Department of Corrections Field

While no single official reason has been published, the closure was likely due to a combination of factors. These include the high operational and maintenance costs associated with the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) running its own air wing and airfield, a strategic shift towards more cost-effective and secure ground transportation for inmates and personnel, and the aging of the airfield's infrastructure. Many government agencies phased out their private aviation units during this period for budgetary reasons.

The site is closed to all aviation activity. Satellite imagery shows the paved runway is still physically intact but in a state of significant disrepair. It is clearly marked with large, white 'X' symbols at both ends and in the middle, the standard visual indication of a permanently closed runway. The land remains part of the secure grounds of the Reception and Medical Center. The old runway and surrounding tarmac are now used by the Department of Corrections for non-aviation purposes, such as vehicle storage, equipment staging, and potentially as a training course for corrections staff.

The Department of Corrections Field was a private airfield operated by the Florida Department of Corrections. It was strategically located adjacent to the Reception and Medical Center (RMC) and Union Correctional Institution, two of Florida's largest and most significant prisons. Its primary operations included:
- **Inmate Transportation:** Used for the secure air transport of high-risk or high-profile inmates between facilities across the state.
- **Medical Flights:** Facilitated rapid transport for inmates with critical medical needs to and from the Reception and Medical Center, which serves as the main hospital and diagnostic center for the entire state prison system.
- **Official Business:** Used for the transportation of FDC officials, law enforcement, and other government personnel.
The airfield featured a single paved runway, approximately 3,000 feet long, capable of handling the light transport aircraft typically used by the FDC, such as the Beechcraft King Air.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Department of Corrections Field. The reopening would require a complete reconstruction of the runway surface, significant investment in modern infrastructure, and a reversal of the FDC's long-standing policy of not operating its own aircraft. Given the prohibitive costs and the significant security challenges of operating an active airfield within the perimeter of a major prison complex, the prospect of it ever being used for aviation again is virtually zero.