Lorain County Regional Airport
Lorain County Regional Airport is a public airport in Lorain County, Ohio, owned by the Lorain County Board of Commissioners and located in New Russia Township. The airport is about 7 miles south of Lorain and 5 miles southwest of Elyria. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a general aviation reliever airport. The airport holds a regular Discover Aviation Day. The event features aircraft such as the Ford Tri-Motor, a World War II-era B-25 bomber, gliders, and more. The airport is home to a chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association. History The airport was the center of controversy in 2005 when the Lorain County Commissioners met and voted on whether to take over the airport in private. The American Civil Liberties Union challenged the meeting's private nature, calling the action a violation of people’s right to information about decisions that affect them. The Commissioners eventually rescinded their vote and met again in public. The airport received $69,000 in federal stimulus from the CARES Act to help it weather the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, the airport received another $500,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation to improve the airport. Facilities and aircraft Lorain County Regional Airport covers 1,149 acres (465 ha) at an elevation of 793 feet (242 m) above mean sea level. It has one asphalt runway, 7/25, 5,002 by 100 feet (1,525 x 30 m). In the year ending September 28, 2020 the airport had 21,900 aircraft operations, average 60 per day: 94% general aviation and 6% air taxi. This is down from 42,610 operations in 2010. 88 aircraft were then based at the airport in 2022: 70 single-engine and 7 multi-engine airplanes as well as 1 helicopter and 1 glider. The airport has a fixed-base operator that has fuel, both avgas and jet fuel, as well as aircraft maintenance, catering, hangars, courtesy transportation, a conference room, a crew lounge, and more. Incidents On February 19, 2002, a Hughes 269C was substantially damaged during a takeoff attempt from a platform at the Lorain County Regional Airport. The pilot reported he lifted the helicopter off the platform "quickly." As the aircraft climbed, it began a turn to the right, and the pilot applied left pedal to counteract. As the pilot continued to increase the collective, the helicopter began a 360-degree "aggravated spin" to the right. The pilot then "chopped" the throttle and the collective, and the helicopter "dropped fast." He added a slight amount of collective before landing, and the spin to the right became more aggravated. The helicopter then impacted the platform and rolled over onto its side. The probable cause of the accident was found to be the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. On September 1, 2005, a Dessault Falcon 20D operated by USA Jet Airlines on a cargo flight to Saint Louis-Lambert International Airport crashed while taking off from the Lorain County Regional Airport. The aircraft impacted a flock of birds while on its takeoff run, ingesting