On January 1, Oneida County will change airfield operations from the current Oneida County airport in Whitestown (UCA) to Griffiss(RME) in Rome. At this point it appears UCA will remain an active, uncontrolled airfield. FBO and FAA are moving to Rome, along with any aircraft based at UCA. The current terminal building will shut down and begin its conversion to the NYS Homeland Security Training Center.
Oneida Co. Airport Change
- Thread starter studgeman
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DaveNF2G
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The commuter flights will be going to Rome, too? Amazing! Who did the City of Utica piss off?
c0untyb0y
Member
I doubt Utica pissed off anyone... about the airport anyway. This was one of those federal grants the county went for and got to renovate the former Griffiss airfield to become the new county airport. As there are already some avaiation related businesses at the Griffiss Business & Technology Park, this move seemed to be in these industry's best interests. Though I don't know what the Federal Reserve bank at the Whitestown Business Park will do for their flights. All I know is that the "new" county airport is currently without any contractual fire suppression support from any Oneida County fire company - paid or volunteer. When the airport was operating in Whitestown, there were three fire compaines contracted to provide fire suppression support - Oriskany (primary), Stanwix Heights and Westmoreland (backups). Stay tuned to see who will be the winning bidder for the "new" county airport fire suppression services contract!
There hasn't been scheduled, commercial passanger flights to Oneida county in many years. Its all general avaition and charter. Turning Stone is the big user. As far as fire protection, Rome has been providing that since 1995 when the air force moved out. This includes all building on the former base and CFR services for the runway. The former base has been incorporated into the city and such as police protection from Rome as well.
Actually Dave, Utica never made a peep durring this whole discussion over the last 10 years. It was Whitestown the put up the big political stink. Logically, you have Oneida County which has trouble and decent sized jet, or you have Griffiss which can land anything that flies. There really wasnt much of a decision here, just took the politicians a while to figure that out. It is acutally a benefit to Utica, and Turning Stone to have the Airport in Rome because the transportation links are 100 times better. (4 lane divided highway anyone?)
At this point the bank of NY flights will continue as normal. EDGE (the economic devel agency) has made offers the the Bank to build them a new facility on Griffiss. So far they havent taken them up on the offer.
Actually Dave, Utica never made a peep durring this whole discussion over the last 10 years. It was Whitestown the put up the big political stink. Logically, you have Oneida County which has trouble and decent sized jet, or you have Griffiss which can land anything that flies. There really wasnt much of a decision here, just took the politicians a while to figure that out. It is acutally a benefit to Utica, and Turning Stone to have the Airport in Rome because the transportation links are 100 times better. (4 lane divided highway anyone?)
At this point the bank of NY flights will continue as normal. EDGE (the economic devel agency) has made offers the the Bank to build them a new facility on Griffiss. So far they havent taken them up on the offer.
OK so according to the NOTAMs It is official. KUCA is decomissioned. KRME is now the official FAA supported Oneida County Airport. For the scanner listeners. The tower is 118.1. ATIS is 118.7 ground 122.95. If you had the frequencies for UCA there is no change, just the transmit location. Also anyone who enjoys hunting for NDBs PLIEN is being decomissioned also. We will have to wait and see if the FAA puts in any new aids for griffiss or just wants to rely on GPS. I am waiting to see how all the communications are specifically handled, but i figured the NOTAMs are a good start for people
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