History

1953 

North Philadelphia Airport opens its new $93,000 fire station. Designated Engine 18, the new fire unit consists of 33 firefighters, one pumper truck and one jeep. 

1982 

Augusta Aviation Corporation opens its Northeast Service Center at PNE. 

1987 

Augusta Aviation Corporation announces the relocation of its North American headquarters from Bucks County to PNE. 

2001 

Atlantic Aviation relocates offices and operations to the renovated mail terminal building. 

The Polonia Bank Flyers Skate Zone opens on Norcom Road in September 2001. 

2003 

A memorial Butterfly Garden is completed. The airport collaborated with the Compassionate Friends of Northeast Philadelphia to construct the garden. 

2005 

Phase 2 of the perimeter path project is completed along Red Lion Road and part of Decatur Road. 

The airport opened Taxiway E, connecting Taxiway F to the approach end of Runway 6, and opened another portion of Taxiway D, connecting Taxiway L to the approach end of Runway 15. The new and added taxiways allow aircraft to use the full length of the runways without having to "back taxi." 

The airport's new vehicle storage and maintenance building was completed. 

2006 

Wawa opened a store and 6-fuel pump gas station on Grant Avenue and Blue Grass Road. 

2007 

Agusta completed construction of a second production plant consisting of a 50,000 square foot facility and a 60,000 square foot warehouse. The addition of the new plant produced more jobs, bringing the total number of Agusta employees to 500. 

2010 

The Aviation Institute of Maintenance broke ground on an additional training facility to meet its demand of student mechanics. The new training facility will double the size of the institute's current building. 

2020 

PNE received a $157,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in CARES Act relief funding to help respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

PNE was awarded a $9.1 million Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant from the FAA to rehabilitate Runway 6-24.   

2021 

PNE celebrated the completion of Runway 6-24 which totaled $37 million, $19.7 million from the FAA and $582,000 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The completion of the project includes runway pavement strengthening, reconfiguring the geometry of the runway and taxiways to the latest FAA standards, and converting the existing incandescent lights and signs for the entire 7,000-foot runway into new LED lights and signs.   

2023 

Reconstruction of Taxiway L begins with over $3.5 million in FAA AIP grant funding. The geometry of the taxiway will be widened to comply with FAA guidance for taxiway design group (TDG) 3. This work includes a 15-foot widening of the taxiway to allow for 20-foot shoulders. Lighting and signage will be relocated to accommodate the change in geometry. The lighting will also be improved by adding fixtures and switching out incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs. The first phase of the Taxiway L project, which included the reconstruction of 2,000 feet of pavement, was completed. The existing pavement was crushed in place and mixed with cement to provide a base for the new asphalt – resulting in 45 percent of project materials being recycled on-site through this method, leading to reduced cost, less construction traffic, a faster construction timeline, and reduced carbon emissions. 

In December 2023, Leonardo delivered its 700th American-made helicopter to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services from PNE.  

2024 

Two thousand feet of pavement were completed in Phase 2 of Taxiway L reconstruction, along with 10 new ADA ramps in front of the main entrance to Atlantic Aviation, on Ashton Road.   A flap gate, which operates similarly to a tide gate and regulates the flow of water and prevents wildlife from entering the airport grounds, was installed on the security perimeter of the airport. A 1200-foot-long drain alongside the main southwest ramp was reconstructed.  

2025  

PNE received the Envision Silver Award for the Taxiway-L Rehabilitation Project. Thirty percent of the project’s paving and concrete materials were reused or recycled content from reclaimed asphalt product (RAP), and recycled byproduct (fly ash or slag) used in the cement paving and concrete pipes. Operational energy consumption for the project was reduced by at least 50 percent by converting taxiway and signage lighting from incandescent to LED lights. Ninety-five percent of construction waste was diverted from landfill.  

Renovations to PNE’s Administrative Building began.  The main entrance is being relocated to improve accessibility and ensure full ADA compliance. Additionally, the interior will be completely redesigned to transform the existing space into a more functional and modern workplace. This PNE improvement project is designed to receive LEED Gold Certification for its sustainable design and construction and is the first renovation pursuing LEED certification being led by the Department of Aviation.  

A security perimeter fence replacement project is also in progress that replaces approximately 65 percent of the airport’s fencing. The new black vinyl-coated fencing made of a more durable, weather-resistant material that offers a cleaner aesthetic while maintaining full security standards.   

Four of PNE’s vehicle gates are also being replaced with new electric drive-through gates with upgraded operating systems, advanced access control technology, closed-caption CCTV cameras for improved monitoring, and more durable gateposts and hinges. This project, which began in March, is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.  

The first phase of a two-year rehabilitation of Taxiway C is underway. About half of the 5,000-foot taxiway is being completed this year, with the remainder scheduled for 2026.  

2026  

Beginning in spring 2026, the airport will begin a three-year phased reconstruction of Runway 15/33, PNE’s secondary runway. The current 150-foot-wide runway will be narrowed to 75 feet, with the addition of 20-foot shoulders on both sides. 

Notice of Privacy Practices