🇺🇸 Dupage Airport

DuPage Airport (DPA), also known as KDPA, is located approximately 16 miles west of Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) in West Chicago, Illinois. It primarily serves general and business aviation aircraft and functions as a reliever airport for the Chicagoland area,.

Notable Features and History:

• Origins: The airport began in 1927 as a grass strip for barnstorming. In 1941, the U.S. Navy requisitioned the land, built hangars, and paved two runways in an 'X' pattern for pilot training during World War II. The airport was officially activated in March 1943.
• Post-War Growth: After the war, the Navy sold the airport to DuPage County for $1 in 1946. The airport expanded, adding an east/west runway and a five-story control tower.
• Expansion and Modernization: Between 1985 and 1992, the airport grew from 900 acres to 2,800 acres, acquiring surrounding land to create a large buffer zone. In 1993, the DuPage Flight Center opened, offering 24/7 services, and the primary runway was extended to 7,570 feet, making it the second longest in the Chicago area after O'Hare.
• Current Infrastructure: DPA is the only facility of its kind in Illinois with four active runways, two ILS approaches, and a 1 million square foot apron. Its primary runway is 7,571 feet long and 150 feet wide, capable of accommodating corporate aircraft like the Boeing Business Jet. The runway configuration includes parallel runways 2L/20R and 2R/20L, along with runways 10/28 and 15/33.
• Services: The airport offers a world-class executive FBO (DuPage Flight Center), a high-technology business park (DuPage Business Center), and the Prairie Landing Golf Club. It also provides 24/7 FAA Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) operations, on-site U.S. Customs and Border Protection for aircraft with up to 20 passengers, and 24/7 Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) services,.

Current Status: DuPage Airport is an internationally recognized airport and a premier aviation facility for general aviation users. Its ATCT operates 24 hours a day. The airspace is Class D with a 3300' MSL ceiling and underlies Chicago Class B airspace. The airport is staffed by ARFF certified firefighters 24/7 and meets Index B criteria. It is a busy training VFR tower with flight schools on-site.

*Sources researched: faa.gov, dupageairport.gov*