IDOT Announces "2015 Airport of the Year" Recipients

CHICAGO –Seven Illinois airports are winners of the “2015 Airport of the Year” award by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).  For a wide variety of categories, Decatur Airport, DuPage Airport, Marshall County Airport, Mount Vernon Airport, Northwest Community Airport, Poplar Grove Airport, and Quincy Regional Airport, were all recognized on May 14, at the Illinois Aviation Conference, held in Rockford. These highly-regarded airports were acknowledged for their accomplishments throughout the year, including an outstanding partnership with the State of Illinois and the commitment to customer safety and satisfaction.

“Safety is always the first priority, and these airports have upheld this value while also staying firmly committed to ensuring the comfort for and approval of Illinois travelers,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. “We are pleased to work closely with these airport operators and facilities, which strive to advance the aviation industry and transportation efficiency, locally within Illinois, as well as across the country and internationally.”

The annual awards are based on criteria established by senior staff at IDOT’s Division of Aeronautics. Among the award considerations are cooperation and coordination with the Division of Aeronautics by airport management and staff, the facility safety record, promotion of seminars and aviation events and maintenance of the facility. 

“It is our way of recognizing the tremendous dedication to the aviation community exhibited by airports and heliports throughout Illinois,” said IDOT Interim Aeronautics Director Steven M. Young. “We wish sincere congratulations to all of this year’s recipients.”

The airports were recognized in the following seven categories:

• Primary Airports

o Airports with annual enplanements of 10,000 or more passengers.

• Reliever Airports

o Airports primarily designed to serve general and corporate aviation in large metropolitan areas, such as Chicago and St. Louis.

• General Aviation Airports – Runway greater than 5,000 feet

o Airports that accommodate aircraft needing more than 5,000 feet of runway.

• General Aviation Airports – Runway 5,000 feet or less

o Airports important to the aviation system serving aircraft requiring 5,000 or less feet of runway.

• Private – Open to the Public Airports

o Airports that are privately owned and don’t rely on federal or state funds to operate.
These airports have to meet the same safety requirements as publicly owned airports.

• Heliports

o All categories including: Public and Private Use Heliports, Hospital Heliports, and Restricted Landing Area Heliports.

• Restaurant of the Year

o The Division’s “Five Prop Award” for fine dining on the airport.

This year’s awards recipients are as follows:

• Quincy Regional Airport– “Primary Airport of the Year”
Contact: Mr. Jarred Hester, Airport Manager
  Quincy Regional Airport – Baldwin Field
  1645 Highway 104
  Quincy, Ill. 62305
  (217) 885-3262

• DuPage Airport– “Reliever of the Year”
Contact: Mr. David Bird, Executive Director
  DuPage Airport Authority
  DuPage Airport
  2700 International Drive, Suite 200
  West Chicago, Ill. 60185-1674
  (630) 584-2211

• Mount Vernon Airport – “General Aviation – Runway greater than 5,000 feet Airport of the Year”
Contact: Mr. Chris Collins, Airport Director
  Mount. Vernon Airport Authority
  Mount. Vernon Airport
  100 Aviation Drive
  Mount Vernon, Ill. 62864-6694
  (618) 242-7016

• Marshall County Airport – “General Aviation – Runway 5,000 feet or less Airport of the Year”
Contact: Mr. Charles L. Allen, President
  Marshall County Airport Board
  Marshall County Airport
  P.O. Box 38
  Lacon, Ill. 61540
  (309) 246-2870

• Poplar Grove Airport – “Private – Open to the Public Airport of the Year”
Contact: Mr. Steve Thomas, Owner
  Poplar Grove Airport
  11619 Rt. 76
  Poplar Grove, Ill. 61065
  (815) 544-3471

• Northwest Community Hospital– “Heliport of the Year”
Contact: Ms. Holly Rasche, Security Operations Coordinator
  Northwest Community Hospital
  800 West Central Road
  Arlington Heights, Ill. 60005-2392
  (847) 618-1000

• The Main Hangar Restaurant (located at the Decatur Airport) – “Five Prop -  On-Airport Restaurant of the Year”
Contact: Ms. Francesca LaMonica
  The Main Hangar Restaurant
  910 Airport Road
  Decatur, Ill. 62521
  (618) 251-8500

The Illinois State Aviation System is one of the largest in the nation, comprised of more than 830 individual landing facilities. Illinois is home to everything from O’Hare International Airport, to municipal general aviation airports and private grass strips in farmers’ backyards. The IDOT Division of Aeronautics assists with the creation, improvement and continued operations of both private and public airports through financial assistance (public airports), inspection and technical oversight. The division also provides aviation safety and education programs to pilots, aircraft owners, mechanics and industry professionals. According to a 2012 Statewide Aviation Economic Impact Study, aviation contributes nearly $41 billion annually to the Illinois economy.

For more information about the IDOT Division of Aeronautics, please go to www.idot.illinois.gov.