Midwest Flyer Magazine - December 2021/January 2022

St. Louis Downtown Airport Recognized As Illinois Reliever Airport of the Year CAHOKIA HEIGHTS/ general aviation airport SAUGET, ILL. – St. in the bi-state region Louis Downtown Airport behind St. Louis Lambert (KCPS) was named the International Airport, and 2020 Reliever Airport it is the busiest general of the Year by the aviation airport in Illinois Illinois Department of outside of Chicago.

Transportation (IDOT) “My staff and I are Division of Aeronautics. proud to be selected as The award was presented the reliever airport of the at a special ceremony year and of the role we on September 27, 2021, play in contributing to during the Illinois Public the vitality of the state's Airports Association Fall aviation system,” said Erick Conference in Galena, Dahl. “Our unmatched Illinois, where 12 airports proximity to downtown St. were recognized in various Louis, and commitment to categories. Due to the discretion, bring customers (L/R) Erick Dahl, Director, St. Louis Downtown Airport, accepts the award for “Reliever Airport of the Year” for 2020 from the Deputy Director of Aeronautics pandemic canceling to our facility, but having for the State of Illinois, Clayton Stambaugh. last year's conference, our customer service and awards were based on the safety record recognized by achievements of the last two years.

IDOT provides another reason to choose KCPS.” The airports recognized were selected because of their Illinois has 107 public/private airports and 4,800 accomplishments, including an outstanding partnership with registered aircraft which support more than 492,000 jobs, IDOT and a strong commitment to customer safety and with a combined payroll of $21.9 billion and a total economic satisfaction. Among the award considerations are cooperation impact of $95.4 billion. Across the state, there are more than and coordination with the state, safety record, maintenance of 750 aviation facilities, including heliport and grass landing the facility, and promotion of aviation and educational events. strips, as well as balloon, glider, and ultralight landing “Director Erick Dahl and his team work diligently every facilities. day to ensure that every customer and pilot flying in and “Aviation is one of the key components that goes into out of St. Louis Downtown Airport have the best experience making Illinois the transportation hub of North America,” possible,” said Taulby Roach, Bi-State Development President said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “Our and CEO. Bi-State Development owns and operates the aviation partners take great pride in the work they do airport which is located just east of downtown St. Louis in the supporting transportation, jobs and quality of life in their communities of Cahokia Heights and Sauget, Illinois. “This communities. These awards highlight their efforts, as well as award is a testament to the fact that they continue to deliver those of the entire Illinois aviation community.” exceptional, professional service, while maintaining a safe To learn more about St. Louis Downtown Airport, visit environment.” www.stlouisdowntownairport.com. To learn more about St. Louis Downtown Airport serves major corporations in aviation in Illinois and the Illinois Aviation System Plan, visit a variety of industries, ranging from transportation and energy www.ilaviation.com. to food and beverage. KCPS is also home to the nation’s Bi-State Development (BSD) owns and operates St. oldest flight school – St. Louis University’s Parks College of Louis Downtown Airport and the Gateway Arch Riverboats Engineering, Aviation and Technology – and serves as a major and operates the Gateway Arch Revenue Collections Center transfer point for patients and transplant organs in transit and Gateway Arch trams. BSD is the operator of the Metro to and from the region’s many medical centers. Over the public transportation system for the St. Louis region, which course of its 80-plus-year history, the airport has developed includes the 87-vehicle, 46-mile MetroLink light rail system; numerous partnerships with all types of businesses that now a MetroBus fleet of nearly 400 clean-burning diesel and operate at the airport, ranging from general aviation, personal battery electric vehicles that operate on 68 MetroBus routes; use and training schools to maintenance, manufacturing, and Metro Call-A-Ride, a paratransit fleet of 125 vans. BSD helicopter operations and more. With all this activity, also operates the St. Louis Regional Freightway, the two-state St. Louis Downtown Airport ranks as the second busiest region’s freight district. q DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE 57