The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority was created in 1985 by a law adopted by the Indiana General Assembly in Indianapolis. Community leaders wanted to create a governing body to operate Fort Wayne International Airport under higher industry standards while devoting energy into making the airport less dependent on tax dollars.
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Tory Richardson, A.A.E.
Executive Director
of Airports |
The Airport Authority now owns and operates both Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA), which offers commercial passenger, commercial cargo, military, and general aviation operations on the city’s Southwest side; and Smith Field Airport (SMD), a general aviation airport on the city’s North side.
Since the creation of the Airport Authority, airport officials have actively pursued federal funding for FWA that has allowed the Airport Authority to expand and renovate the terminal, create a new entrance road, expand parking, resurface runways and taxiways, rebuild infrastructure, establish the Air Trade Center and the Kelley Commerce Aero Centre and add land to the 3,601 acre complex and numerous other projects.
The relationship between the Authority and the tenants (e.g. airlines, car rental companies, the gift shop, the restaurant, the parking lots, etc.) of the airport is very much like that of a shopping mall manager and the shop owners. The Authority provides the infrastructure and facilities and ensures that the environment is safe, clean, and attractive. The tenants must abide by Authority ordinances, but operate independently. Just as you would return merchandise directly to the store you purchased it from rather than go to the mall manager, so would you deal directly with an airline for ticketing, lost luggage, etc.
Since committing to keep Smith Field Airport open, the Airport Authority has made numerous investments in the airport’s infrastructure. The Authority completed and received FAA approval for the Smith Field Airport Layout Plan in 2007, which will guide future development at the airport and allow the Authority to seek Federal funding for projects at the 250 acre facility. The completion of the Airport Layout Plan laid the groundwork for the Authority to obtain in 2009, $1.1 million in federal stimulus money to rehabilitate the runway the first rehab of the runway in over 30-years. Under the Authority, Smith Field Airport is striving to grow general aviation in the region by introducing new aeronautical education opportunities, improving facilities, and pursuing new service providers. As a result of this commitment, the Authority completed construction of the new Aviation Maintenance Technology Facility at SMD in 2007. The facility currently houses programs thorugh Ivy Tech Community College and Anthis Career Center which allow students to gain FAA certification in aircraft maintenance. For more information on the Airport Authority or its airports, contact Kim Fuhrmann, Administrative Services Manager at (260) 747-4146 ext. 435 or fuhrmann@fwairport.com.
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Michael S. Gouloff
President
Appointed by the Mayor in 1997
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Richard B. Sturges
Vice President
Appointed by Mayor in 2007
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Tim Haffner
Secretary
Appointed by Commissioners
in 1994
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Jerome F. Henry
Board Member
Appointed by Mayor in 2007
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Ben Johnston
Board Member
Appointed by the
Commisioners in 2008
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Neil Hayes
Board Member
Appointed by Commissioners
in 2002
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The Board has ultimate financial and policy making responsibility for the Airport Authority. Board members serve as volunteers and receive no payment for their time. The six-member board is appointed by both the Mayor of Fort Wayne and the Allen County Commissioners. Board members are appointed to four-year terms. This Board is responsible for both airports in Fort Wayne - Fort Wayne International Airport and Smith Field Airport.
Airport Board Meetings:
Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will be at:
Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority
Terminal Building Suite 209 (elevator across from Delta ticket counter)
Fort Wayne, IN 46809
The Airport Authority Board operates under a published set of bylaws.
Click Here to read a copy of the bylaws.
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Title
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Name
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Executive Director of Airports
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Tory Richardson, A.A.E. |
Director of Operations & Facilities
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Scott Hinderman, A.A.E. |
Director of Administration & Finance
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Craig Williams, A.A.E. |
Smith Field Supervisor/Operations Mgr.
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Tim O’Donnell, A.A.E. |
Senior Manager Operations
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<vacant> |
Senior Manager Engineering Services
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Sheryl Kelly, C.M.
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Controller
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Ron Portis |
Senior Manager Systems
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Stephen Springer
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Human Resource Manager
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Ray Young, S.P.H.R.
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Administrative Services Manager
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Kim Fuhrmann
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Purchasing Manager
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Laura Hakes
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Property Manager
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Rebecca Ross
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Community & Governmental Affairs Manager
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<vacant>
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VP Air Service Development, The Chamber of Commerce
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Dave Young
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VP Airport Development,
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance |
Patrick Dooley, SCMD |
Owned and operated by the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority.
Lt. Paul Baer Terminal was expanded in 1996 and has 4 gates on the ground level and another 4 gates on the 2nd level concourse. The terminal is open 24 hrs. a day 365 days a year.
The 12,000 ft. long runway is one of the longest runways in the United States and is long enough to handle any type aircraft including the Space Shuttle, A380s, 747s and Military Tankers.
3 Runways:
- 5-23 Primary at 12,000 ft long and 150 ft. wide.
- 14-32 Secondary at 8,000 ft. long and 150 ft. wide.
- 9-27 (mainly General Aviation traffic) is 4,000 ft. long and 75 ft. wide.
FWA serves around 650,000 passengers/year.
FWA has the capability to offer 24 Hr. Customs.
FWA FAA Air Traffic Control Tower operates 24-hours daily.
FWA is home to the 122nd Fighter Wing of the Indiana Air National Guard.
FWA was originally named "Baer Field" in 1941. In 1946, the City of Fort Wayne bought the airport from the federal government for one dollar and renamed the airport "Fort Wayne Municipal Airport". In 1991, the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority renamed the airport to its current name of Fort Wayne International Airport.
FWA’s Air Trade Center is located on 450 acres on the southwest side of the FWA complex.
The FWA complex is made up of over 3,400 acres.
FWA is served by 4 major carriers: Allegiant, American, Delta, and United.
Daily commercial flights are scheduled to the following gateways: Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, and St. Petersburg-Tampa.
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