Orlando Executive Airport (ORL): Welcome to the Secondary Airport in Orlando

When the majority of people hear about airports in Orlando, the first name that will come to mind is the Orlando International Airport (MCO). However, there is another key player in the aviation industry in the city, the Orlando Executive Airport (ORL).

It is a small airport only three miles east of downtown Orlando, which does not host regularly scheduled commercial flights, yet it is an essential part of the private aviation, business flights, emergency, and law enforcement services. ORL is ideal for travelers who are flying privately or those who require fast access to the city centre.

Key Facts on the Orlando Executive Airport

• Airport Codes: IATA -ORL, ICAO -KORL, FAA LID -ORL.

• Location: Orange County, Florida (3 miles east of downtown Orlando)

• Owned By: Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA).

• Airport Size: 967 acres

• Elevation: 113 feet (34 m)

• Runways:

• Runway 7/25 – 6,004 ft long, 150 ft wide

• Runway 13/31 – 4,625 ft long, 100 ft wide

Distance of ORL to Major Airports in Orlando

The table below shows the distance and the estimated drive time of the major airports in the area to the Orlando Executive Airport (ORL):

(Source - Google Maps)

A Rich History of Aviation

Orlando Executive Airport has a century-old history.

• 1928: Opened as the commercial airport in Central Florida under the name of Orlando Municipal Airport.

• 1940s (World War II): Occupied by the U.S. Army Air Corps and renamed as the Orlando Army Air Base, where it was used as a training base, night fighter base, and antisubmarine patrol base.

• 1946: Came back to civilian service, and airlines such as Eastern and National were flying it.

• 1961: The airport was renamed Herndon Airport in memory of Pat Herndon, the city engineer.

• 1976: Transferred to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA).

• 1982 and 1998: It was renamed to its current name, Orlando Executive Airport.

In the 1960s, the need for longer runways took speed, and ORL was not able to service these needs anymore, the traffic shifted to Orlando International Airport (MCO). But ORL was still needed in the personal and smaller-scale aviation.

The Importance of Orlando Executive Airport

However, MCO is the primary international hub in Orlando, whereas ORL concentrates on general aviation and corporate flying. The airport can be the first preference due to its location close to the downtown of Orlando and other major highways such as the State Road 408.

• Private jet travelers

• Corporate executives

• Medical emergency flights

• Aviation units of law enforcement.

• Air taxi and charter flights

Actually, ORL processed over 122,000 flights annually in 2020, and in 2023 it grew to 181,227 flights.

It has also hosted leading aviation seminars, such as the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention, and is the destination site of thousands of athletes in the Special Olympics airlift, the largest non-human airlift in the history of the United States.

ORL Facilities and Services

Orlando Executive Airport is not simply a runway but a full-fledged aviation center.

Flight Operations:

• 95% general aviation

• 5% air taxi

• Less than 1% military

Based Aircraft (2022):

• 132 single-engine planes

• 42 multi-engine planes

• 33 jets

• 8 helicopters

Fixed-Base Operators (FBOs):

• Atlantic Aviation

• Sheltair Air Services

Fueling, maintenance, hangars, and passenger facilities are available in these FBOs, and ORL is quite popular with the owners of private jets and charter services.

Moreover, the Orange County Sheriff Aviation Unit and the medical aviation operations of AdventHealth are also located at the airport.

Community and Aviation Heritage

A major attraction of ORL is the presence of a unique park called the Colonel Joe Kittinger Park, which is situated in the southwest of the airport.

• Named after a local aviation hero and Air Force veteran, Colonel Joe Kittinger.

• Provides an aviation-themed park with observation points to view the landing and takeoff of planes.

• In 2014, a decommissioned F-4 Phantom II jet fighter was placed on-site as a static display, further contributing to the aviation history of the park.

This not only makes the airport a travel hub but also a community landmark to aviation enthusiasts.

Safety and Incidents

Similar to any long-established airport, ORL has experienced some of the most significant accidents, such as:

• 1960: An Eastern Air Lines Martin 404 and a Beechcraft Bonanza collided.

• 1967: A crash of a Learjet on an emergency landing.

• 2022: A microburst overturned a Diamond DA-42NG Twin Star, and one person was killed.

Regardless of such accidents, ORL still ensures high levels of safety according to FAA rules, which is why the facility is a reliable aviation center in terms of the privacy industry.

Final Thoughts

Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) does not deal with millions of passengers like MCO, but it is a very important part of the aviation network in Orlando. ORL is a busy place, a few minutes off downtown, with its own private jets and corporate flights, as well as emergency services and the history of aviation.

To the people who fly private or do business in Orlando, Orlando Executive Airport provides history, speed, and convenience at one location.

(Source - Wikipedia)