| 1942 |
| The United States Army begins construction of a base of Air Corps
Operations on 545 acres in the Northeast section of Philadelphia.. Construction
was never completed and the United States Government turned the facility over
to the City of Philadelphia in 1944. The City then began the job of finishing
the facility for civilian commercial operations. |
| 1945 |
| Due to the closing of Philadelphia Municipal Airport, now known as
Philadelphia International Airport, the City of Philadelphia was without air
service from December 1943 to June 1945. Commercial air service was restored to
Philadelphia with the opening of Philadelphia Northeast Airport in June
1945. |
| 1948 |
| By City Ordinance, Philadelphia Northeast Airport is redesignated as
North Philadelphia Airport. |
| 1953 |
|
North
Philadelphia Airport ranks 21st in the nation in airfreight tonnage
handled.
North
Philadelphia Airport opens its new $93,000 fire station. Designated Engine 18,
the new fire unit consists of 33 firefighters, one pumper truck and one
jeep. |
| 1957 |
| The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), the predecessor to the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) takes over operation of the North
Philadelphia Airport Control Tower. From the opening of the Airport in 1945
until 1957, the control tower was operated by City of Philadelphia personnel..
The transfer of responsibility from the City to the CAA saves the City $30,000
annually in personnel salaries |
| 1959 |
| North Philadelphia Airport handles more than 75,000 landings and
takeoffs. |
| 1960 |
| Due to the construction of Horn and Hardart on Blue Grass Road and
Whitman Chocolates on Grant Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, Runway 10-28 is
abandoned and decommissioned. Runway 6-24 is extended from 5000 feet to 7000
feet of usable runway. |
| 1969 |
| North Philadelphia Airport handles more than 173,000
landings and takeoffs. |
| 1973 |
| In September 1973, Allegheny Commuter, serviced by Ransome Airlines,
begins regional commuter service from North Philadelphia Airport. The Airport
also increases its Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting service to include one
additional water and foam fire truck. The station is now designated Engine
76. |
| 1980 |
| City Ordinance is amended changing the name of North Philadelphia
Airport to Northeast Philadelphia Airport. |
| 1982 |
| Augusta Aviation Corporation opens its Northeast Service Center at
northeast Philadelphia Airport. The center is located in the North Philadelphia
Aviation Center (NORPAC) located at Red Lion & Norcom Roads. |
| 1987 |
| Augusta Aviation Corporation announces the relocation of its North
American headquarters from Bucks County to Northeast Philadelphia
Airport. |
| 1989 |
| Northeast Philadelphia Airport, without commuter flights since the
mid 1980's, relinquishes its Federal Aviation Administration, Part 139
Certification. Relinquishing this certificate results in the closing of the
fire station and the firefighters of Engine 76 are reassigned to other
Philadelphia Fire Department companies. |
| 1991 |
| Trans World Express (TWE) announces service from Philadelphia to John
F. Kennedy Airport and nine East Coast and Midwest cities. Northeast
Philadelphia Airport is designated as the administrative and training base for
TWE. |
| 1992 |
| Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE) establishes the Northeast
Philadelphia Airport Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is made up of
community civic leaders and chaired by City Councilman Brian O'Neill. The
council's chief role is to inform and involve the community in the planning and
development of PNE. |
| 1995 |
| TWE, a commuter service owned by TWA and servicing Philadelphia
International Airport , announces it will cease operations on November 6, 1995.
Northeast Philadelphia Airport, which provided hanger and office space for
maintenance and flight training, loses one of its prime tenants. |
| 1998 |
| Northeast Philadelphia Airport handles 201,568 total
operations. |
| 2000 |
The Airport enters into a lease/purchase agreement with Liberty
Properties, Inc. for the development of approximately 95 acres. A portion of
the site is being developed for a 1,000,000 square foot distribution facility
for TJX Companies, Inc. Along with the development, TJX anticipates creating
approximately 1100 jobs. the facility is scheduled to be completed and fully
operational by November 2001.
Comcast-Spectacor and the Airport enter
into a long-term lease agreement for approximately 12 acres of land for the
construction of two indoor ice hockey rinks. Designated the Polonia Bank Flyers
Skate Zone, the facility will be devoted to promoting ice skating in the
Philadelphia community. Scheduled opening for this facility is September
2001. |
| 2001 |
Atlantic Aviation relocates offices and operations to the renovated
mail terminal building.
The Division of Aviation relocates
administrative, security and operations offices to the building formerly
occupied by Quaker City Institute of Aviation.
Taxiway D is
commissioned on September 7, 2001. The taxiway connects Runway 6-24 with
Taxiway L, allowing aircraft landing on Runway 24 to exit the landing strip
without crossing Runway 15-33.
The Polonia Bank Flyers Skate Zone
opens on Norcom Road in September 2001. |
| 2002 |
| Quaker City Institute of Aviation, an airframe and power plant
school, constructed a building housing administrative offices and classrooms on
4.1 acres of land at the corner of Grant Avenue and Academy Road. Quaker
changes its name to Aviation Institute of Maintenance. |
| 2003 |
A memorial Butterfly Garden is completed. The Airport collaborated
with the Compassionate Friends of Northeast Philadelphia to construct the
garden.
Phase I of the perimeter path project begins along a 1.4 mile
stretch of Grant Avenue, Academy and Red Lion Road. |
| 2004 |
ACE/INA, an insurance company headquartered in Philadelphia,
completes construction of a corporate hangar.
Agusta Aerospace
completes its first production facility for its Kiola helicopter. The facility
brings an additional 100 jobs to the community. |
| 2005 |
Phase 2 of the perimeter path project is completed along Red Lion and
part of Decatur Road.
The Airport opened Taxiway E, connecting
Taxiway F to the approach end of Runway 6, and opened another portion of
Taxiway D, connecting Taxiway L to the approach end of Runway 15. The new and
added taxiways allow aircraft to use the full length of the runways without
having to "back taxi."
The Airport's new vehicle storage and
maintenance building was completed.
Washington Savings Bank
constructed a branch along with its headquarters on the corner of Comly and
Norcom roads. |
| 2006 |
Taxiway C was commissioned, giving Runway 15-33 a full-length taxiway
on the east side of the landing strip. The new taxiway will improve traffic
flow and reduce runway crossings.
Wawa opened a store and 6-fuel pump
gas station on Grant Avenue and Blue Grass Road. |
| 2007 |
Phase 3 of the perimeter path project was completed along a portion
of Decatur Road, Comly Road and Norcom Road.
Agusta completed
construction of a second production plant consisting of a 50,000 square foot
facility and a 60,000 square foot warehouse. The addition of the new plant
produced more jobs, bringing the total number of Agusta employees to 500.
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