Chippewa Valley Regional Airport

Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (IATA: EAU[2], ICAO: KEAU, FAA LID: EAU) is a public use airport in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States. The airport is owned by Eau Claire county and is located 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi)) north of the central business district of the city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.[1]

Chippewa Valley Regional Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerEau Claire County
ServesEau Claire, Wisconsin
LocationChippewa County
Time zoneCST (UTC−06:00)
 • Summer (DST)CDT (UTC−05:00)
Elevation AMSL913 ft / 278 m
Coordinates44°51′57″N 091°29′03″W
WebsiteChippewaValleyAirport.com
Maps

FAA airport diagram
EAU
Location of airport in Wisconsin, United States
EAU
EAU (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
4/22 8,101 2,469 Concrete/treated
14/32 5,000 1,524 Asphalt/concrete
Statistics
Aircraft operations (2017)20,155
Based aircraft (2021)88
Departing passengers (12 months ending February 2020)22,980

It is the largest airport in the 30-county northern Wisconsin area and serves primarily the Chippewa Valley region, operating on a budget approved by a commission equally representing the interests of Chippewa, Dunn and Eau Claire counties.

The airport is mainly used for general aviation and business travel; the Eau Claire-based Menards corporation uses CVRA to base their fleet of aircraft to serve their stores throughout the Midwest. It is occasionally used as an alternative landing site for flights bound for Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. As of April 2010, only one commercial airline, United Airlines, provides service for CVRA to Chicago O'Hare International.

It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021–2025, in which it is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.[3] It is the eighth busiest of eight commercial airports in Wisconsin in terms of passengers served.

History

In 1923, 80 acres (320,000 m2) of land in Putnam Heights were purchased to build an airport. In 1929, Eau Claire Airways was started at the airport, offering training and scheduled taxi service to destinations in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

In 1939, work on a new airport started north of Eau Claire. In 1940, Eau Claire County Airport started operations at its current site. Eau Claire Municipal Airport opened in 1945, while Chippewa Valley Regional Airport was officially opened in 1947 with the arrival of a Northwest Airlines DC-3. At this time, Eau Claire had three airports. Upgrades at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport were made in further decades, with a terminal addition in 1981. Another terminal remodeling and expansion was completed in 2009.[4]

A new $3.9 million 65 feet (20 m) control tower was built in 2005. In November 2006, the tower opened, thus making it safer for pilots. Passenger loading used to be from the tarmac[5] until a jetbridge was installed in Spring 2011.

In 2015, the Airport Commission Room was renamed the Duax Commission Room after long-time airport supporter and former airport commissioner David Duax.

Facilities and aircraft

Chippewa Valley Regional Airport covers an area of 1,100 acres (450 ha) at an elevation of 913 feet (278 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways: 4/22 is 8,101 by 150 feet (2,469 x 46 m) with a concrete surface and 14/32 is 5,000 by 100 feet (1,524 x 30 m) with an asphalt/concrete surface.[1]

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2017, the airport had 20,155 aircraft operations, an average of 55 per day: 86% general aviation, 12% air taxi, 2% military and less than 1% scheduled commercial. In January 2021, there were 88 aircraft based at this airport: 60 single-engine, 10 multi-engine, 15 jet, 2 helicopter and 1 military.[1]

Airline and destination

Passenger
AirlinesDestinations
United Express Chicago–O'Hare

Throughout the years, numerous airlines have served Eau Claire including North Central Airlines, Republic Airlines (1979-1986), Lakeland Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, Skyway Airlines, Air Wisconsin, American Central Airlines, Great Lakes Aviation, Big Sky Airlines and Charter Airlines. Allegiant Airlines and Sun Country Airlines often run charter service to popular destinations.

Statistics
Carrier shares (August 2019 – July 2020)[6]
Carrier   Passengers (arriving and departing)
SkyWest
30,960(100.00%)
Top domestic destinations (August 2019 – July 2020)[6]
Rank Airport Passengers Airline
1 Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) 15,460 United

References
  1. FAA Airport Form 5010 for EAU PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. effective January 28, 2021.
  2. "IATA Airport Code Search (EAU: Eau Claire)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  3. "NPIAS Report 2021-2025 Appendix A" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. September 30, 2020. p. 110. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-03-21. Retrieved 2007-03-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Tower Struggle". Leader-Telegram. March 5, 2006. p. 1A.
  6. "Eau Claire, WI: Chippewa Valley Regional (EAU)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), U.S. Department of Transportation. Feb 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.

Other sources
  • Essential Air Service documents (Docket OST-2009-0160) from the U.S. Department of Transportation:
    • Order 2012-1-24 (January 26, 2012): tentatively re-selecting SkyWest Airlines, Inc. to provide Essential Air Service (EAS) with subsidy rates as follows: Eau Claire, Wisconsin, $1,733,576; Hancock/Houghton, Michigan, $934,156; Muskegon, Michigan, $1,576,067; and Paducah, Kentucky, $1,710,775.
    • Order 2012-2-2 (February 1, 2012): makes final the selection of SkyWest Airlines, Inc., to provide Essential Air Service at Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Hancock/Houghton, Michigan; and Paducah, Kentucky (at Muskegon, the selection of SkyWest was not finalize at this time).
    • Order 2013-10-8 (October 21, 2013): reselecting Delta Air Lines, Inc., to provide Essential Air Service (EAS) at Pellston and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; and SkyWest Airlines, at Paducah, Kentucky; Hancock/Houghton, and Muskegon, Michigan; and Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The Order also tentatively reselects American Airlines, at Watertown, New York. Eau Claire, Wisconsin: Docket 2009-0306; effective Period: January 1, 2014, through January 31, 2016; Service: Fourteen (14) nonstop round trips per week to Chicago O'Hare (ORD); Aircraft Type: CRJ-200; Annual Subsidy: $1,546,536.


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