Airport Past, Present and Future

Campbell Aviation began developing Indianapolis Executive Airport (TYQ) as Terry Airport in 1957 

with a 3,340 feet by 60 feet bituminous runway configured in a north-south direction and a 3,000 

feet by 200 feet turf runway configured in a northeast-southwest direction. It was certified by the 

State of Indiana in 1958. The airport included 10 T-hangars  and an administration building. A few 

years later, twenty-six additional T-hangars were added. In 1965, the Campbells sold the airport to the Van Sickles.

In 1978, the north-south runway (Runway 18-36) was lengthened to 5,160 feet, widened to 75 feet, 

and three aircraft turnarounds were constructed. Other improvements made by the Van Sickles 

included installing High Intensity Runway Lights (HIRL), Visual Approach Slope Indicators (VASI-2) 

for both runways and an Instrument Landing System, including a Non Directional Beacon (NDB). Three additional large hangars were also added.

The airport was classified as a reliever to Indianapolis International Airport in the 1980s, which  

opened  the  door  for  the  facility  to  get  government  funding  from  the  FAA  and  the State 

 of  Indiana.  In  1986,  TYQ  received  it’s  first  federal  grant  for  construction  to  

install underdrains  for  Runway  18-36  and  acquire  40  acres  of  land  for  approach  

protection.  In 1987 and 1988, other grants were received to reconstruct, widen, and groove the 

primary runway, which resulted in a 60,000 lb. DWL (dual wheel loading) strength for the runway. 

Under this grant, 33 more acres of land were acquired, an aircraft apron was constructed, and  a  

partial  parallel  taxiway  was  added.  In  the  early  1990’s,  TYQ  received  three  more grants for extending the runway to its current length of 5,500 feet and acquiring 322 more acres of land.

The airport did not receive further grants until 2001 when they mitigated wetland impacts and 

graded the runway safety area. In 2003, the airport was purchased by Hamilton County and  the  

Hamilton  County  Airport  Authority  began  receiving  a  series  of  grants  for reimbursement for that purchase.