Lowell, US 🇺🇸 Closed Airport
ICAO
US-0021
IATA
-
Elevation
85 ft
Region
US-FL
Local Time
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 29.3053° N, -82.172601° E
Continent: North America
Type: Closed Airport
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The exact date is unknown, as the closure was an internal decision by the Florida Department of Corrections and not publicly announced. However, analysis of historical satellite imagery provides a likely timeframe. The helipad with clear markings was visible and appeared operational in images from 2010. By 2017, the markings were gone and the area was an indistinct grassy field. Therefore, the heliport was decommissioned sometime between 2011 and 2016.
No official reason has been published. The closure was likely the result of a change in operational strategy and for reasons of economic efficiency by the Florida Department of Corrections. Maintaining a dedicated, registered heliport for a single institution is costly. It is probable that a decision was made to centralize air support assets or to rely on regional emergency services (such as county sheriff or hospital helicopters) that can use designated but non-permanent landing zones within the prison grounds on an as-needed basis. This approach is more flexible and cost-effective.
The site of the former heliport is now an open, grassy field located within the secure perimeter of the Marion Correctional Institution. All markings (such as the 'H' and circular boundary) and any associated infrastructure have been removed. The land has been repurposed as part of the general grounds of the correctional facility.
Marion Correctional Institution Heliport was a private facility used exclusively to support the operations of the large state prison. Its primary function was to provide critical air mobility for security and medical emergencies. Operations included:
1. **Medical Evacuations:** Rapid transport of seriously ill or injured inmates and staff to regional hospitals.
2. **Security Operations:** Serving as a base for helicopters during prisoner escapes, facility-wide disturbances, or for aerial surveillance of the prison perimeter.
3. **High-Security Transport:** Potentially used for the transport of extremely high-risk inmates, although ground transport is more common.
Its existence highlights a period when dedicated air assets were considered a vital component of the security and emergency infrastructure for individual, large-scale correctional facilities.
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the heliport, and it is highly unlikely to be reactivated. Modern practice for correctional facilities favors operational flexibility and cost savings. Any future helicopter operations at the prison would likely utilize a pre-designated, clear area as a landing zone without the need for a formally registered and maintained heliport. The Florida Department of Corrections or other state agencies can deploy air assets to such landing zones as circumstances require.