Knoxville Downtown Island Airport

Knoxville Downtown Island Airport
Knoxville Downtown Island Airport; Knoxville Downtown Island Home Airport
IATA: DKX – ICAO: KDKX
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority
Location	Knoxville, Tennessee
Elevation AMSL	833 ft / 254 m
Coordinates	35°57′50″N 083°52′25″W / 35.96389°N 83.87361°WCoordinates: 35°57′50″N 083°52′25″W / 35.96389°N 83.87361°W
Runways

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Knoxville Downtown Island Airport or Knoxville Downtown Island Home Airport (IATA: DKX, ICAO: KDKX), often referred to as Island Home Airport, or just Island Home by local pilots, is a general aviation airport located approximately one-half mile east of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, United States.

The airport has one 3,500-ft runway running east and west and on average has 312 aircraft operations per day. DKX operates as an uncontrolled field.

Up until 2007, a tower existed at the field. The tower was in service during World War II but due to asbestos in the cab it was permanently quarantined and it is never to be used again. The airport authorities demolished the tower and may consider building a new one. Until then a mobile tower is set up to help maintain proper traffic flow during football weekends when the Tennessee Volunteers play home games.

History

Downtown Island Airport has a rich history rooted in Knoxville aviation that dates back to the early 1930’s. The Island Airport was opened in 1930 by one of Knoxville’s earliest aviators, Tom Kesterson. The makeshift airport, located on Dickinson’s Island had a 4,000-foot runway and was intended to be the first home of commercial air service in Knoxville. Shortly after its introduction, airline service came to Knoxville in July 1934 when American began flying a mail route through Island Airport and on to Washington D.C. and New York. Two daily flights were also offered between Knoxville and Washington D.C. with up to eight passengers on each flight. At this time, Gus Gremiliam was the only employee at the airport.

Regular airline service to Knoxville did not occur until January 15, 1936, after many temporary setbacks and start-ups. This event was celebrated by City Manager, Knoxville officials, and residents of the area marking the beginning of many aviation endeavors in Knoxville’s future.

Airport ownership changed hands several times in the 1940’s. Ferris Thomas bought the hangar in the spring of 1941, when the airport was privately owned. Ownership changed again in 1942 when operations were sold to Elmer Wood. Again in 1943, H.F. Wattenbarger purchased the Island Airport property and wanted to use it primarily as a farm. During the 1930’s and 1940’s both farming and flying existed at Island Airport. In 1943, Wattenbarger began leasing the airport for the training of three hundred Army Air Cadets in a War Training Service program. When training was completed, Wattenbarger resumed full operation as a private airport and farm. During the late 1940’s, Robert Campbell, owner and operator of Campbell’s Aero Service at Island Airport, became the primary operator and FBO for almost 20 years.