Page Field

{{see also|Page Field Army Airfield}}

In 1924, the city of Fort Myers purchased 670 acres of land south of the city with the intention of developing it into a municipal golf course. However, the golf course never came to fruition and it was instead developed into a civil airport. The airport commenced operation in 1926 with unpaved sod runways. Daily air mail service subsequently began to Fort Myers. In its early days, the airport was nicknamed "Palmetto Field" for the large amount of palmetto brush growing in and around the airport. Passenger air service began at the airport in 1937 when National Airlines commenced regular flights. However, those were soon discontinued due to the poor landing conditions on the unpaved runways.{{cite web|title=A History of Aviation in Lee County|url=http://www.flylcpa.com/uploads/pagesfiles/511.pdf|website=Southwest Florida International Airport|access-date=12 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304213624/http://www.flylcpa.com/uploads/pagesfiles/511.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=The Page Story |url=https://flyrsw.com/fmystory/ |website=Lee County Port Authority |access-date=13 December 2024}}

The city of Fort Myers deeded the airport to Lee County in 1939, and the airport was then known as Lee County Airport. Efforts to upgrade the airfield were boosted by a January 1940 Works Projects Administration (WPA) project that constructed three concrete runways. In addition, other improvements were made and by the time of the Pearl Harbor Attack, Lee County Airport had grown to about 600 acres in size. After the improvements were complete, National Airlines resumed service to the airport.

During World War II, Lee County Airport was leased by the United States Department of War and was then known as Fort Myers Army Air Base. It was used by the United States Army Air Forces Third Air Force for antisubmarine patrols and conventional bomber training in the B-24 Liberator. The facility returned to civil control of the State of Florida and then Lee County shortly after the end of the war.

On May 21, 1942 (while still under control of the War Department), the Lee County Commission officially named the airport Page Field. Page Field was named in honor of Captain Richard Channing Page, a local World War I aviator killed in a seaplane accident near Everglades, Florida on March 3, 1920. Captain Page was the first person from Florida to join the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps. During World War I, he was credited with three German aircraft destroyed in combat and was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross along with the French Croix de Guerre and other awards. Despite the name change, the Army continued to refer to the airport as Fort Myers Army Air Base until the end of the war.

In the 1950s, National Airlines was still the only passenger airline at Page Field (FMY), with six departures a day. During the decade, the U.S. Army barracks were replaced with a small terminal on the south side of the field, which was expanded in 1960. A new larger passenger terminal on the north side of Page Field opened on November 1, 1975.{{cite news |title=Wings Of Man Welcome Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-press/89408843/ |access-date=17 October 2023 |newspaper=The News-Press |date=1 November 1975 |page=6A |via=Newspapers.com}}

National's 727s were the first jets at FMY, in winter 1965–66; FMY's longest runway was 5,002 feet. Except for commuter airlines, National was alone at FMY until, Eastern Air Lines arrived in December of 1975, a month after the new terminal opened.{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Miller |title=Eastern's First Flight Here Is Given Gala Welcome |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-press-easterns-first-flight-here-i/160814050/ |access-date=17 October 2023 |newspaper=The News-Press |date=11 December 1975 |page=1B |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1981, the airport was served by Air Florida, Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air Lines, Florida Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Pan American World Airways (Pan Am), Sun Air, Trans World Airlines (TWA), and United Airlines.{{Cite web|url=http://www.departedflights.com/RSW81p1.html|title=RSW81p1|website=www.departedflights.com|access-date=2017-09-01}}

After deregulation of the airline industry in 1978, it became clear that Page Field was too small for future demand, and on May 14, 1983, the airlines moved to the new Southwest Florida Regional Airport, now called Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). Page Field is a designated FAA reliever airport for RSW and has only general aviation, military, and business traffic.

Since May 14, 1983 through the end of 2019, Page Field has handled 3,483,598 aircraft operations, average 94,506 annually. In 1987, the airport experienced its busiest year ever, with 120,921 aircraft operations.

File:Base Operations at Page Field.jpg

Page Field covers 588 acres (238 ha) at an elevation of 17 feet (5 m). It has two asphalt paved runways: 5/23 is 6,406 by 150 feet (1,953 x 46 m) and 13/31 is 4,910 by 150 feet (1,497 x 46 m).

In 2019, the airport handled 114,863 operations, an average of 314 per day. More than 400 aircraft are based at Page Field as of January 2020. There are 21 local businesses operating at FMY, including aviation-related flight training, charter, avionics and maintenance facilities, in addition to community tenants.

In August 2011, a new terminal complex opened on the west side of Page Field. Base Operations at Page Field is a modern 22,600-square-foot building. Concierge front desk service, pilot lounges, weather briefing, flight planning and executive conference rooms, free Wi-Fi and a gift shop are offered at Base Operations. There is a 600,000-square-foot ramp with business aircraft parking, 24,000 square feet of itinerant hangar space and full-service Jet A and 100LL avgas, as well as self-serve 100LL avgas.

In October 2019, a new Multi-Use Hangar opened with 24,000 square feet, four crew offices and an additional 58,000 square feet of paved apron space to help address the seasonal demand for aircraft ramp parking.

The economic benefit of Page Field is $385 million annually according to the 2018 Florida Department of Transportation Economic Impact Study. [https://www.flylcpa.com/uploads/pagesfiles/2815.pdf 2018 Economic Impact Study conducted by Florida Department of Transportation]

• Florida Department of Transportation named Page Field the General Aviation Airport of the Year in 2002 and 2008.

• List of airports in Florida

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.flyfmy.com Page Field Airport] (official site)
• [http://www.baseoperationsfmy.com Base Operations website]
• {{cite web|url= http://www.cfaspp.com/PopUps/DownloadDocument.aspx?doctype=facilityinfo&uaid=FL000024 |title=Page Field }} brochure from [http://www.cfaspp.com/ CFASPP]
• [http://msrmaps.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=11&lat=26.5853&lon=-81.8636&w=900&h=1000&lp=---+None+--- Aerial image as of January 1999] from USGS The National Map
• {{FAA-diagram|00154}}
• {{FAA-procedures|FMY}}
• {{US-airport|FMY}}

{{Florida airports}}

Category:Airports in Florida

Category:Airports established in 1927

Category:Buildings and structures in Fort Myers, Florida

Category:Transportation in Fort Myers, Florida

Category:1927 establishments in Florida

Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Lee County, Florida