Chicago Rockford International Airport

RFD traces its history back to 1917, when Camp Grant â€” a U.S. Army Cavalry Camp was established during the First World War. During the events of World War II, Camp Grant was made into a military training base and prisoner of war confinement center.

Following the war, the state of Illinois adopted the Airport Authority Act. The Greater Rockford Airport Authority was created in 1946. For more than forty years this airport was referred to as the Greater Rockford airport. In 1987, the current passenger terminal was built in an effort to attract more passenger service. Rockford had been primarily seen as a regional airport at that time. Six years later, United Parcel Service opened its first of two cargo facilities at the airport. The location became a selling point as a transportation facility for cargo as well as for passengers.

Being less than 90 miles (145 km) from downtown Chicago and about 30 miles (48 km) from the Chicago suburbs, the airport's name was changed to the Northwest Chicagoland Regional Airport at Rockford in the early 2000s. In 2004 the airport became the Chicago/Rockford International Airport (the slash was removed in 2007) when the airport gained an official US port of entry and achieved international status. The name change not only made it shorter, but also brought it in line with the other two "Chicago" airports (O'Hare and Midway). In many forms of media, the airport also markets itself by its three FAA call letters: RFD.

Today, the Rockford airport is marketed to residents of Rockford and surrounding areas as an alternative to Chicago Midway International Airport and O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, WI and Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, WI as well as limited service airports such as the one at Dubuque, Iowa. The airlines at RFD also often use their low fares and free airport parking as a selling point as well.

Larry Morrissey, the mayor of Rockford, has pushed for high-speed rail to link the airport with O'Hare International.

Airport Layout

Chicago Rockford International Airport covers an area of 2,900 acres (1,174 ha) which contains two runways, both with an ILS: 1/19 measuring 8,199 x 150 ft. (2,499 x 46 m) and 7/25 measuring 10,004 x 150 ft. (3,049 x 46 m). For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2006, the airport had 77,558 aircraft operations, an average of 212 per day: 72% general aviation, 18% scheduled commercial, 6% air taxi and 3% military.

Passenger Facilities

The current passenger terminal was constructed in 1987 in an effort to expand passenger service in Rockford. However, the common usage of bus service to O'Hare International Airport kept most airlines away from Rockford. Consequently, passenger service was lost completely from 2001 to 2003. An upgrade to the terminal in 2005 brought additional jetways, the addition of escalators, and improved baggage handling equipment(the previous system catered more to smaller turboprop aircraft rather than jets).

Cargo Facilities

The airport is in a foreign-trade zone. As runway 7/25 is 10,000 feet long, a wide variety of passenger and cargo aircraft can land at RFD; the largest aircraft currently landed at RFD is the Antonov An-124 Ruslan.

RFD currently has two cargo aprons that are in use. In November 2008, a third one was completed along the west end of runway 7/25 (southwest of the existing UPS ramp), but there are no current tenants.

The larger north cargo apron is located adjacent to the main terminal; it is home to the UPS facilities.

The smaller south cargo apron located in between the two runways is home to BAX Global and (DHL) cargo operations.

Airlines and destinations

RFD is also the company headquarters for Ryan International Airlines, staging many of its aircraft at the airport for charter hire.

Cargo Airlines

Historical

Several airlines have previously served the airport including United Express, Hooters Air, Frontier, Midwest Connect, Midway Connection, Trans Meridian, American Eagle, TWA, Ozark, McClain, Northwest Airlink (Mesaba and Pinnacle), etc. TWA had Boeing 727-200 service from Rockford to O'Hare in the 1980s for a short while. The original Frontier also served Rockford from 1984 until late 1986 when the operation was transferred to Britt Airways for a short time. Coleman Air Transport also had a hub operation at RFD in the latter part of the 1970s.

Events

Rockford AirFest

The airport began hosting the Rockford AirFest in 2005. From 1986 to 1994, the Greater Rockford Airport (as it was known until 2003) hosted the Midwest AirFest which twice featured the Air Force Thunderbirds. They returned again in 2006, and the Navy Blue Angels were featured in 2007. The F-22 Raptor Team performed in 2009. The 2010 AirFest once again hosted the USAF Thunderbirds on July 31-Aug 1, 2010. The 2011 AirFest will be host to the US Navy Blue Angels as part of their 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Tour.

2005: None
2006: USAF Thunderbirds
2007: US Navy Blue Angels
2008: USAF Thunderbirds
2009: USAF F-22 Demonstration Team
2010: USAF Thunderbirds
2011: US Navy Blue Angels

Wing Ding

The historic Bell Bowl, a natural amphitheater on the south side of the airport, was the venue for the 16th (and currently, final) Wing Ding concert on May 24, 2009. Shinedown headlined, with support from Saliva, Saving Abel, Powerman 5000, 10 Years, and more.

Chicago Rockford International Airport picture

(Click on the photo to enlarge)

Location & QuickFacts

FAA Information Effective:	2007-07-05
Airport Identifier:	RFD
Airport Status:	Operational
Longitude/Latitude:	089-05-49.9600W/42-11-43.3100N -89.097211/42.195364 (Estimated)
Elevation:	742 ft / 226.16 m (Surveyed)
Land:	2900 acres
From nearest city:	68 nautical miles NW of Chicago/rockford, IL
Location:	Winnebago County, IL
Magnetic Variation:	00E (1990)

Owner & Manager

Ownership:	Publicly owned
Owner:	Greater Rockford Arpt. Auth.
Address:	60 Arpt Drive Rockford, IL 61109-2902
Phone number:	815-969-4000
Manager:	Bob O'brien
Address:	60 Airport Dr Rockford, IL 61109-2902
Phone number:	815-965-4011

Airport Operations and Facilities

Airport Use:	Open to public
Wind indicator:	Yes
Segmented Circle:	No
Control Tower:	Yes
Lighting Schedule:	DUSK-DAWN
Beacon Color:	Clear-Green (lighted land airport)
Landing fee charge:	No
Sectional chart:	Chicago
Region:	AGL - Great Lakes
Boundary ARTCC:	ZAU - Chicago
Tie-in FSS:	IKK - Kankakee
FSS on Airport:	No
FSS Toll Free:	1-800-WX-BRIEF
NOTAMs Facility:	RFD (NOTAM-d service avaliable)
Certification type/date:	I C S 05/1973
Federal Agreements:	NGPSY

Airport Communications

Unicom:

122.950

Airport Services

Fuel available:	100LLA A1+
Airframe Repair:	MAJOR
Power Plant Repair:	MAJOR
Bottled Oxygen:	HIGH
Bulk Oxygen:	HIGH

Runway Information

Runway 01/19

Runway 07/25

Radio Navigation Aids

Remarks

Major Carriers Serving This Airport