, FAA LID: UNV) is a public airport in Benner Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania, serving State College and Bellefonte. UNV covers 1,091 acres (442 ha) and has one active runway.[1]

University Park Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorPennsylvania State University Centre County Airport Authority
ServesCentral Pennsylvania
LocationBenner Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania
Time zone(UTC -4 EDT/EST)
Elevation AMSL1,239 ft / 378 m
Coordinates40°50′57″N 77°50′55″W
Websiteuniversityparkairport.com
Maps

FAA airport diagram as of December 2020
UNV
UNV
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
6/24 6,701 2,042 Asphalt
Statistics (2019)
Aircraft Movements33,660
Source: FAA[1][2]

The airport is owned by The Pennsylvania State University, but the terminal building and parking areas are owned and operated by the Centre County Airport Authority.[3] It is currently served by Allegiant Air, United Express, Delta Connection, and American Eagle, connecting to hubs in the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest.

History

In the 1950s a small airport was built on land leased from Penn State, just north of State College. The Centre County Airport Authority was created to manage the development of the airport. The October 1959 chart shows 2350-foot runway 6; the August 1965 chart shows 3000 feet; the November 1967 chart adds 2350-foot runway 16. (The intersection of those two 50-foot runways is still visible at 40.8492°N 77.85315°W / 40.8492; -77.85315). The present runway was built parallel to the old runway 6 about 1975-76; it was then 5000 feet long.

The first airline flights (All American DC-3s) at State College were at the old airport southwest of town 40.7704°N 77.8815°W / 40.7704; -77.8815 from 1949 to 1951. In 1965 Harrisburg Commuter began flights from State College to Harrisburg, two flights each weekday; the 1965 OAG doesn't spell out which airport they used, but starting in 1978 Allegheny Commuter flights were at University Park.

Penn State assumed the lease and assets of the airport in 1972.[4] A permanent passenger terminal was built in 1985. A new passenger terminal was completed in 1993, and cargo operations moved to the old terminal. In 1997 the runway was lengthened to 6,701 ft (2,042 m).[5] A new general aviation hangar was built in 2001.[6]

Construction on the control tower began on January 8, 2010[7] and was completed in early August 2011. The Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) went operational on September 1, 2011 and is operated by Midwest Air Traffic Control under the Federal Contract Tower Program.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says in 2019 there were 190,930 enplanements, making University Park Airport the 6th busiest airport in Pennsylvania.[8]

Services

The Centre County Airport Authority owns and operates the commercial airline terminal. The terminal consists of a snack bar, free Wi-Fi, charging stations for mobile devices and a conference room. Taxi, limousine services and car rentals are available. The airport does not have jet bridges, and all aircraft board from ground-level hardstands.

Penn State University fixed-base operator (FBO), offers fuel, flight planning services, aircraft repair, and hangar rental. Ground handling for the airlines is contracted out to third parties. Delta Air Lines is serviced by SkyWest Airlines, United Airlines is serviced by CommutAir and Air Wisconsin, and American Airlines is serviced by Piedmont Airlines. Private aircraft are serviced by fixed-base operator Penn State Aviation Center.[9]

Runways

University Park Airport features one active runway. The end closest to Rock Rd. is Runway 24, bearing a magnetic heading of 243 degrees. Runway 24 is equipped with an ILS and is used as the primary landing and departing runway. Runway 6 is used as a visual runway; however, infrastructure has been considered to improve satellite-based approaches.[10] Runway 16 and 34 was formerly used for general aviation but was closed; it is now used as a taxiway.

Aircraft

University Park Airport regularly operates Bombardier CRJ200s, Embraer ERJ145s and Airbus A320s as commercial aircraft; De Havilland Canada Dash 8s were common until their replacement by the regional jets. Cessna 208 Caravans are operated by Wiggins Airways contracted under FedEx Express cargo flights. Wiggins services Pittsburgh International Airport. Geisinger operates an Airbus H145 helicopter as a LifeFlight service. The airport sees numerous general aviation aircraft; Piper PA-28 Cherokees and business jets are common, while larger aircraft up to Boeing 757s can be seen as charter jets.[11]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
AirlinesDestinations
Allegiant Air Orlando/Sanford, St. Petersburg/Clearwater[12][13]
American Eagle Chicago–O'Hare,[14] Philadelphia
Delta Connection Detroit
United Express Chicago–O'Hare, Washington–Dulles
Sun Country AirwaysVarious Destinations

Cargo
AirlinesDestinations
FedEx Feeder Pittsburgh

Statistics

Top destinations
Busiest routes from SCE (August 2019 – July 2020) [8]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Chicago, Illinois 44,680 United, American
2 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 34,020 American
3 Detroit, Michigan 23,190 Delta
4 Washington–Dulles, Virginia 22,070 United
5 St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida 5,980 Allegiant
6 Orlando/Sanford, Florida 5,580 Allegiant

Annual Traffic
Year Passengers Year Passengers
2019 379,100 2013 229,923
2018 298,800 2012 230,121
2017 267,530 2011 213,929
2016 262,260 2010 211,154
2015 277,128 2009 209,777
2014 270,891 2008 201,898


Military

University Park Airport is home to Civil Air Patrol Nittany Composite Squadron PA-338.[15] The squadron operates a Cessna 182 Skylane registered as N848CP.

The United States Army occasionally flies Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft into UNV for training missions. Aircraft such as the F/A-18 Hornet and A-10 Thunderbolt II have staged at the airport to participate in flyovers of Beaver Stadium.[16]

U.S. Presidents have flown into University Park Airport aboard Boeing C-32s operating as Air Force One.[17]

References
  1. FAA Airport Form 5010 for UNV PDF, effective June 21, 2018.
  2. https://www.airportiq5010.com/5010web/dashboard/basedaircraft
  3. Comprehensive Plan of the Nittany Valley Region Archived 2005-03-08 at the Wayback Machine Center County September 16, 2004, retrieved April 6, 2006
  4. An Illustrated History of Penn State Archived 2008-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Michael Bezilla 1985, retrieved April 6, 2006
  5. University Park Airport Receives $3.8 Million Federal Grant The Business Journal August 30, 2004, retrieved April 6, 2006
  6. Poole Anderson Construction – PSU Archived 2007-05-18 at the Wayback Machine 2002, retrieved April 6, 2006
  7. Construction Begins On University Park Airport Control Tower WTAJ TV January 2010, retrieved February 20, 2010
  8. "State College, PA: University Park (SCE)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  9. "PSU Aviation Center |". aviationcenter.psu.edu. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
  10. "Facility Requirements" (PDF). University Park Airport. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  11. http://www.statecollege.com/news/town-and-gown/university-park-airport-is-seeing-a-record-number-of-travelers-and-with-some-big-plans-and-bigger-ideas-more-growth-is-in-the-air,1480239/
  12. Shannon, Bill (June 18, 2019). "Allegiant to add service from University Park Airport". WTAJ-TV.
  13. Danielson, Richard (June 18, 2019). "Allegiant adding flights from St. Pete-Clearwater airport to State College, Pa., and Traverse City, Mich". Tampa Bay Times.
  14. 2018, UBM (UK) Ltd. "American Airlines schedules additional domestic routes in S19". Routesonline. Retrieved 2018-11-04.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. "Nittany Composite Squadron 338". Civil Air Patrol. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  16. "Homecoming game and military flyover thrill alumni, fans". Penn State News. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  17. Choquette, Stefan. "University Park Airport Ideal Destination for Slimmer Air Force One". Onward State. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
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