Airport Past, Present and Future
Airport History
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.
