T. F. Green Airport

Runway layout at PVD

T. F. Green Airport (sometimes called T. F. Green International Airport^[1]) (IATA: PVD, ICAO: KPVD, FAA LID: PVD), also known as Theodore Francis Green State Airport, is a public airport located in Warwick, six miles (10 km) south of Providence, in Kent County, Rhode Island, USA. Dedicated in 1931, the airport was named for former Rhode Island governor and longtime senator Theodore F. Green. Completely rebuilt in 1996^[2], with the renovated main terminal named for former Rhode Island governor Bruce Sundlun. It was the first state-owned airport in the United States.^[3]

Massport promotes T.F. Green as an alternative to Boston's Logan International Airport,^[4] as delays and wait time in the Rhode Island airport are minimal. The airport's expansion is limited, as it is surrounded by residential homes. However, the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC)^[5] now owns some residential property on the eastern side of the airport near the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting building. Most homes on Cedar Swamp Road and Pembroke Avenue have since been demolished, likely to make way for future expansion.

It is the largest and most active airport among the six operated by the Rhode Island Airport Corporation.

Facilities

T. F. Green Airport covers 1,111 acres (450 ha) and has two runways:

• Runway 5/23: 7,166 x 150 ft (2,184 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
• Runway 16/34: 6,081 x 150 ft (1,853 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt

Taxiway Victor served as Runway 5L/23R until 2003.

T.F. Green has a terminal with two concourses, North and South. The South Concourse has eight gates, and the North Concourse has 14 gates. Gate 7A is designed for international arrivals for use by Air Canada flights; it is directly connected to customs, which is on the lower level of the concourse. The terminal contains a number of stores and restaurants, and a central food court.

Airlines and destinations

Ground transportation

T.F. Green Airport has direct access to I-95 via a one-mile-long connector highway. The airport is served by major car rental companies as well as by local taxi and limousine services.

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) offers public bus transportation to and from the cities of Providence (Kennedy Plaza in downtown Providence) and Newport, and the University of Rhode Island campus in Kingston. In particular:^[6]

• The #20 bus goes to Kennedy Plaza by way of Elmwood and Roger Williams Park and Zoo, and takes approximately 40 minutes.
• The #14 bus goes directly to and from Kennedy Plaza and takes approximately 15-25 minutes, also connects to Newport, Narragansett, and East Greenwich.
• The #66 bus also makes a direct route to Kennedy Plaza, also connects to URI.

Work has started on an intermodal station adjacent to the airport. Negotiations are in progress for the station to be served by the MBTA Commuter Rail and Amtrak to provide service to Providence, Rhode Island, Boston, Massachusetts, and the Amtrak Northeast Corridor including New York City. However those negotiations have been in progress for several years and as of groundbreaking no definitive agreements are in place for train service, No weekend service is planned. The construction was funded in a 2005 federal highway bill. In 2008, a funding shortfall was announced due to escalated construction costs. Presently, Amtrak trains ride through Warwick, passing 1,250 feet from the airport terminal, without making a stop, as the station is not complete. Amtrak is resisting adding TF Green Station as a stop citing costs related to building and electrifying extra train rails. Amtrak has also cited a lack of sufficient ridership for the stop to be economically sustainable. This may change with time. ^[7]

Groundbreaking for the station was on July 17, 2006.^[8][9] Upon its completion (expected in 2010), T.F. Green will have the closest intercity air-to-rail link in the country.^[10] Construction began in February 2009.^[11]

Renovation/expansion plans

Terminal renovation project

Bruce Sundlun Terminal at T.F. Green Airport

Since the Bruce Sundlun terminal was opened in 1996, T.F. Green has become more congested due to increased traffic and post-9/11 security changes. As a result, terminal renovations have recently begun. According to the RIAC website, these improvements include:

• Expansion of the airline baggage rooms to accommodate the construction of a new In-Line Explosive Detection System (EDS) Baggage Handling System, allowing the removal of the EDS equipment currently residing in the terminal lobby;
• Expansion of the security screening checkpoint by widening the area to accommodate eight lanes and lengthening it to allow for increased passenger screening areas;
• Construction of exit ramps that will allow deplaning passengers to proceed directly to the lower level baggage claim area;
• Increased concessions on both pre- and post-security, including a new seating area in baggage claim on the lower level;
• Expansion of the second and third floor RIAC administration offices to accommodate RIAC staff and support space, TSA screening stations, and increased leasable space; and
• Addition of new ticket counter positions on both the north and south sides of the terminal lobby to accommodate future commercial service enhancements.

(List quoted from T.F. Green's Website)^[12]

Runway expansion

The Rhode Island Airport Corporation writes (in 2001)^[13] that the master plan completed in 1997 failed to envision the "tremendous growth" that had been experience in the years hitherto. The report identifies lack of runway length as a hindrance to "range and diversity of service", in particular emphasizing ability to service non-hub locations, the west coast, and international locations. A challenge particular to T.F. Green in this regard is its being surrounded by dense residential and commercial development. Many local residents also oppose expansion for the impact it will have on quality of life in the area.

While some expansion proponents claim extending the main runway would bring in an estimated $138 million over the course of 13 years, doing so could consume 204 houses, at least ten businesses, and large areas of wetlands. More recent studies indicate substantially decreased enplanements due in-part to soaring fuel costs, and easier access to Logan International Airport since completion of improvements to the Southeast Expressway, Third Harbor Tunnel, bus services between TF Green and Logan, as well as the introduction of low cost carriers at Logan such as Jet Blue. ^[14] The FAA plans to hold public meetings in upcoming May before making its recommendation concerning runway expansion to the Rhode Island Airport Corporation.

Incidents

1999 T. F. Green Airport Runway Incursion

In 1999 a near-miss occurred at T.F. Green, which was attributed to dense fog in addition to confusion on the part of the air traffic controller on duty.

2007 CRJ Accident

On December 17, 2007, Air Wisconsin (US Airways Express) flight 3758 arriving from Philadelphia departed the left side of runway 5 after a hard landing by an unstabilized approach.^[15] Although the aircraft sustained substantial damage, none of the 31 passengers and crew aboard were injured.

Trivia

• The Rolling Stones were arrested here in 1972 after assaulting a photographer, and were brought to the Warwick police station. Their flight could not land in Boston, where they had a concert, due to fog. They were processed quickly to avoid a riot at the concert site.^[16]
• The terminal is named in honor of Bruce Sundlun, a former governor.

In Simulation

KPVD Virtual Server

T.F. Green Airport (IACO: KPVD) is the main hub and headquarters of the KPVD Virtual Server. KPVD Virtual is a server for flying and air traffic controllers to simulate real life operations of airlines and airports such as KPVD.

References

• Airport Master Record (FAA Form 5010), also available as a printable form (PDF)
• T. F. Green Airport (official web site)

1. ^ T.F. Green International Airport
2. ^ Providence: Transportation - Approaching the City
3. ^ News and Issues - TF Green Airport
4. ^ "Massport: Regional Airports:T.F. Green T.F.Green". Massport. http://www.massport.com/airports/tfgreen.html Massport: Regional Airports:T.F. Green. Retrieved on 2007-06-05. 
5. ^ RI Airport Corporation
6. ^ Bus route information from RIPTA's website.
7. ^ Needham, Cynthia (August 22, 2007). "Airport train station revived", Providence Journal. http://www.projo.com/news/content/AIRPORT_TRAIN_08-22-07_EN6QRPQ.31da5a2.html Retrieved on 2008-07-14.
8. ^ Preer, Robert (2006-07-18). "Work begins on MBTA rail link to T.F. Green Airport". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2006/07/18/station_project_to_link_mbta_to_ri_airport/. Retrieved on 2008-03-21. 
9. ^ T. F. Green Airport (2006-07-17). RIAC breaks ground on intermodal facility. Press release. http://www.pvdairport.com/main.aspx?guid=16194395-4c86-443a-a196-999d8072869d. Retrieved on 2008-03-21. 
10. ^ "Warwick Train Station Project at T. F. Green Airport Fact Sheet". Rhode Island Department of Transportation. 2001-05-17. http://www.dem.ri.gov/brownfields/successes/trainstation.htm. Retrieved on 2007-02-03. 
11. ^ Downing, Neil (2007-10-17). "Train station construction to begin". Providence Journal. http://www.projo.com/business/content/BZ_DOT_October_17_10-17-07_IH7GQ3F.254619c.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-21. 
12. ^ http://www.pvdairport.com/main.aspx?guid=d7ca0f17-e9ef-4d67-b90d-2af2ae86cbef
13. ^ http://www.landrum-brown.com/MasterPlans/PVD/PDFs/guid-pnp.pdf
14. ^ "Providence Journal Online Runway plan takes homes, businesses". http://www.projo.com/news/content/AIRPORT_REPORT_03-10-07_B04PI8F.384454b.html Providence Journal Online. Retrieved on 2007-03-10. 
15. ^ NTSB. "Probable Cause, DCA08FA018". http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?id=DCA08FA018&rpt=fi. 
16. ^ "Mick Jagger mugshot". Thatsweird.net. 2005-05-17. http://www.thatsweird.net/picture31.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-04-18. 

See also

• Rhode Island World War II Army Airfields
• Rhode Island State Airport Terminal

External links

• Providence Journal video of a day in the life of the T.F. Green Airport
• T. F. Green Airport Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
• Horizon Aviation (flight school located at airport)
• Aviation: From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
• FAA Airport Diagram(PDF), effective 2 July 2009
• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNav airport information for KPVD
  • ASN accident history for PVD
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KPVD
  • FAA current PVD delay information

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