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Ocala International Airport

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Ocala International Airport

Jim Taylor Field
Sign for the terminal at the airport in June 2020
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Ocala
ServesOcala, Florida
Elevation AMSL90 ft / 27 m
Coordinates29°10′18″N 082°13′27″W / 29.17167°N 82.22417°W / 29.17167; -82.22417
Websitewww.OcalaAirport.com
Map
OCF is located in Florida
OCF
OCF
Location of airport in Florida
OCF is located in the United States
OCF
OCF
OCF (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18/36 7,467 2,276 Asphalt
8/26 3,009 917 Asphalt
Statistics (2022)
Aircraft operations58,465 (for year ending 10/31/2022
Based aircraft146

Ocala International Airport (IATA: OCF, ICAO: KOCF, FAA LID: OCF) is five miles west of Ocala, in Marion County, Florida, United States.[1] It is also known as Ocala International Airport-Jim Taylor Field and was previously Ocala Regional Airport or Jim Taylor Field. Despite its name, commercial airlines do not fly to Ocala International Airport.[2]

The airport is about 31 miles south of Gainesville Regional Airport.

History

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The airport opened in the early 1960s, replacing the previous Taylor Field just southwest of Ocala. Its 5000-ft runway was served by Eastern Airlines, with one Convair 440 flight a day with a routing of Jacksonville (JAX) - Gainesville (GNV) - Ocala (OCF) - Vero Beach (VRB) - Miami (MIA) and return. Eastern later operated Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprop service with the last Electra flight leaving Ocala in 1972.

Later scheduled passenger airline service included:

The last airline flight left Ocala in 1987 when USAir Express pulled out. Airport facilities were then expanded to include a 3,000 foot crosswind runway, an extension of the main runway to 6,900 feet, an instrument landing approach, and FAA Part 139 certification. Scheduled passenger airline service is unlikely to return to Ocala.[7]

In 2004 a $1.3 million plan was put in motion to upgrade the apron security system.

Facilities & aircraft

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Facilities

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Ocala International Airport covers 1,532 acres (620 ha) at an elevation of 90 feet (27 m). It has two asphalt runways: runway 18/36 is 7,467 by 150 feet (2,276 x 46 m) and runway 8/26 is 3,009 by 50 feet (917 x 15 m).[1]

In May 2009 construction began on an air traffic control tower. The tower was certified and staffed as an FAA Level I contract control tower in summer 2010. A new terminal building was completed in the spring of 2020.

Current facilities on site include:

Aircraft

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For the year ending October 31, 2022 the airport had 58,465 aircraft operations, average 160 per day: 95% general aviation, 3% air taxi, 1% military, and <1% commercial. 146 aircraft were then based at the airport: 101 single-engine and 20 multi-engine airplanes, 15 jet, 9 helicopter, and 1 glider.[1]

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In 2012, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John released a Christmas album containing the track "I Think You Might Like It", whose music video features the FBO at the airport. Travolta lives nearby, at the Jumbolair fly-in community, which also makes an appearance in the video.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for OCF PDF, effective 2023-02-23
  2. ^ https://www.ocalamarion.com/directory/ocala-international-airport/#:~:text=The%20Ocala%20International%20Airport%20is%20not%20currently%20an,provides%20commercial%20airline%20passenger%20service. [bare URL]
  3. ^ "QH042582". www.departedflights.com. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
  4. ^ "QH090882p8". www.departedflights.com. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
  5. ^ "US060187". www.departedflights.com. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
  6. ^ "MCO85p3". www.departedflights.com. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
  7. ^ http://www.ocalafl.org/uploadedFiles/Development_Services/Engineering/Ocala_International_Airport/Guiding_Documents/Airport_Master_Plan_Final_Report.pdf Archived 2015-06-19 at the Wayback Machine (p. 4-19: "Consequently, no scheduled commercial passenger service is forecast for the Airport over the next 20 years.")
  8. ^ "Avis Car Rental Ocala International Airport". Avis Car Rental. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Elevation 89 Restaurant Ocala International Airport". Elevation 89. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Enterprise Car Rental Ocala International Airport". Enterprise Car Rental. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Epic Flight Academy Ocala International Airport". Epic Flight Academy. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Ocala Aviation Ocala International Airport". Ocala Aviation. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Sheltair Aviation Ocala International Airport". Sheltair Aviation. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  14. ^ Travolta, John; Newton-John, Olivia. "I Think You Might Like It". YouTube. Vevo. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
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