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AIRPORT HISTORY
Located in Sebastian, Florida, Sebastian Municipal Airport is a small general
aviation airport located in the north coastal region of Indian River County.
Similar to other facilities serving World War II, the approximate 1,025-acre
airport was built by the United States Navy in 1943 (known then as Roseland
Satellite Field) as a naval flight training station. The military paid
approximately $1,300 for the property in 1943. Then the aviation facility was
transferred by the War Assets Administration, as part of the Surplus Property
Act of 1944, on January 29, 1959, to the City of Sebastian. Upon taking
responsibility, a provision was written in reference to the Federal Surplus
Property Act, in that the airport would be used without unfair discrimination
solely for aviation purposes. This provision provided that the property be given
back to the United States in the event of noncompliance with any terms and
conditions of the deed.
Since its acquisition in 1959, Sebastian Municipal Airport (now 620 acres) has
been maintained and operated by the City of Sebastian. Since the transfer of
ownership from the U.S. Government, Sebastian has undergone numerous facility
changes and improvements. The noted championship Sebastian Municipal Golf Course
was built in 1981 on a 155-acre plot of land occupying a large portion of the
airport property. Local area flight-training facilities greatly increased
operation at the airport in the mid- to late- 1980s. Currently, Fixed Based
Operators (FBO) occupy the east and west sides of the airfield, and frequent
skydiving activity accounts for a large portion of operations at the airport.
The addition of a number of commercial and private general aviation hangars and
related aprons were developed along the west quadrant of the field. No
identifiable existing structures stand from the airport’s military days. Over
the years, there have been other changes made to the airport. Some of the more
significant projects, going backward chronologically, have included:
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Center 75 feet of Runway 4/22 reconstructed and 37.5 feet
of both sides of the runway resealed and rejuvenated (completed during 1997)
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Installation of LIRL on Runway 4/22
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The closing of Runway 18/36 as an active runway. This
pavement was then converted into a taxiway and apron.
Some of the most notable improvements, which have changed the
look of the airfield, have occurred since the last Master Plan Update. For
example, general aviation facilities have been constructed on the west side of
the airport, consisting of several new T hangars and a miscellaneous inventory of skydive training facilities.
AIRPORT ORGANIZATION/OPERATING STRUCTURE
The airport is directly regulated by the City of Sebastian and is a Department
of the City, under the City Manager.
AIRPORT ROLE
In its current role, the airport focuses primarily on serving general aviation.
The airport does currently support and accommodate recreational activity, and it
sees itself trying to attract additional users in this category in the future.
The airport also accommodates flight training activity and envisions increasing
its role as a provider of flight training services. The airport could support
SATS related air taxi operations. The airport’s future role is limited primarily
by manmade and environmental factors. The airport sees itself experiencing
significant growth in the coming years. Management’s goal is to provide for an
on-site corporate industrial park using the 143 acres gained by closing Runway
13/31. Management would also like to attract additional aviation services and
construct additional T-hangars.
General aviation operations by corporate and business users are present at the
airport. The airport estimates that 10 percent of its annual general aviation
operations are business related. Approximately 25 percent of the airport’s
based aircraft are owned by local businesses. The airport also
attracts a number of transient or visiting general aviation aircraft.
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![[Under Construction]](images/undercon.gif)
