Everglades City
by Reverend Dr Bob N. Wallace
Everglades Community Church
I will never forget the first time I flew into Naples, Florida. As we came in over the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, looking down I saw stretches of sandy beaches and palm trees. Then, the closer we got it seemed as if the entire area was golf courses. At that time there were about 50 golf courses. Now, according to golflink.com there are 84 golf courses in Naples, including 18 public and 66 private courses, mostly in gated communities. Additionally, within a 20-mile radius of Naples, there are 16 more golf courses, with 4 public and 12 private courses. So, if you’re looking to play golf, you’ve got plenty of options, because this is a golfer’s paradise!
Then we landed right in the heart of Naples! Naples Municipal Airport (APF) is a public airport that began operating in 1943 as a military airfield and was later converted to a civilian airport. It’s conveniently located just minutes from the Gulf of Mexico, downtown Naples, and I-75. It accommodates more than 120,000 general aviation takeoffs and landings each year and provides various services, including U.S. Customs clearing for international arrivals, sightseeing tours, air charter operators, and flight schools. Several air ambulance services are also stationed in the area.
The airport has a rich history dating back to World War II when it was established by the United States Army Air Forces at the height of WWII as Naples Army Airfield. It was part of the Southeast Training Center and provided basic flight training to cadets using Fairchild PT-19 air-craft used primarily for primary flight training, providing new pilots with their first taste of military flying.
In 1945 the Naples Army Airfield was inactivated as a military base and turned over to the War Assets Administration for civil use. The airport was then returned to the city of Naples and Collier County in 1947. A lot of the airmen who had been stationed in Naples during that time returned and bought homes in Naples because they had fallen in love with the area.
In the 1950s Provincetown-Boston Airlines began scheduled service to Miami International Airport, marking the start of commercial operations at Naples airport. PBA was a regional airline in the United States that operated from 1949 until it merged with Britt Airways in 1989. That marked the end of PBA’s flights to Naples, Florida.
Founded by John C. Van Arsdale, who after serving in the US Army Air Forces during World War II, started a flying school at Cape Cod Airfield in Marstons Mills, Massachusetts, which eventually led to the founding of PBA in 1949. Van Arsdale’s airline began with a route between Provincetown and Boston and then expanded to include routes in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida. PBA was known for its commuter services. You could fly non-stop from Naples to Tallahassee. At one point PBA was the largest commuter airline in the United States. Eventually, it became part of Continental Express after the merger of Continental Airlines and United Airlines. Mr. Van Arsdale passed away in Naples on February 7, 1997. His legacy in the aviation industry and his contributions to regional airlines are well-remembered.
In 1969 the Florida State Legislature created the City of Naples Airport Authority to oversee its operation, development, and improvement.
Presently the airport is primarily used for general aviation and does not have scheduled commercial service. It is home to flight schools, air charter operators, and various public services, including fire/rescue services and mosquito control.
Naples Airport continues to play a vital role in the community, providing essential services and supporting the local economy.
