Private planes headed into Cleveland for the Republican National Convention will have to stop for security inspections first at Akron-Canton or Youngstown airports before heading into what will become restricted air space.
With 50,000 people expected for the RNC, which opens July 18, an estimated 750 private and charter flights are expected for the event. They’ll have to meet the same clearance as planes landing in the highly restricted Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Some will have passed inspection before departure from one of the 160 airports equipped for security clearance, but planes that leave any of the 5,000 unequipped ports will be required to land at either of the Northeast Ohio gateway airports.
Eric Berg, who runs Avflight at Akron-Canton Airport, said he expects a stream of planes will be rolling through during the RNC.
“Certain fixed-base operators, which is what we are, go through training and we secure aircraft, and they’re allowed to fly into Washington, D.C. And that is in place all the time. What they’re doing for the RNC is putting in a temporary flight restriction. They’re going to treat Burke and Hopkins as Washington, D.C., for that week.
Mike Hillman runs Winner Aviation at Youngstown-Warren Regional, which will also serve as what the TSA calls a gateway airport.
“We’re not talking about the airlines here, but people with their own planes, or corporate planes. [They] make an appointment with TSA. Come here. Clear. And, then fly up. Or, park here and drive up.”
Akron-Canton appeal
Parking space for aircraft is one reason why 1,500-acre Youngstown-Warren and 2,400-acre Akron-Canton were picked as gateways.
Row upon row of hangars, an aircraft parking area big enough to handle a jumbo-jet in one corner, and extended runways, are making Akron-Canton especially popular with incoming private and corporate aviation customers.
Kristie Van Auken is Akron-Canton’s vice president of marketing and communications.
“What we find is, corporate travelers and corporate pilots like to fly in and out of here because of our 24-7 air traffic control coverage,” she said. “We’ve got the runway length. We’ve got everything they need. And it’s easy in, easy out.”
Brian Warren manages Thomas Limousine of Akron. He said the proximity of major highways to both Akron-Canton and Youngstown-Warren appears to be swaying many private plane travelers to stay near the gateway airports.
“What we have found is most of the places in Cleveland are sold out,” he said.
“We’ve had inquiries about the Youngstown airport where people come in could be staying over toward the Kent area. Logistically, all of those — Akron, Canton, Kent, Youngstown — have the interstate access so you can make it to downtown Cleveland in a very decent amount of time.”
There is another practical factor about the area’s gateways airports. Because private and corporate aviation are main businesses for them, they have the necessary logistical and technical support readily at hand.
Meanwhile, Van Auken, walking through a newly expanded ticketing and check-in section of Akron-Canton, says the airport planning in Northeast Ohio for the RNC demonstrates how effectively the area’s transportation assets can be brought together for major events.
“So when we talk about being a second portal to the region, now you can really see how that plays out. And that can be from either the corporate, or from the commercial side of the business. We help each other, and create really a regional airport system.”
WKSU reporter Tim Rudell can be emailed at rudell@wksu.org.