John H. Batten Airport

Coordinates: 42°45′40″N 087°48′50″W / 42.76111°N 87.81389°W / 42.76111; -87.81389
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42°45′40″N 087°48′50″W / 42.76111°N 87.81389°W / 42.76111; -87.81389

John H. Batten Airport

Batten International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerRacine Commercial Airport Corp.
ServesRacine, Wisconsin
Time zoneCST (UTC−06:00)
 • Summer (DST)CDT (UTC−05:00)
Elevation AMSL674 ft / 205 m
Websitewww.BattenAirport.aero
Map
RAC is located in Wisconsin
RAC
RAC
Location of airport in Wisconsin
RAC is located in the United States
RAC
RAC
RAC (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
4/22 6,574 2,004 Concrete
14/32 4,421 1,348 Asphalt
Statistics
Aircraft operations (2021)47,000
Based aircraft (2024)78

John H. Batten Airport (IATA: RAC, ICAO: KRAC, FAA LID: RAC), also known as Batten International Airport, is a public use airport located 2 miles (3 km; 2 nmi) northwest of the central business district of Racine, a city in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. It is privately owned by the Racine Commercial Airport Corporation.[1] It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2023–2027, in which it is categorized as an unclassified reliever general aviation facility.[2]

History[edit]

The airport was founded in 1941 by Carlyle Godske on roughly 160 acres (65 ha) of land purchased from local businessman J.A. Horlick. For most of its history, the airport was known as Racine-Horlick Field, but on September 5, 1989, the name was changed to John H. Batten Field. Batten was one of the airport's early founders and supporters as well as the longtime CEO of Racine's Twin Disc, Inc.[3]

During World War II (ca 1941-1945), the newly established airport was used as a flight and ground school for the Army. Students were housed at Racine College on the south side of Racine. Ground school instruction was given at Horlick High School and the actual flight training took place at the airport. Today, the airport is used primarily by local aviation enthusiasts and by the corporate jets of large local companies such as S.C. Johnson & Son and Twin Disc, Inc.[3]

On July 30, 2010, plans were announced to have a full-time aviation maintenance firm on the field, planned to have opened on September 1, 2010.[4]

Facilities and aircraft[edit]

John H. Batten Airport covers an area of 411 acres (166 ha), including two paved runways:[1]

  • 4/22 with a 6,574 x 100 ft (2,004 x 30 m) with concrete surface
  • 14/32 measuring 4,421 x 100 ft (1,348 x 30 m) with asphalt pavement

For the 12-month period ending June 15, 2021, the airport had 47,000 aircraft operations, an average of 129 per day: 96% general aviation and 4% air taxi.

In March 2024, there were 78 aircraft based at this airport: 64 single-engine, 6 multi-engine, 5 jet, 2 helicopter and 1 ultra-light.[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for RAC PDF, effective March 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "NPIAS Report 2023-2027 Appendix A" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. October 6, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  3. ^ a b UW-Parkside Archives, John Sullivan Collection, MC 011
  4. ^ Burke, Michael (2010-07-30). Aviation maintenance firm coming to Batten Airport. Journal Times, 30 July 2010. Retrieved from http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/article_3b728e8e-9c12-11df-94b5-001cc4c002e0.html.

External links[edit]