Getting to Kankakee by air

Date Modified: 07/18/2009 7:15 AM

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Kankakee has many transportation options. Two airports serve the city and its surrounding areas.

Located about two miles south of Kankakee, along I-57 is the Greater Kankakee Airport, the largest general aviation airport servicing the south Chicagoland area. The airport offers two runways, one over a mile long at 6,000-feet long by 100-feet wide, and the other is 4400-feet long by 75-feet wide.

The airport has an inventory of over 115 storage hangars that have the ability to store aircraft in a variety of sizes, from small Cessnas to large business jets. The airport is home to two businesses, Rotors & Wings Aviation and The Ultralight Place. Rotor & Wings provides training in both fixed wing airplane and helicopter, and they also perform aircraft maintenance. The Ultralight Place is a company that is specialized in light sport and ultralight type aircraft service and training.

The Greater Kankakee Airport caters to small general aviation aircraft all the way up to large business jets. The airport aids in the development of the community, with many business owners and company executives utilize the airport facilities on a daily basis. Many commercial pilots have used the airport for their pilot training, and are now airline captains that are flying all over the world. The airport also plays host to military operations and training, and antique aircraft static displays.

Koerner Aviation, a family owned an operated aviation company is located about one and a half miles southwest of Kankakee on Il. 115. Two turn runways, 2644-feet long by 300-feet wide, and 2564-feet long by 200-feet wide, serve pilots. Twenty four aircraft are based on the field. Koerner Aviation started in 1927 by brothers Delbert and Martin Koerner, and has been dedicated to building, restoring and maintenance of all general aviation aircraft, for over 80 years.