Collegedale Municipal is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the state of Tennessee with an average of 120 aircraft stationed there. It won the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission's "Airport of the Year" award in 2003. The airport does not provide scheduled commercial service. However, charter service is provided by Aviation Specialists, Inc., a private company located at the airport, that offers flight instruction and a banner towing operation.
Begun as a flying club in 1965 by pilot and mechanic John Linn and Ellsworth McKee—son of the founders of the McKee Foods Corporation, the Collegedale Airport was originally a 1,200-foot (370 m) grass strip on a farm. It was purchased by pilot-entrepreneur Aubrey Kinzer in 1969 and turned into a commercial venture with a flight school, rental aircraft, and aircraft maintenance. In 1972, the City of Collegedale obtained the property, and over the years the asphalt paved runway has been extended to 4,700 feet (1,400 m) from its nominal 3,500-foot (1,100 m) length and widened to 75 feet (23 m) with a parallel taxiway. In 1995, the airport was rededicated and renamed Linn Field in honor of John Linn. Renovations and additions to the terminal, lobby, and Fixed-Base Operations (FBO) office were completed in 2003.[5]
Facilities and aircraft
Collegedale Municipal Airport covers an area of 145 acres (59 ha) at an elevation of 860 feet (260 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 3/21 with an asphalt surface measuring 5,003 by 75 feet (1,525 by 23 m).[1]
For the 12-month period ending September 30, 2011, the airport had 14,500 aircraft operations, an average of 39 per day: 97% general aviation and 3% air taxi. At that time there were 101 aircraft based at this airport: 92% single-engine, 4% multi-engine, 2% helicopter, and 2% ultralight.[1]
The airport offers rental and maintenance services and is open every day from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m, except for Thanks Giving, Christmas, a half day on Christmas Eve, and New Years Day.
