1940’s  ///  In 1941, the U.S. Military purchased the land to construct an airfield as a satellite training field the for the purpose of training military pilots during World War II, and the runways were completed on March 15, 1943.  The site was called the West Prospect Road, Satellite Field #1. Over the years, the airfield become known as “West Prospect Field”.  As war surplus property, the City requested to acquire the property and it was deeded to the City with grant assurances and declaration of protective covenants that the property would be used for aviation purposes.

1950’s  ///  The airport was mostly unused until 1959 when the first structure was built, an aircraft maintenance training hangar..

1960’s  ///  Two stadiums, Yankee Baseball Stadium and Lockhart Football Stadium, were built and general aviation operations surged. The City did not wait for the FAA to build an Air Traffic Control Tower. Instead, the City constructed an air traffic control cab on top of the baseball stadium in 1966. Four years later, the FAA took over the operations and made plans to build a Control Tower. The Airport struggled to generate revenue and portions of the airport’s outlying properties/land were sold to support the Airport infrastructure improvement projects.  The selling of the properties attracted industry businesses, i.e. Sunbeam-Oster, Harris Corporation, and Allied-Bendix Corporation, to the area and created jobs.  The Airport Security Police Patrol was established.

1970’s  ///  By the beginning of the 70s, the Airport adopted a lease-only policy for airport property to ensure self-sustainability with recurring revenue streams and prevent further loss of land.  The original Control Tower was built by the FAA.  The City constructed a U.S. Customs building and ramp.  A fire station to serve the Airport  and a maintenance building to house airfield equipment were built. FXE was designated by the FAA as a super reliever airport and approved to receive an Instrument Landing System,  a precision approach system, which significantly enhanced aircraft safety.

1980’s  ///  The Airport began to operate without a loss.  Jets operators began to base their operations at FXE. The Airport served as home to 500 based aircraft, and a State economic impact study revealed that it supported 3000 employees, and boosted $42million in payroll. FXE’s first Airport Master Plan and Part 150 Noise Study were conducted. As an outcome of the Part 150, the Control Tower the FAA agreed to operate 24-hours a day and the Airport agreed to reimburse the FAA for manning the tower during the nighttime hours.

1990’s  ///  The Airport fully paid back its loans and debt to the City with interest and generated a profit.  The Airport installed the world’s first fully integrated Airport Noise Operations & Monitoring System (ANOMS) and officially created the Noise Abatement Program.  Airport received approval to design and construct the Aircraft Observation Area for the community to view aircraft arriving and departing the Airport.

2000’s  ///  Airport Operations peaked in 2000 at 259,876 annually.  The Airport initiated and facilitated the establishment of the Foreign Trade Zone #241, an economic tool to benefit and attract businesses conducting import and export operations, through tax deferral or elimination, and support job retention. Approximately $30.5 million of Airfield Safety Improvement projects were completed over the decade.  In addition, infrastructure improvements were made and the development of the aviation property became fully developed.  The entire electrical system, airfield lighting, signage and markings were updated and enhanced. The Downtown Helistop and the Airport Administration Building were built; a new Fire Station was constructed with a hazardous materials unit, training facility, and City's new Emergency Operations Center (EOC).  The Airport received the FAA’s

2010’s  ///  The Airport was awarded the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Community Airport of the Year award.  A new Aviation Equipment & Service Facility building was constructed and designed as the first Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)  building for the City and achieved a Gold Certification level.  The City and communities at large have benefited from the Airport’s economic impact, with a total impact of $2,091,276,000, supporting 12,708 employees; and contributing $578,721,000 in total payroll,, per the FDOT 2019 Statewide Aviation Economic Impact Study.  FXE houses 885 based aircraft of which  over 292 are jets.  According to the FAA, FXE had approximately 172,000 annual operations in 2019.  As a significant contribution to the National Airspace System, the FAA, in 2012 National Asset Study, deemed FXE as a National categorized general aviation airport, which provide our communities with access to national and international markets. 

2020’s  ///  Finding resilience through an unprecedented worldwide pandemic, the Airport will continue to serve the aviation needs of the industry, help our tenant businesses to prosper, attract businesses to the area, and benefit our community, while being the finest general aviation airport in global market place.