AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

I was driving down I-65 and as i got closer to the County Line road exit i saw an ATR-42 on final for the greenwood airport. It was all white with no markings that i can see. I passed the airport and saw it off in the distance parked. Any ideas of what it was doing there? That is the first time i have seen an aircraft other than the basic cessna type planes there.

Member

Joined: 11 Oct 2006
Posts: 248
Location: Lexington ky

french lick charters is the only thing i can think of

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

That's interesting, a charter is all I can think of. What is the largest aircraft they can get into Greenwood?

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

Not sure...but the ATR-42 was the largest i have ever seen there. You may be able to land a CRJ there but am not sure.

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

That would be crazy to see a CRJ there!

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

That ATR-42 doesn't shock me too much. I've seen a relatively large twin prop plane there myself. Not sure what the model was but it was a decent turbo prop that probably seated 12 passengers. There has also been jet service at greenwood too. The pics are on the home page of the jets...

http://www.greenwood-aviation.com/

Member

Joined: 11 Oct 2006
Posts: 248
Location: Lexington ky

how longs the runway there

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

I'll see if I can find out. But they are pretty long. When I flew out of there once (don't remember the model 2 seater) we got up off the ground with plenty of runway to spare.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Greenwood runway is 4900 feet long and 75 feet wide.

Edit: Greenwood has the room to lengthen the runway by another 1200 feet. They could also widen it by 75 feet I believe. That would give them enough space to support any regional jet and maybe even a 737. Of course I'd be pissed if I lived next door. Wouldn't that be an interesting target airport for B6?

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

It would be cool though..great spotting from the Kroger parking lot

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

I see a possible second airport for commercial service....

But seriously though, they could make that runway long enough to make Greenwood an alternative for larger jets.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

There is a brand new hotel or two across the street by I-65. Of course there is near immediate highway access and there is enough real estate to build a small passenger terminal. I would think it would take minimal funding to expand it. But the problem is going to be NIMBYs. And I can't say I'd blame them. Living next to a little municipal airport is one thing were little propeller planes come in. Its a whole different story when ERJ's and CRJs come in.

Member

Joined: 11 Oct 2006
Posts: 248
Location: Lexington ky

how long are the other airports runways like mt comfort egle creek

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Eagle Creek is 4200 ft.

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

In a perfect world, they should really be extending the Metro airport runway. That one at least has some more potential, except for their land issuses.

Member

Joined: 17 Nov 2006
Posts: 33
Location: Brownsburg, Indiana

Are you sure it was an ATR42 and not a Turbo Commander?

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

Metro airport has no room to expand the runway. Busy roads on both ends. And anyway, the county is planning to build another airport somewhere up by exit 10 (the first location fell through), and possibly in Madison County. After moving the airport up there (with room for expansion), Metro will be redeveloped as a Keystone Crossing-like mixed office/retail development. Plans are for about 1,000,000 sq ft of office space in several multistory towers and around 600,000 sq ft of retail. Plus condos, etc.

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

Hey, you're finally back. Anyway, I know that Metro has land issues, but it also has the most potential in terms of traffic.

Member

Joined: 17 Nov 2006
Posts: 33
Location: Brownsburg, Indiana

ATAIndy wrote:

Hey, you're finally back. Anyway, I know that Metro has land issues, but it also has the most potential in terms of traffic.
In terms of small jet traffic it does. They are running out of hangar space though.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

Metro's runway isn't long enough for any but the tiniest of jets. Indy Executive Airport (or whatever they're calling it now - the one near US 421 and IN 32 in Boone County) can handle the most popular corporate jets, though, and has the potential for both runway expansion and hangar/terminal/other amenity additions.

That's where the growth will be...