Republic Airport was developed by
Sherman Fairchild as the Fairchild Flying Field in East Farmingdale in late 1927, after determining that his existing flying field & airplane factory complex on Motor Avenue in
South Farmingdale was inadequate to support the mass production of his
Fairchild FC-2 and
Fairchild 71 airplanes.[8][9] Fairchild purchased property on the south side of
Conklin Street (New York State Route 24) and had the airport's original layout plan prepared on November 3, 1927.[8][9][10]
The 77.967-acre (315,520 m2) flying field was developed in the late winter and early spring of 1928 and was originally owned and operated by
Fairchild Engine & Airplane Manufacturing Company.[9] The first flights from the Fairchild Flying Field took place in late spring of 1928 after the Fairchild Airplane and Airplane Engine factories and hangar were completed and aircraft were produced in the new factories. After Fairchild moved to Hagerstown, Maryland in 1931,
Grumman Aircraft Engineering built planes at the airport from 1932 until the spring of 1937.[8][9]
Republic Aviation produced over 800
F-105 Thunderchieffighter bombers during the Vietnam Era.[8][9][10][13] Republic Aviation was acquired by the Fairchild-Hiller Corp. in 1965 for $24.5 million and Fairchild stock.[10] Flight Safety Inc. ran Republic Airport as a general aviation airport beginning on December 7, 1966, for the Joseph Mailman's Farmingdale Corporation, which had purchased the field from Fairchild Hiller for $8 million in 1965.[8][9][10][13]
The MTA also got the US Government to transfer 94 acres (380,000 m2) to the airport in 1971 and purchased the 77-acre (310,000 m2) Lambert property on the north side of
New York State Route 109 and the Breslau Gardens development between New Highway and NY 109 in 1972.[10][16][17][18]
The MTA also proposed building a major intermodal transportation facility at the airport.[14][19] This hub would have served trains, buses, and general aviation, and would have also been the site of three office buildings built atop the
Long Island Rail Road's
Main Line using
air rights – however, this project was ultimately never built.[14][15][20] Similar proposals were made in the 21st century – but those, too, were never built.[21]
NYSDOT era: 1983 – present
After complaints that the MTA was not contributing taxes to local governments and questions about the MTA spending at Republic, ownership of the airport was transferred to the
New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) by the New York State Legislature in April 1983, to promote economic development in the surrounding Long Island region.[10][16][20] The Republic Airport Commission was created by the
New York State Legislature in 1982 (Chap. 370, L.1982) "...as an advisory council to the Commissioner of Transportation in the administration and management of the Republic Airport facilities and its surrounding areas with respect to projects to be undertaken at such airport."[9][10][22]
In 1987, Fairchild went out of business. Much of its historic Fairchild-Republic factory complex was subsequently sold and redeveloped as the Airport Plaza shopping center.[9][13][11][25]
In the early 1990s, NYSDOT proposed extending one of the runways at the airport at its northern end. The proposal was ultimately called-off in 1995.[26]
In late May 2015, a major fire broke out in one of the former, vacant Fairchild-Republic aircraft factory buildings, severely damaging the structure.[27]
In April 2023, Republic Jet Center announced that it broke ground on a new, $28 million FBO facility at the airport to replace its old one.[28] The 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) facility is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2024.[28]
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has an office at the terminal building; however, it is staffed by appointment only and pilots must request immigration services four hours prior to arrival.[35]
The Long Island Republic Airport Historical Society maintains historical archives and sixteen photographic exhibits illustrating the history of aviation on the first floor of the Republic Airport terminal building, behind the airport's control tower, on the east side of
New York State Route 110.[11][23][24]
Charter airlines serving Republic Airport include Air Rutter International, Northeastern Aviation Corporation, Ponderosa Air, Sundance Aviation, Talon Air, and Ventura Air Services.[39][40][41][42][43]
Troop L of the
New York State Police, which provides highway patrol for state parkways in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, is headquartered at the airport.[46]
Republic Airport has a full-time Index A
ARFF team located at the main headquarters and terminal building. The airport has two crash trucks (Rescue 3 and 4), and a support vehicle pickup truck (Rescue 1). The airport is also served by the East Farmingdale Volunteer Fire Company and Village of Farmingdale Fire Department when mutual aid is requested.[47][48][49]
Republic Airport Fire Rescue also responds to aviation incidents in the general vicinity outside of the airport.[48]
Accidents and incidents
On June 1, 1997, a
Piper PA-28 crashed into a parking lot roughly 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the airport while on approach to the runway and subsequently burst into flames.[50] The pilot and all three passengers were killed.[50]
On August 12, 2007, a Learjet 25 (registration N125FT) stained severe damage after encountering a hailstorm. The airplane was withdrawn from use at Republic Airport and subsequently dismantled.[51]
On February 15, 2022, a
Cessna 152 (registration N64949) veered off the runway into the grass during its landing at Republic Airport, subsequently damaging a runway light.[59][60]
On March 5, 2023, a Piper PA-28 with three people onboard caught fire and crashed into the woods on approach to the airport.[7][61] The 23-year-old pilot and one of the two passengers received critical injuries. The other passenger was killed as a result of the crash.[61]
On February 20, 2024, a Piper PA-28 carrying two people experienced an engine failure while on approach back to Republic Airport.[62][63][64] The pilot subsequently performed an emergency landing on the eastbound lanes of the Southern State Parkway, just west of Exit 33 and the airport, after realizing that the plane could not make it back to the runway. The two occupants were treated for minor injuries; there were no serious injuries or deaths.[62][63][64]