COLLEGEDALE
MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
3M3
BRIEF HISTORY
Mr.
John Linn and Mr. Ellsworth McKee started the Collegedale Airport
as a flying club in 1965. It was
originally a 1200-foot grass strip on a farm purchased by Mr. McKee. In 1969 it was purchased by Mr. A. Kinzer and
turned into a commercial venture with a flight school, rental aircraft and
aircraft maintenance. In 1972 the City
of Collegedale obtained the property, named it the Collegedale Airpark, and
started to improve the airport by building a new maintenance hanger, 15 T
hangers and paving and extending the runway to 3300 feet. The original maintenance hanger and 15 T
hangars are still in use today.
In
1988 the runway was extended to 4700 feet and widened to 75 feet. In 1994 the parallel taxiway was
completed. 24 new T hangers and the new
parking ramp with the first complex consisting of 5 new box hangers were also
completed. Five part time employees
along with a full time Director of Airport Operations, Mr. Frank Zarski, staff
the airport. The airport was
re-dedicated and renamed in May of 1995 for Mr. John Linn and is now called
Linn Field. Mr. Linn is still active in
aviation, lives across from the airport, and is an active A/P and pilot.
The
second complex of 5 box hangers was completed in 1996. The last complex of 5 box hangers was
completed in 1998 and the 4 new commercial hangers were completed in May of
2000. We have a total of 60 hangars and
35 tie down spaces.
The
Collegedale Airport has experienced a lot of growth
over the years, with about 25 aircraft on the field in 1982 to 120 in
2004. We have a waiting list that we
keep limited at 40 for hangers. At the
present time we have no tie down spaces available for rent. The ROCK
CITY WINGS, a chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association has been
sponsoring a fly in breakfast on the field for 17 years. In 2004 the local chapter of the 99’s is
co-sponsoring this event. It takes place
on the 3rd Saturday of each month, rain or shine and brought in a lot of
traffic, both aircraft and drive in. In
1994 and 1995 the Rock City Wings sponsored the EAA’s B-17 bomber, the Aluminum
Overcast, to come visit the airport for both static display and the offering of
flights around the local area. The 1995
visit was in conjunction with the re-dedication of the airport. The flight school, Aviation Specialists Inc.,
which is located on the field, has a high student population. They offer fixed wing training. Charter flights are also available through
Aviation Specialists Inc. They have a King Air available. During the spring and
summer their banner towing operation is fairly busy.
The
Collegedale Airport is a very active facility,
averaging about 16,000 operations annually. The new terminal, lobby and Fixed
Base Operations office were completed in early September of 2002. It includes a space for a restaurant, a
pilot’s lounge, and a doctor’s office. Wireless Internet service along with
access to Internet weather services is also available. A crew car or courtesy
car is also available. The doctor provides both FAA medical as well as DOT
exams. We also have gas log fireplaces
in both the main lobby and the restaurant area.
Our parking lot has been expanded from its original 23 parking spaces to
71 parking spaces.
As
we all know security has been a high visibility issue since September 11 of 2001. We have installed new controlled access
gates, which control both vehicle access as well as people access to the
airport. Closed circuit television systems, which monitor different aspects of
the airport, both inside the terminal and outside, covering many areas of the
airport, have also been installed.
Presently
we have available both Chevron 100ll aviation fuel and jet fuel. A 2nd 10,000 gallon aviation fuel system was
installed which offers fuel using a Chevron, VISA and Master Card, or a
Collegedale account card, is available 24 hours a day.
There
are two fixed wing maintenance providers and a rotary wing maintenance shop on
the field. They are Aviation Specialists
Inc. and Blue Sky Maintenance.
Prior
to 1990 the City of Collegedale
had leased the airport to various fixed base operators. This was found to not be very cost effective
for the City, as they had to provide facilities maintenance as well as
incurring the cost of other maintenance and improvements. In 1990 the City decided to take over the
operation of the Airport and staff it with part time employees. Our employees are all pilots and all are very
active in aviation activities. It is
considered an enterprise operation under the City of Collegedale and is self sustaining covering all
of its day to day operating cost. We
have had some other cities and airports contact us regarding our operation.
Property
has just been purchased to extend the runway to 5000 feet resulting in a
re-alignment of McDonald Road. This project will be started later in 2007.
In
2003 the Aeronautics Division awarded the Collegedale
Airport the Tennessee Airport
of the year.
In
1995 the Collegedale Airport was awarded Tennessee’s most improved airport by the
Aeronautics Division.
Hours
of operation are - open every day from 8:30am until dark except Christmas day.
CURRENT AIRCRAFT POPULATION
102 FIXED WING AIRCRAFT
9 ROTARY WING AIRCRAFT –
BOTH PISTON AND TURBINE
6 ULTRALITE AIRCRAFT