🇺🇸 Saint Paul Downtown Holman Field

Saint Paul Downtown Holman Field (KSTP/STP) is a public airport located just across the Mississippi River from downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. It operates as one of several reliever airports for the Twin Cities, managed by the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

Type of Facility and Operations: Holman Field primarily serves business aviation, private flights, corporate aircraft, a flight training school, and transient general aviation. It is also home to the Minnesota Army National Guard aviation unit. The airport features three asphalt runways: 14/32 (6,491 x 150 ft), 13/31 (4,004 x 150 ft), and 9/27 (3,642 x 100 ft). Services available include aircraft refueling, de-icing, and catering, alongside a General Aviation Terminal offering amenities for private flight passengers such as a waiting area, snooze room, and private showers. Customs services are also available.

Notable Features and History: The airport is named after Charles W. "Speed" Holman (1898–1931), a pioneering stunt pilot, barnstormer, and the first pilot hired by Northwest Airways, who set a world record for consecutive loops over the airport in 1928. Its historic Administration Building, designed by Clarence W. Wigington (the first African American municipal architect in the United States) and constructed in 1939 by Works Progress Administration (WPA) laborers, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During World War II, Holman Field played a significant role as a major modification center for B-24 Liberator bombers operated by Northwest Airlines, employing up to 5,000 people. The airport's location offers scenic views of the city skyline and river valley.

Current Status: Saint Paul Downtown Holman Field is currently operational. As of recent data, it handles approximately 66,000 aircraft operations annually. The airport's control tower operates during specific hours (Monday-Friday 0600-2200 local, Saturday-Sunday 0700-2200 local), with the airspace becoming Class E at other times. Wildlife activity, including deer and birds, is noted on and around the airport, and voluntary noise abatement procedures are in effect.