Aurora Municipal Airport
SUGAR GROVE, ILL. – When there’s no more room in the big city, and congestion makes traffic reports on the radio an absolute necessity, where does this put general aviation in the Chicago area? ANSWER: Aurora Municipal Airport in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
Located just 8 miles west of downtown Aurora and 35 miles west of the city of Chicago, Aurora Municipal Airport is just minutes from major business parks and the East-West Tollway Research and Development corridor (I-88).
Aviation in Aurora began in 1910 when the City of Aurora contracted with the Wright Brothers to hold one of the first flight demonstrations in the state of Illinois at the old Aurora Driving Park on the west side of the city. Flight demonstrations continued for 10 years, and drew thousands of people at an admission price of $.50 per person. The Aurora Driving Park closed in 1922 and the first Aurora Airport was built on the north side of Aurora in 1928. When the tollway was built, the airport was relocated to Sugar Grove in 1961. The airport became home for author and champion aviator, Richard Bach, of “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” fame, and today comprises 1300 acres.
Aurora Municipal Airport is a full-service facility, and is situated just outside the Class B airspace for Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The airport averages 205 flights per day or approximately 74,000 operations per year. There are 325 aircraft based at the airport; an air traffic control tower, which is open 7 days a week; an Instrument Landing System (ILS); pilot controlled runway lights; no landing fees or curfews; a modern executive terminal with a 20,000 square foot arrival/departure canopy; several flight schools; hangar rental and tie-downs; rental cars and limousine service, and even a helicopter shuttle service for busy executives who need to get to downtown Chicago in a hurry; and the airport is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
There are three paved runways: Rwy 9/27 is 6500 feet long, Rwy 15/33 is 5500 feet long, and Rwy 18/36 is 3200 feet long.
Bob Rieser
Bob Rieser has been manager and the director of aviation at Aurora Municipal Airport for 33 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois, and was inducted into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame in 2011. Rieser was named an Illinois Aviation Ambassador by former Governor Jim Thompson for his outreach to educate the general public of the importance of airports. Among the many open houses, fly-ins and special events Rieser has supported over the years includes 14,000 EAA Young Eagles flights completed to date by EAA Chapter 579. Rieser is himself a pilot and aircraft owner.
Under Rieser’s leadership Aurora Municipal Airport has grown many times its original size, and has become a major part of the economic base of Aurora and surrounding communities. There are 27 businesses and over 400 people who make their living at the airport.
Businesses and organizations located on the airport include AeroCare, Air Classics Museum of Aviation, ATS Group, Chicago Jet Group, Executive Flight Management, Gauntlet Warbirds, Glass Simulator, Hertz, Life Associates, Lumanair Aviation Services, Sky Haven, VisionFriendly.com, JA Air Center, and since 1960, the FAA Enroute Air Traffic Control Center has been located at Aurora Municipal Airport. In addition, HondaJet Midwest has chosen Aurora Municipal Airport as the future site of its sales and service center.
For information on Aurora Municipal Airport contact Bob Rieser toll free at 888-339-9399 or 630-466-7000.
Aurora Municipal Airport will be participating in the 2012 Illinois Aviation Conference to be held May 22-23 at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois. For additional information contact the Illinois Aviation Trades Association at 217-528-5230 (www.IllinoisAviation.org).
