Downtown Island Airport was established in 1930 by Tom Kesterson as a makeshift facility named Island Airport, located on Dickinson's Island in the Tennessee River. Kesterson was one of Knoxville's earliest aviators. He hoped that the private airport, which had a 4,000-foot (1,200 m) runway, would attract commercial air service to Knoxville. In July 1934, American Airlines established a mail route that stopped at Island Airport en route to Washington, D.C., and New York City. Passenger service from Knoxville to Washington, D.C., was also offered on two daily flights on planes that carried up to eight passengers. Regular airline service to Knoxville was initiated on January 15, 1936.[5]
During the 1930s and 1940s, the airport site was used both for aviation and farming. In 1941, the airport hangar was sold to Ferris Thomas, and in 1942 the operations were sold to Elmer Wood. In 1943, H.F. Wattenbarger purchased the property for use as a farm, but that same year he began leasing the airport for wartime training of 300 Army Air Cadets. After the training program ended, Wattenbarger resumed operation as a private airport and farm. Robert Campbell, owner and operator of Campbell's Aero Service, became the airport's primary operator in the late 1940s, continuing for nearly two decades.[5]
Evelyn Johnson, holder of the Guinness Book of Records entry for most hours logged by a woman pilot and most hours logged by a living pilot, started flying at Knoxville Island Home Airport in 1944. She recalls that she had to travel by rowboat to reach the airport.[6]
The airport became a public aviation facility in 1963 under the ownership of the City of Knoxville. In 1978, it was transferred to the ownership of Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, its current owner and operator.[5]
Facilities and aircraft
Knoxville Downtown Island Airport covers an area of 200 acres (81 ha) at an elevation of 833 feet (254 m) above mean sea level. It has one asphalt paved runway designated 8/26 which measures 3,499 by 75 feet (1,066 x 23 m).[1]
For the 12-month period ending July 28, 2022, the airport had 76,700 aircraft operations, an average of 210 per day: 99% general aviation, <1% air taxi, and <1% military. At that time, there were 129 aircraft based at this airport: 103 single-engine, 16 multi-engine, 8 helicopter, and 2 glider.[1]
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 in later years was staffed only during times of expected high traffic, such as Saturday UT football games in nearby Neyland Stadium. Due to asbestos in the cab, it was quarantined and later demolished by the airport authority; a new tower is under consideration.[citation needed]
References
^ abcdeFAA Airport Form 5010 for DKX PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective August 10, 2023.
^Airport page 2006-10-05 at the Wayback Machine at City of Knoxville website
^(PDF). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2012.
^"Knoxville Downtown Island Airport (ICAO: KDKX, FAA: DKX)". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
^ abc"Downtown Island Airport History". Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority. Archived from the original on 2008-10-16.
^Godfrey, Joe (September 29, 1999). "Evelyn Bryan Johnson". AVweb.com.
External links
Official website
Airport information from Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority
FAA Terminal Procedures for DKX, effective August 10, 2023
Resources for this airport:
FAA airport information for DKX
AirNav airport information for KDKX
FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
SkyVector aeronautical chart for KDKX
August 22, 2023
knoxville, downtown, island, airport, knoxville, downtown, island, home, airport, icao, kdkx, often, referred, island, home, airport, general, aviation, airport, located, approximately, half, mile, east, downtown, knoxville, knox, county, tennessee, united, st. Knoxville Downtown Island Airport 1 or Knoxville Downtown Island Home Airport 2 ICAO KDKX FAA LID DKX often referred to as Island Home Airport is a general aviation airport located approximately one half mile east of downtown Knoxville in Knox County Tennessee United States Knoxville Downtown Island AirportKnoxville Downtown Island Home AirportAircraft and hangar at the airportIATA noneICAO KDKXFAA LID DKXSummaryAirport typePublicOwnerKnoxville Metropolitan Airport AuthorityServesKnoxville TennesseeElevation AMSL833 ft 254 mCoordinates35 57 50 N 083 52 25 W 35 96389 N 83 87361 W 35 96389 83 87361Websitewww wbr dkxairport wbr comMapDKXLocation of airport in Tennessee United StatesShow map of TennesseeDKXDKX the United States Show map of the United StatesRunwaysDirection Length Surfaceft m8 26 3 499 1 066 AsphaltStatistics 2022 Aircraft operations year ending 7 28 2022 76 700Based aircraft129Source Federal Aviation Administration 1 This airport is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011 2015 which categorized it as a reliever airport 3 Although most U S airports use the same three letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA this airport is assigned DKX by the FAA 1 but has no designation from the IATA 4 Contents 1 History 2 Facilities and aircraft 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditDowntown Island Airport was established in 1930 by Tom Kesterson as a makeshift facility named Island Airport located on Dickinson s Island in the Tennessee River Kesterson was one of Knoxville s earliest aviators He hoped that the private airport which had a 4 000 foot 1 200 m runway would attract commercial air service to Knoxville In July 1934 American Airlines established a mail route that stopped at Island Airport en route to Washington D C and New York City Passenger service from Knoxville to Washington D C was also offered on two daily flights on planes that carried up to eight passengers Regular airline service to Knoxville was initiated on January 15 1936 5 During the 1930s and 1940s the airport site was used both for aviation and farming In 1941 the airport hangar was sold to Ferris Thomas and in 1942 the operations were sold to Elmer Wood In 1943 H F Wattenbarger purchased the property for use as a farm but that same year he began leasing the airport for wartime training of 300 Army Air Cadets After the training program ended Wattenbarger resumed operation as a private airport and farm Robert Campbell owner and operator of Campbell s Aero Service became the airport s primary operator in the late 1940s continuing for nearly two decades 5 Evelyn Johnson holder of the Guinness Book of Records entry for most hours logged by a woman pilot and most hours logged by a living pilot started flying at Knoxville Island Home Airport in 1944 She recalls that she had to travel by rowboat to reach the airport 6 The airport became a public aviation facility in 1963 under the ownership of the City of Knoxville In 1978 it was transferred to the ownership of Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority its current owner and operator 5 Facilities and aircraft EditKnoxville Downtown Island Airport covers an area of 200 acres 81 ha at an elevation of 833 feet 254 m above mean sea level It has one asphalt paved runway designated 8 26 which measures 3 499 by 75 feet 1 066 x 23 m 1 For the 12 month period ending July 28 2022 the airport had 76 700 aircraft operations an average of 210 per day 99 general aviation lt 1 air taxi and lt 1 military At that time there were 129 aircraft based at this airport 103 single engine 16 multi engine 8 helicopter and 2 glider 1 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 in later years was staffed only during times of expected high traffic such as Saturday UT football games in nearby Neyland Stadium Due to asbestos in the cab it was quarantined and later demolished by the airport authority a new tower is under consideration citation needed References Edit a b c d e FAA Airport Form 5010 for DKX PDF Federal Aviation Administration Effective August 10 2023 Airport page Archived 2006 10 05 at the Wayback Machine at City of Knoxville website 2011 2015 NPIAS Report Appendix A PDF 2 03 MB PDF National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems Federal Aviation Administration October 4 2010 Archived from the original PDF on September 27 2012 Knoxville Downtown Island Airport ICAO KDKX FAA DKX Great Circle Mapper Retrieved April 23 2012 a b c Downtown Island Airport History Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority Archived from the original on 2008 10 16 Godfrey Joe September 29 1999 Evelyn Bryan Johnson AVweb com External links EditOfficial website Airport information from Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority Aerial image as of March 1997 from USGS The National Map FAA Terminal Procedures for DKX effective August 10 2023 Resources for this airport FAA airport information for DKX AirNav airport information for KDKX FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker SkyVector aeronautical chart for KDKX Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Knoxville Downtown Island Airport amp oldid 1171086070, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
