page_title: Auburn University Regional Airport
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Auburn University Regional Airport / History
caption_attribution_description: English: The new terminal opened in September 2010 for the Auburn University Regional Airport with the Robert G. Pitts Field (AUO/KAUO), Auburn, AL, USA.
context_page_description: Auburn University Regional Airport with the Robert G. Pitts Field is a public use airport located two nautical miles east of the central business district of Auburn, a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. The airport is owned by Auburn University and was formerly known as Auburn–Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport. It is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a general aviation facility.
  The airport offers no commercial service in or out of Auburn. The closest airport of significance outside Auburn is the Columbus Airport in Columbus, Georgia, roughly a one-hour drive from Auburn. The closest commercial airports are the Montgomery Regional Airport in Montgomery, Alabama, the Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Alabama, and the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. These airports are within a two-hour driving distance from Auburn, and offer air service to most of the world's major airports. Daily bus/van shuttle service is available from the Auburn area to the Atlanta airport.
context_section_description: In its earliest days, the airport was nothing more than a grass field. With one airplane, the airport was very different from its current status. Today, the airport is home to some 97 aircraft and Auburn University's Department of Aviation.
  When first constructed in 1930, the Auburn–Opelika Airport was a private airfield built to serve the sister cities of Auburn and Opelika located in Lee County, Alabama. It was also intended to serve the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (API), later renamed Auburn University. Over the next decade, the airport would go from a private airfield, to a stop along the mail route for the Civil Aeronautics Administration, and eventually become a training ground for the U.S. Military. During its time as a Navy/CAA war training school, the Auburn School of Aviation would be developed.
  Over the next several decades, many improvements were made to the airport, making it a standard of excellence in the general aviation field. A new terminal and administration building was constructed in 1950, consisting of both enclosed and open flight decks, a restaurant, flight ready rooms, classrooms, and operations offices with local, state, and federal funds. Also in the 1950s, medium-intensity runway lights were installed, runways were resealed, and an access road to Glenn Avenue was constructed.
  The 1960s continued to see major improvements to the airport; pavement for aircraft parking was completed along with the reconstruction of the 18/36 and 11/29 runways and taxiways. During the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s a concentrated effort was made to acquire the land and funding for the 18/36 runway extension. Renovations and several improvements were made to the airport facilities, updating them to modern standards.
  In January 2002, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to open the 1,332-foot (406 m) runway extension. It was extended from 3,933 feet (1,199 m) to 5,265 feet (1,605 m) and was widened from 75 feet (23 m) to 100 feet (30 m).
  As of August 2006, the Federal Aviation Administration gave clearance for the installation of a glideslope antenna and approach lighting system (MALSF) for runway 36. These improvements were completed in late 2007. Plans are being made for extensive crack repair, pavement rehab, and painting of runway 11/29, along with minor crack repair and repainting of runway 18/36.
  Site prep work for four hangars, a new ramp area, and a new terminal was started in January 2008. These improvements will help the airport provide better service for the large crowds of people who fly in to attend college football games at Auburn University.
  In November 2009, the Auburn University Board of Trustees voted to rename the Auburn-Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport as the Auburn University Regional Airport with the Robert G. Pitts Field.
  A new terminal was dedicated in September, 2010.
  In July, 2018, the old FBO (serving as the flight education building) was demolished shortly before the newly constructed Delta Air Lines Aviation Education Building was dedicated and opened. That same year, the WWII era hangar and maintenance facilities were demolished and taxiway A, parallel to Runway 18/36, was shifted further west to meet FAA design standards.
caption: The new airport terminal was dedicated in September, 2010.
exif: {"Image Make": "Apple", "Image Model": "iPhone 4S", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "72", "Image YResolution": "72", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "6.0", "Image DateTime": "2012:11:24 09:39:56", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered", "Image ExifOffset": "186", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/2045", "EXIF FNumber": "12/5", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Program Normal", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "50", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0221", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2012:11:24 09:39:56", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2012:11:24 09:39:56", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "Y", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "5180/471", "EXIF ApertureValue": "4312/1707", "EXIF BrightnessValue": "60859/6002", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF Flash": "Flash did not fire, auto mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "107/25", "EXIF SubjectArea": "[1631, 1223, 881, 881]", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "3264", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "2448", "EXIF SensingMethod": "One-chip color area", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF DigitalZoomRatio": "2428/1745", "EXIF FocalLengthIn35mmFilm": "35", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard"}