Cincinnati Will Always Be My ‘Home Sweet Airport’

Lunken Field faces an uncertain future, but it will forever be a special place.

Friday, September 27, 2024 at 08:47 AM ET

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The original FAA control tower in the terminal building at Cincinnati’s Lunken Airport sits in a state of disrepair. [Courtesy: Martha Lunken]

Key Takeaways:

Lunken Airport is depicted as a thriving general aviation and corporate hub with dramatically recovered traffic and busy flight schools, contrary to local media suggesting it's "struggling."
The author criticizes Cincinnati city management for mismanaging the airport, specifically for tearing out a crucial runway (21R), threatening historic hangars, and implementing rent increases.
These management decisions are seen as detrimental, potentially devastating to smaller aircraft and student pilot operations, and are changing the fundamental character of a historically significant airport deeply cherished by the author.

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I had lunch with some pilot friends, including a retired airline guy, a kid working two jobs and going to college—crazy about learning to fly—and two or three others who can fly or fix anything from sophisticated corporate jets to homebuilts and small, antique taildraggers.

It’s great to call them friends, but the conversation topic was grim: “What in the hell is going on at Lunken Airport?” Sure enough, the front-page headline in the Sunday Cincinnati newspaper shouted, “What’s Next for Lunken Airport…Cincinnati’s tiny, aging airfield…and what’s ahead for the struggling airport’s second century?”

Martha Lunken

Martha Lunken is a lifelong pilot, former FAA inspector and defrocked pilot examiner. She flies a Cessna 180 and anything with a tailwheel, from Cubs to DC-3s.