Gary/Chicago International Airport
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| Gary/Chicago International Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| IATA: GYY – ICAO: KGYY – FAA: GYY | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Owner | Gary/Chicago Airport Authority | ||
| Location | Gary, Indiana | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 591 ft / 180 m | ||
| Coordinates | 41°36′59″N 087°24′46″W / 41.61639°N 87.41278°W | ||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 2/20 | 3,603 | 1,098 | Asphalt |
| 12/30 | 7,003 | 2,135 | Grooved Asphalt |
| Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1] | |||
Gary/Chicago International Airport (IATA: GYY, ICAO: KGYY, FAA LID: GYY) is a public airport located three miles (5 km) northwest of the central business district of Gary, a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States.[1] The airport, which serves the Chicago metropolitan area, is 25 miles (40 km) southeast of the Chicago Loop. It is operated by the Gary Chicago Airport Authority, the basis for which was formed by the Chicago Gary Airport Compact signed in 1995. Gary/Chicago International Airport was a hub for seasonal carrier SkyValue Airlines from December 2006 to April 2007. Nearby highway connections include I-90, I-80, I-94, I-65 and the Chicago Skyway.
A long-standing proposal to turn the Gary/Chicago International Airport into Chicago's third major airport received a boost in early 2006 with the approval of $48 million in federal funding over the next ten years.[2]
Expansion plans include a new multi-level Intermodal Terminal combining three modes of transit – passenger rail, passenger vehicles, and air travel. The rail system is designed to combine both commuter and high-speed lines.[3]
Contents |
[edit] History
Gary/Chicago is operating as the "third airport" for the Chicago metropolitan area, supplementing Chicago's major airports, O'Hare and Midway. Gary/Chicago Airport has been designed with an eye towards growth, and the administration is courting the airlines aggressively. Numerous businesses, including Boeing, Menards and White Lodging Services, base their corporate aircraft here. A National Guard installation is also under construction.[citation needed]
Federal funds were secured in January 2006 to move railroad tracks away from the northwest corner to allow extension of the main runway to 9,000 feet, as well as add gates to the existing passenger terminal building. The recent creation of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority is expected to draw more state and local dollars for infrastructure improvements and additions.
Expanding Gary/Chicago Airport is considered an alternative to constructing a new airport near Peotone, Illinois, 30 miles south of Chicago. One advantage of expanding the Gary airport is its proximity to downtown Chicago. This plan is backed by the mayors of Gary and Chicago, while the Illinois state government is in favor of construction at Peotone. Tax revenues from a new airport at Peotone would go to the Illinois state government, while those from an expanded Gary airport would go to a regional airport authority, and thus to the cities of Chicago and Gary.
[edit] Service
In the past, Gary/Chicago International Airport has been served by PanAm, Southeast Airlines, SkyValue Airlines, Skybus Airlines and Hooters Air, with flights to locations such as Hartford, Connecticut; St. Petersburg, Florida; Greensboro, North Carolina and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Prior to its bankruptcy problems in 2004, ATA Airlines had planned turboprop service to several Indiana cities. This service was to be operated by its subsidiary, Chicago Express/ATA Connection, but the proposed service was never started as Chicago Express was grounded in March 2005. Before ultimately choosing to serve Chicago O'Hare International Airport in 2006, JetBlue Airways considered adding service to Gary/Chicago International Airport. However, the airline reports it may add Gary/Chicago Airport to its route system in the future.
Skybus Airlines served the airport until the airline folded on April 4, 2008. Since that, there have been no scheduled flights out of the Gary/Chicago Airport.
On September 13, 2007, the airport announced that Cape Air is interested in starting flights to Indianapolis International Airport by early 2008; as of April 9, 2009, that airline's westernmost destinations are in New York and Pennsylvania[4].
Viva Aerobus has applied with the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin service to Monterrey, Mexico on July 1, 2008 [5]; as of April 09, 2009, that airline's only American destination is Austin, Texas [6].
[edit] Airlines and destinations
Gary/Chicago International Airport
pending government approval
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Viva Aerobus | Monterrey [pending government approval] [7] |
[edit] Activity
- For many years airplanes seen in the Chicago Air & Water Show have flown from here, including the military's C5A Galaxy and the Thunderbirds. Since 1999, the Gary Air Show has based their operations here as well.
- High tension power lines along the West end of the airport are buried. A tentative agreement has been reached with the railroads that will allow relocation of elevated tracks currently blocking the west end of runway 30. Completion of these projects is required to make way for a lengthening of the main runway.
[edit] Ground transportation
The South Shore Line commuter rail train serves the Gary/Chicago International Airport. The station, which is known as Gary Airport/Clark Road, is located near Second Avenue, approximately one mile south of the terminal.
[edit] External links
- Gary/Chicago International Airport (official web site)
- Friends of Gary Airport - Not for profit group promoting GYY as an alternate to O'Hare and Midway
- Aerial photo from Indiana Department of Transportation
- Gary/Chicago Airport Station (NICTD)
- FAA Airport Diagram(PDF), effective 19 Nov 2009
- Resources for this airport:
- AirNav airport information for KGYY
- ASN accident history for GYY
- FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
- NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
- SkyVector aeronautical chart for KGYY
- FAA current GYY delay information
[edit] References
- ^ a b FAA Airport Master Record for GYY (Form 5010 PDF)
- ^ "Gary Airport Gets Millions in Federal Funding". CBS Channel 2. http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_016180843.html. Retrieved 2006-10-18.
- ^ "Gary-Chicago Airport". Solomon Cordwell Buenz. http://www.scb.com/?mainpage=2&pagetype=Architecture&p=98&firstlevel=6&seclevel=2. Retrieved 2007-01-07.
- ^ http://www.flycapeair.com/common/index.php?lng=ENG&div=AA&nav=AA&page=A01 accessdate=2009-04-09
- ^ Viva Aerobus Applied to DOT for July 1 start
- ^ http://www.vivaaerobus.com/userRsx/documents/map.htm accessdate=2009-04-09
- ^ Viva Aerobus to offer GYY-Mexico Service
- ^ "Boeing Makes Aviation History at Gary/Chicago Airport". Gary/Chicago International Airport. http://www.garychicagoairport.com/PressRelease_detail.asp?ID=8. Retrieved 2007-01-07.
