Princeton Airport (IATA: PCT, FAA LID: 39N) is a public-use airport in Montgomery, Somerset County, New Jersey, three miles (5 km) north of Princeton and just west of Rocky Hill. The airport is privately owned by Princeton Aero Corp.[1] The airport houses the Princeton Flying School, Elite Flight Experience/Cirrus Training Center, Pacific Aircraft, Analar Helicopter Charter and Platinum Helicopters.
Princeton Airport | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public use | ||||||||||
| Owner | Princeton Aero Corp. | ||||||||||
| Serves | Princeton, New Jersey | ||||||||||
| Location | Montgomery, New Jersey | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 128 ft / 39 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 40°23′57″N 074°39′32″W / 40.39917°N 74.65889°W | ||||||||||
| Website | www.PrincetonAirport.com | ||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||
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History
editThe airport was established by Richard A. Newhouse (original spelling Neuhaus). Among his other aviation-related projects, in 1911 he built a plane of his own design, featuring separate floating ailerons — a major innovation, as the planes of that time used wing warping for roll control.[2]
The paved runway opened about 1965, and the airport has since had occasional commuter airline flights— e.g. in 1979, Princeton Airways was operating fifteen scheduled passenger flights to Newark each weekday with Britten-Norman Islander STOL capable aircraft. Princeton Airways also flew scheduled passenger service from the airport with the GAF Nomad STOL capable turboprop.
On March 29, 1985, the airport was purchased by Princeton Aero Corp. Principals of the company are members of the Nierenberg family, previously the fixed-base operator at Kupper Airport for eighteen years.[2]
Princeton Flying School (formerly Raritan Valley Flying School) operates a Part 61 FAA-approved flight school at the airport.
Facilities
editPrinceton Airport covers 100 acres (40 ha) and has one paved runway (10/28), 3,499 x 75 ft (1,066 x 23 m).[1]
In the year ending October 23, 2020, the airport had 39,421 aircraft operations, average 108 per day: 88% general aviation and 13% air taxi. 32 aircraft were then based at the airport: 27 single engine, 1 multi-engine and 4 helicopters.[1]
Notable Alumni
editIn 1991, Avril Haines, who is currently the Director of National Intelligence under President Biden's administration, took up lessons at Princeton Flying School where she met her future husband, David Davighi. Haines completed her first private pilot solo flight at Princeton Flying School.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for 39N PDF, effective 2023-09-07
- ^ a b "Early history of Princeton Airport". Archived from the original on 2005-12-20. Retrieved 2005-12-23.
- ^ "1991 Honor Roll". PRINCETON AIRPORT ~ Learn To Fly Here!. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
External links
edit- Princeton Airport (official site)
- Princeton Flying School (official site)
- Resources for this airport:
- FAA airport information for 39N
- AirNav airport information for 39N
- FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
- SkyVector aeronautical chart for 39N
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