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{{short description|Airport in Pennsylvania, United States of America}}
{{for|the similarly named airport in Ohio|Butler County Regional Airport}}
{{for|the similarly named airport in Ohio|Butler County Regional Airport}}
{{Infobox airport
{{Infobox airport
| name = Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport
| name = Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport
| nativename = K. W. Scholter Field, Butler County Airport
| nativename = K. W. Scholter Field, Butler County Airport
| image = BCA_terminal_building.jpg
| image = Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport logo.png
| image2 = Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport management office building 1.jpg
| caption = Terminal Building
| caption2 = Airport management office building
| image_map = Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport airport diagram.png
| image_mapsize = 275
| image_map_caption = FAA airport diagram
| IATA = BTP
| IATA = BTP
| ICAO = KBTP
| ICAO = KBTP
Line 12: Line 17:
| operator =
| operator =
| city-served = [[Butler, Pennsylvania|Butler]], [[Pennsylvania]]
| city-served = [[Butler, Pennsylvania|Butler]], [[Pennsylvania]]
| location = [[Penn Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania|Penn Township]], [[Pennsylvania]]
| location = [[Penn Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania|Penn Township]], [[Butler County, Pennsylvania|Butler County]], [[Pennsylvania]]<ref name=Penntwpmap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st42_pa/cousub/cs4201958792_penn/DC20BLK_CS4201958792.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Penn township, PA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-07-18|quote=Butler County/k W Scholter Fld}}</ref>
| elevation-f = 1,248
| elevation-f = 1,248
| elevation-m = 380
| elevation-m = 380
| coordinates = {{coord|40|46|37|N|079|56|59|W|type:airport_region:US|display=inline}}
| coordinates = {{coord|40|46|37|N|079|56|59|W|type:airport_region:US|display=inline}}
| website = [http://butlercountyairport.org//Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport]
| website = [https://butlerairport.com/ Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport]
| pushpin_map = USA Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_map = USA Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in Pennsylvania / United States
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in Pennsylvania
| pushpin_label = '''BTP'''
| pushpin_label = '''BTP'''
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_label_position = right
Line 25: Line 30:
| r1-length-f = 4,801
| r1-length-f = 4,801
| r1-length-m = 1,463
| r1-length-m = 1,463
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt]]
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| stat-year = 2007
| stat-year = 2024
| stat1-header = Aircraft operations
| stat1-header = Aircraft operations (year ending 6/15/2020)
| stat1-data = 62,685
| stat1-data = 74,386
| stat2-header = Based aircraft
| stat2-header = Based aircraft
| stat2-data = 132
| stat2-data = 110
| footnotes = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name=FAA>{{FAA-airport|ID=BTP|use=PU|own=PU|site=19967.*A}}, effective 2007-10-25</ref>
| footnotes = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name=FAA>{{FAA-airport|ID=BTP|use=PU|own=PU|site=19967.*A}}, effective 2023-8-10</ref>
}}
}}


'''Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport''' {{airport codes|BTP|KBTP|BTP}}, also known as the Butler County Airport or '''K. W. Scholter Field''', is a public [[airport]] {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} southwest of the [[central business district]] of [[Butler, Pennsylvania|Butler]], the county seat of [[Butler County, Pennsylvania|Butler County]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[United States]]. The airport serves the northern suburbs of the [[Pittsburgh metropolitan area]]. It is owned by the Butler County Airport Authority.<ref name=FAA />
'''Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport''' {{airport codes|BTP|KBTP|BTP}}, also known as the '''Butler County Airport''' or '''K. W. Scholter Field''', is a public [[airport]] located in [[Penn Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania|Penn Township]],<ref name=Penntwpmap/> {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} southwest of the [[central business district]] of [[Butler, Pennsylvania|Butler]], the county seat of [[Butler County, Pennsylvania|Butler County]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[United States]]. The airport serves the northern suburbs of the [[Pittsburgh metropolitan area]]. It is owned by the Butler County Airport Authority.<ref name=FAA />


== History ==
== History ==
[[File:Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport May 2024 aerial 04.jpg|thumb|left|View of the airport from the air]]
⚫
Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport, formerly Butler County Airport, opened as the Pittsburgh-Butler Airport<ref name=BC>Parisi, p. 37</ref><ref name=LB>Brandberg and Clements, p. 97</ref> on September 27 and 28, 1929, with much fanfare and aircraft demonstrations.<ref name="LB"/> It was later named the Butler-Graham Airport.<ref name=BC>Parisi, p. 37</ref><ref>An Historical Gazetteer of Butler County, Pennsylvania, p. 247</ref> For more than 20 years the Butler airfield was one of the primary airports servicing the city of [[Pittsburgh]] until [[Pittsburgh International Airport]] was completed in the early 1950s. During its early years, the airport served as an important training area for potential pilots. One notable trainee was [[Amelia Earhart]]<ref name="LB"/> who received her instrument flight certificate there while practicing for her solo flight over the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in 1932.<ref name=BCE>Biller, Ed (December 6, 2009). "Airport turns 80" ''[[Butler Eagle]]''. Retrieved December 28, 2009</ref> It was also at the airport that Earhart had the long-range fuel tanks installed on her [[Lockheed Vega]].<ref name="BCE"/> Another notable aviator was C.G. Taylor, who in 1935 moved his [[Taylorcraft Aircraft]] company to Butler.<ref name="BCE"/> His new planes were tested at the airport and his [[Taylorcraft B]] model was introduced here.<ref>https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2VkbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FE0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6655%2C1984544</ref> During [[World War II]] the airport served as a training ground for fighter pilots. By the late 1990s, the airport was getting too small to handle the amount of aircraft coming in so plans were made to extend the runway by {{convert|800|ft|m}}.<ref name="BCE"/> The extension of the single runway was completed in 2004.
Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport, formerly Butler County Airport, opened as the Pittsburgh-Butler Airport<ref name=BC>Parisi, p. 37</ref><ref name=LB>Brandberg and Clements, p. 97</ref> on September 27 and 28, 1929, with much fanfare and aircraft demonstrations.<ref name="LB"/> The airport originally had three turf runways, one of which was later paved, and a turf runway closed. The remaining turf runway ran N/S. The airport was opened by Pennsylvania Aviation Industrial Corp. (PAIC), owned by George Hann, the Mellon interests and some others, who hoped to lure Pittsburgh traffic.


During the [[Great Depression]], the airport shut down for some years when there was little business. The two large hangars were used to store corn.
The Airport went through a name change in May 2016, going from the Butler County Airport to the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport.

In the 1930s, John Graham along with Kenny Sholter helped to clean out the hangars and reopened the airport. It was then renamed the Butler-Graham Airport.<ref name=BC/><ref>An Historical Gazetteer of Butler County, Pennsylvania, p. 247</ref>

⚫
During its early years, the airport served as an important training area for potential pilots. [[Amelia Earhart]]<ref name="LB"/> received her instrument flight certificate there while practicing for her solo flight over the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in 1932.<ref name=BCE>Biller, Ed (December 6, 2009). "Airport turns 80" ''[[Butler Eagle]]''. Retrieved December 28, 2009</ref> It was at the airport that Earhart had the long-range fuel tanks installed on her [[Lockheed Vega]].<ref name="BCE"/> Another notable aviator was C.G. Taylor, who in 1935 moved his [[Taylorcraft Aircraft]] company to Butler.<ref name="BCE"/> His new planes were tested at the airport, and his [[Taylorcraft B]] model was introduced here.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Russel |first=W. L. |date=July 22, 1947 |title=Move Started to Bring Plane Factory Here |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2VkbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FE0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6655%2C1984544 |work=Pittsburgh Press |via=Google News}}</ref> During [[World War II]]. Graham Aviation trained so many pilots under the Civilian Pilot Training Program that Piper Cubs had to be stored tilted up on their noses to fit them all in the hangars.

For many years, Butler-Graham served as an alternate airport for TWA should the weather be down at [[Allegheny County Airport]], which from 1931 to 1952 was the primary airport of the city of Pittsburgh until [[Pittsburgh International Airport]] opened.

By the late 1990s, the airport was too small to handle the number of aircraft coming in, so plans were made to extend the runway by {{convert|800|ft|m}}.<ref name="BCE"/> The extension of the single runway was completed in 2004.

The airport had a name change in 2016, going from the Butler County Airport to the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport.<ref name="butlereagle2024">{{cite web |last1=Pitts |first1=William |title=Butler’s airport described as a ‘small city’ |url=https://www.butlereagle.com/20240917/butlers-airport-described-as-a-small-city/ |publisher=[[Butler Eagle]] |access-date=14 December 2024 |date=September 17, 2024}}</ref>

On October 31, 2020, President [[Donald Trump]] held a rally at the airport during his second run for president in the [[2020 United States presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web |title='We Win Pennsylvania, We Win It All': President Trump Rallies Supporters In Butler County |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/trump-rally-in-butler-county/ |website=CBS Pittsburgh |access-date=13 December 2023 |date=31 October 2020}}</ref> In 2024, Trump's campaign team requested a rally again at the airport, but was denied by the airport authority due to a conflict in venue. Trump eventually held his campaign at the nearby Butler Farm Show Airport, where an [[Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania|attempted assassination]] happened.<ref>{{cite web |author1=''[[Butler Eagle]]'' |title=Butler County airport authority denied Trump campaign request because of conflicting event |url=https://triblive.com/local/regional/butler-county-airport-authority-denied-trump-campaign-request-because-of-conflicting-event/ |website=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|TribLIVE]] |access-date=5 August 2024 |date=18 July 2024}}</ref>


== Facilities and aircraft ==
== Facilities and aircraft ==
[[File: KBTP Runway 26, 20241018 (1).jpg |thumb|left|View of runway 26 at dusk]]
⚫
Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport covers an area of {{convert|230|acre|ha}} and contains one [[asphalt]] paved [[runway]] designated 8/26 which measures {{convert|4801|by|100|ft|m}}. For the 12-month period ending February 27, 2007, the airport had 62,685 aircraft operations, an average of 171 per day: 98% [[general aviation]], 2% [[air taxi]] and <1% military. There are 132 aircraft based at this airport: 72% single-engine, 23% multi-engine, 3% jet and 2% [[helicopter]].<ref name=FAA />

Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport covers an area of {{convert|304|acre|ha}}. It contains one [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]] paved [[runway]] designated 8/26, which measures {{convert|4801|by|100|ft|m}}.

⚫
For the 12-month period ending June 15, 2020, the airport had 74,386 aircraft operations, an average of 204 per day: 98% [[general aviation]], 2% [[air taxi]] and <1% military. As of May 16, 2024, there were 110 aircraft based at this airport: 89 single-engine, 8 multi-engine, 8 jet, 4 [[helicopter]], and 1 glider.<ref name=FAA /> In 2023, the airport had over 87,000 operations.<ref name="butlereagle2024" />

The airport has an onsite restaurant.<ref>{{cite web |title=Unique restaurant allows you to eat on the runway at Butler County Airport |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/video/unique-restaurant-allows-you-to-eat-on-the-runway-at-butler-county-airport/ |website=CBS Pittsburgh |access-date=13 December 2023 |date=Oct 18, 2022}}</ref> It also has a helicopter base for [[Allegheny Health Network]]'s air ambulance service.<ref name="butlereagle2024" />

== Accidents and incidents ==
* On February 27, 2003, a [[Cessna 182 Skylane|Cessna 182G]] crashed while approaching to land due to ice accumulation, killing the pilot onboard.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aviation Investigation Final Report NYC03FA058 |url= https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/enwiki/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56550/pdf |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |date=December 3, 2004}}</ref>
* On January 24, 2007, a [[Cessna Citation 550]] overran the snowy runway on landing, resulting in 1 serious injury and 3 minor injuries and aircraft being substantially damaged.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aviation Investigation Final Report NYC07FA058 |url= https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/enwiki/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65184/pdf |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |date=April 30, 2008}}</ref>
* On June 7, 2018, a [[Van's Aircraft RV-4|Vans RV4]] crashed shortly after taking off from the airport due to a total loss of engine power, resulting in aircraft substantially damaged and the pilot injured.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aviation Investigation Final Report ERA18LA163 |url=https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/enwiki/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97431/pdf |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |date=February 5, 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of airports in Pennsylvania]]


== References ==
== References ==
Line 50: Line 82:
*''An Historical Gazetteer of Butler County, Pennsylvania'', Chicora: Mechling Bookbindery, 2006, {{ISBN|978-0-9760563-9-3}}.
*''An Historical Gazetteer of Butler County, Pennsylvania'', Chicora: Mechling Bookbindery, 2006, {{ISBN|978-0-9760563-9-3}}.
*Brandberg, Robert, and James Clements, ''Lost Butler'', New Wilmington: New Horizons Publishing, 1999, {{ISBN|1-884687-25-3}}.
*Brandberg, Robert, and James Clements, ''Lost Butler'', New Wilmington: New Horizons Publishing, 1999, {{ISBN|1-884687-25-3}}.
*Ed Biller, [http://www.airquestaviation.com/news.php?id=25 "Airport turns 80,"] ''[[Butler Eagle]]'', December 6, 2009.
*Ed Biller, [https://web.archive.org/web/20130720142357/http://www.airquestaviation.com/news.php?id=25 "Airport turns 80,"] ''[[Butler Eagle]]'', December 6, 2009.
*Parisi, Larry D., ''Butler County'', Arcadia Publishing, 2004, {{ISBN|0-7385-3517-6}}.
*Parisi, Larry D., ''Butler County'', Arcadia Publishing, 2004, {{ISBN|0-7385-3517-6}}.


{{Portal|Pittsburgh|Aviation}}
{{Portal|Aviation}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://butlercountyairport.org/ Butler County Airport Website]
*[http://butlercountyairport.org/ Butler County Airport website]
{{Commons category}}
*{{US-airport-ga|BTP}}
{{US-airport-ga|BTP}}


{{PittsburghTransit}}
{{PittsburghTransit}}
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[[Category:Airports in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Airports in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:County airports in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Butler County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Butler County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Butler, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Butler, Pennsylvania]]

Latest revision as of 15:56, 14 December 2024

For the similarly named airport in Ohio, see Butler County Regional Airport.
Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport

K. W. Scholter Field, Butler County Airport
Airport management office building
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerButler County Airport Authority
ServesButler, Pennsylvania
LocationPenn Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania[1]
Elevation AMSL1,248 ft / 380 m
Coordinates40°46′37″N 079°56′59″W / 40.77694°N 79.94972°W / 40.77694; -79.94972
WebsitePittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
BTP is located in Pennsylvania
BTP
BTP
Location of airport in Pennsylvania
BTP is located in the United States
BTP
BTP
BTP (the United States)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
8/26 4,801 1,463 Asphalt
Statistics (2024)
Aircraft operations (year ending 6/15/2020)74,386
Based aircraft110

Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport (IATA: BTP, ICAO: KBTP, FAA LID: BTP), also known as the Butler County Airport or K. W. Scholter Field, is a public airport located in Penn Township,[1] 5 miles (8 km) southwest of the central business district of Butler, the county seat of Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. The airport serves the northern suburbs of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. It is owned by the Butler County Airport Authority.[2]

History

[edit]
View of the airport from the air

Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport, formerly Butler County Airport, opened as the Pittsburgh-Butler Airport[3][4] on September 27 and 28, 1929, with much fanfare and aircraft demonstrations.[4] The airport originally had three turf runways, one of which was later paved, and a turf runway closed. The remaining turf runway ran N/S. The airport was opened by Pennsylvania Aviation Industrial Corp. (PAIC), owned by George Hann, the Mellon interests and some others, who hoped to lure Pittsburgh traffic.

During the Great Depression, the airport shut down for some years when there was little business. The two large hangars were used to store corn.

In the 1930s, John Graham along with Kenny Sholter helped to clean out the hangars and reopened the airport. It was then renamed the Butler-Graham Airport.[3][5]

During its early years, the airport served as an important training area for potential pilots. Amelia Earhart[4] received her instrument flight certificate there while practicing for her solo flight over the Atlantic Ocean in 1932.[6] It was at the airport that Earhart had the long-range fuel tanks installed on her Lockheed Vega.[6] Another notable aviator was C.G. Taylor, who in 1935 moved his Taylorcraft Aircraft company to Butler.[6] His new planes were tested at the airport, and his Taylorcraft B model was introduced here.[7] During World War II. Graham Aviation trained so many pilots under the Civilian Pilot Training Program that Piper Cubs had to be stored tilted up on their noses to fit them all in the hangars.

For many years, Butler-Graham served as an alternate airport for TWA should the weather be down at Allegheny County Airport, which from 1931 to 1952 was the primary airport of the city of Pittsburgh until Pittsburgh International Airport opened.

By the late 1990s, the airport was too small to handle the number of aircraft coming in, so plans were made to extend the runway by 800 feet (240 m).[6] The extension of the single runway was completed in 2004.

The airport had a name change in 2016, going from the Butler County Airport to the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport.[8]

On October 31, 2020, President Donald Trump held a rally at the airport during his second run for president in the 2020 United States presidential election.[9] In 2024, Trump's campaign team requested a rally again at the airport, but was denied by the airport authority due to a conflict in venue. Trump eventually held his campaign at the nearby Butler Farm Show Airport, where an attempted assassination happened.[10]

Facilities and aircraft

[edit]
View of runway 26 at dusk

Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport covers an area of 304 acres (123 ha). It contains one asphalt paved runway designated 8/26, which measures 4,801 by 100 feet (1,463 by 30 m).

For the 12-month period ending June 15, 2020, the airport had 74,386 aircraft operations, an average of 204 per day: 98% general aviation, 2% air taxi and <1% military. As of May 16, 2024, there were 110 aircraft based at this airport: 89 single-engine, 8 multi-engine, 8 jet, 4 helicopter, and 1 glider.[2] In 2023, the airport had over 87,000 operations.[8]

The airport has an onsite restaurant.[11] It also has a helicopter base for Allegheny Health Network's air ambulance service.[8]

Accidents and incidents

[edit]
  • On February 27, 2003, a Cessna 182G crashed while approaching to land due to ice accumulation, killing the pilot onboard.[12]
  • On January 24, 2007, a Cessna Citation 550 overran the snowy runway on landing, resulting in 1 serious injury and 3 minor injuries and aircraft being substantially damaged.[13]
  • On June 7, 2018, a Vans RV4 crashed shortly after taking off from the airport due to a total loss of engine power, resulting in aircraft substantially damaged and the pilot injured.[14]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Penn township, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2024-07-18. Butler County/k W Scholter Fld
  2. ^ a b c FAA Airport Form 5010 for BTP PDF, effective 2023-8-10
  3. ^ a b Parisi, p. 37
  4. ^ a b c Brandberg and Clements, p. 97
  5. ^ An Historical Gazetteer of Butler County, Pennsylvania, p. 247
  6. ^ a b c d Biller, Ed (December 6, 2009). "Airport turns 80" Butler Eagle. Retrieved December 28, 2009
  7. ^ Russel, W. L. (July 22, 1947). "Move Started to Bring Plane Factory Here". Pittsburgh Press – via Google News.
  8. ^ a b c Pitts, William (September 17, 2024). "Butler's airport described as a 'small city'". Butler Eagle. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  9. ^ "'We Win Pennsylvania, We Win It All': President Trump Rallies Supporters In Butler County". CBS Pittsburgh. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  10. ^ Butler Eagle (18 July 2024). "Butler County airport authority denied Trump campaign request because of conflicting event". TribLIVE. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Unique restaurant allows you to eat on the runway at Butler County Airport". CBS Pittsburgh. Oct 18, 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Aviation Investigation Final Report NYC03FA058". National Transportation Safety Board. December 3, 2004.
  13. ^ "Aviation Investigation Final Report NYC07FA058". National Transportation Safety Board. April 30, 2008.
  14. ^ "Aviation Investigation Final Report ERA18LA163". National Transportation Safety Board. February 5, 2019.

Sources

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport.
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