Aviation in Pennsylvania

Aviation in Pennsylvania dates back over 100 years. Pennsylvania ranks 11th in the country in the number of public-use aviation facilities with 122 airports, heliports, and seaplane bases. The 122 public-use facilities provide an annual economic impact of $23.6 billion to the state. The aviation industry also supports more than 300,000 jobs making it one of the largest employment sectors in the state.[1]

A US Airways (now merged with American Airlines) Embraer E170 at Philadelphia International Airport, one of the airline's main hubs

The state has multiple major international airports that connect the state and surrounding areas. Philadelphia International Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport account for a majority of passenger numbers, including about three million international travelers to Europe and the Middle East.

History

Aviation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania dates back over 100 years. The state has been at the forefront of aviation development and growth. In the early 1900s, the state was home to substantial growth.

Industry beginnings

After the Wright brothers' first flight in 1903, the opportunity of flight raced across the nation. Inventors began working on designs for their own flying machines and held public air shows to show them off. Many of the state's airports were founded in the 1910s and 1920s, and the aviation industry was brought forward.

Piper Aviation

The Piper Aircraft Corporation was formed in the 1930s when William T. Piper purchased the Taylor Aircraft Company, rebranded, and relocated operations to Lock Haven. Piper Aircraft became world-renowned for its production of the J-3 Cub and as the leading producer of general aviation aircraft at the time.[2]

WWII
Philadelphia Airport in the 1940s

During World War II, Pennsylvania was designated by the United States Army and United States Air Force as training skies for bomber and fighter pilots before deployment to Europe or Asia. These bases include Fort Indiantown Gap, Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station and Harrisburg International Airport.[3] The Air Force also built bombers throughout the state.

Modern commercial aviation
TWA Boeing 707 at Harrisburg Airport, the state's 3rd largest airport

As jet travel became more popular, airline choices expanded as well. The state's airports saw record numbers during the 1960s and 1970s, especially at Philadelphia International Airport, the largest and the gateway to Europe, and Pittsburgh International Airport, a then-hub for US Airways and a primarily domestic airport with some flights to Canada and Latin America. All airports saw a dramatic rise in flights and passengers in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s; however, after the September 11th attacks, Pennsylvania's airports, much like the rest of the country, saw huge declines in passenger numbers. This caused airlines to withdraw, such as British Airways in Pittsburgh and KLM at Philadelphia's airport.[4]

Frontier Airlines and other low-cost airlines are dominating the market in Pennsylvania's airports

Continued growth and industry expansion
Expansion of Runway 8/26 at Philadelphia Int'l

Many airports in the commonwealth have seen recent growth. In turn, facilities and infrastructure is being updated or constructed. Since 2011 the FAA along with local, state, and Federal governments allotted almost $1 billion to aviation infrastructure at the state's airports, most predominantly at Philadelphia International Airport, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and Williamsport Regional Airport.

Major airports

Major airports in Pennsylvania with over 25,000 reported passengers.[5]

Airport City Passengers Aircraft movements
Philadelphia International Airport Philadelphia 31,444,403 411,368
Pittsburgh International Airport Pittsburgh 8,309,754 144,563
Harrisburg International Airport Harrisburg 1,173,938 47,289
Lehigh Valley International Airport Allentown 638,000 77,978
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport Wilkes-Barre / Scranton 469,000 49,863
University Park Airport State College 379,100 33,660
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport Latrobe 287,000 28,816
Erie International Airport Erie 88,953 N/A
Williamsport Regional Airport Williamsport 25,119 33,019
42,436,167 792,896

Notable aviation companies

The following are notable aviation manufacturers, suppliers, and airlines based in Pennsylvania.

Airliner accidents within Pennsylvania

Click on the flight number for the accident page.

Date Flight Number Airline Fatalities Survivors Location Summary
April 7, 1936 1 TWA 12 2 Wharton Township, Pennsylvania Pilot error
March 25, 1937 15A TWA 13 0 Upper St. Clair Township, Pennsylvania Icing causing loss of control
April 1, 1956 400 TWA 22 14 Moon Township, Pennsylvania Mechanical failure followed by pilot error
June 23, 1967 40 Mohawk Airlines 34 0 Blossburg, Pennsylvania Mechanical failure causing; structural fire then loss of control
December 24, 1968 736 Allegheny Airlines 20 27 Bradford, Pennsylvania Pilot error; a controlled flight into terrain
January 6, 1969 737 Allegheny Airlines 11 17 Lafayette Township, Pennsylvania Pilot error; a controlled flight into terrain
January 6, 1974 317 Air East 12 5 Richland Township, Pennsylvania Failure to maintain flying speed; Improper IFR operation; Premature descent below safe approach slope
September 8, 1994 427 USAir 132 0 Hopewell Township, Pennsylvania Rudder hardover
September 11, 2001 93 United Airlines 44 0 Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania Terrorist hijacking
April 17, 2018 1380 Southwest Airlines 1 148 Over Pennsylvania; landed at Philadelphia International Airport Engine failure followed by decompression

References
  1. "Aviation - PENNDOT.gov". PennDOT.gov. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  2. "Piper Aviation and Piper Aviation Museum History". Piper Museum. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  3. "Air Force bases Pennsylvania". Military Bases. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  4. "aviation history in Pennsylvania". AAz. 9 July 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  5. "Bureau of Transportation Statistics". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
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