Smith Field (SMD)

Smith Field operates as Fort Wayne's historic premier general aviation facility, commissioned on June 25, 1925 as Paul Baer Municipal Airport making it one of America's oldest surviving aviation sites, now serving Northeast Indiana's business aviation community from its 236-acre location 5 miles north of downtown Fort Wayne near the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Managed by the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority, the facility honors airmail pioneer Art Smith while supporting 20,109 annual aircraft operations averaging 55 per day of exclusively general aviation and air taxi services.

Terminal facilities feature a comfortable pilot lounge with complimentary coffee and Wi-Fi, concierge services, refreshments, and climatized hangars providing aircraft protection, while the preserved historic terminal building showcases Fort Wayne's aviation heritage dating to the 1920s airmail era. Ground transportation relies on Uber, Lyft, and pre-arranged car services like Savoya or LimoLink for business travelers, with rental car delivery coordinated through FBO staff serving the northern Fort Wayne business corridor.

Operational characteristics center on business aviation serving Fortune 500 companies and regional enterprises, corporate jet operations, flight training, and charter services supporting Northeast Indiana's economy while avoiding the commercial operations concentrated at Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) on the city's south side. The facility accommodates everything from light aircraft to business jets with full FBO services and maintenance capabilities.

Strategic importance encompasses preserving Fort Wayne's aviation heritage as the city's first municipal airport while supporting modern business aviation needs, providing convenient access to the Coliseum Boulevard business corridor and Allen County War Memorial Coliseum events, and maintaining essential general aviation infrastructure for Northeast Indiana where the facility's historic significance combines with contemporary corporate aviation requirements serving the region's industrial and business communities.