Augusta Regional

A Legacy of Private Aviation

AGS originated in 1941 when the City of Augusta learned that the U.S. Army Air Corps was looking for a basic Contract Pilot School site. As such, a 900-acre tract 7.5 miles southeast of the city was chosen, and on March 22nd, an agreement was made whereby $500,000 would be invested in the new school. Furthermore, a city-owned hangar from nearby Daniel FIeld would be moved onsite, an aircraft parking ramp would be paved, and a road in the area would be paved to create a runway. Training at the new school began on June 10th, with the initial aircraft used being the Vultee BT-13 Valiant and the BT-15. The school was designated the 72nd Army Air Force Flight Training Detachment, and the 10-week course consisted of 70 hours of flight training and 150 hours of ground training (the school was one of only three contract pilot schools conducting basic training). Shortly after training began, civilian flight instructor Don C. Bush lost his life in an aircraft crash, and the airfield was named Bush Field in his honor. In January 1942, the school was purchased by the Defense Plant Corporation (a corporate entity of the federal government), and with WWII raging, the school's facilities were expanded. This included a ground training building and additional barracks, with the number of aircraft assigned to the school growing from 24 to 100 and more paved runways added. In 1944, training requirements decreased, and with the nearby Camp Gordon looking like it might close, the Army lost its use for the field. As such, the facility was closed in September of 1944, having trained over 5,000 students. The area was used until 1948 by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, at which point the surplus military aircraft were disposed of or sold. On July 1st, 1950, the federal government transferred Bush Field to the City of Augusta, and the airlines subsequently moved from Daniel Field to Bush Field. In 1955, a transient terminal was opened to sell fuel and provide service to visiting aircraft. To this day, this operation is a significant source of revenue for the airport (no city funding or tax dollars have ever been needed to support the airport). Passenger traffic grew in the 50s and 60s. In 1961, an 8,000-foot runway was completed, whereas by 1964, Bush FIled was the 135th-busiest airport in the nation. The following year, jet service began at the airport. By the decade's end, a terminal had been added, the baggage claim area had doubled, and an air traffic control tower, a lobby, a hotel, a second runway, and parking meters were all added. During the 1970s, the airport grew its industrial operations, with Capitol Aviation of Georgia (now known as Landmark Aviation) establishing itself with an airplane service facility. They developed a jet engine repair facility, an avionics-navigation shop, and a structural and aircraft systems repair shop. They continue operating to this day, employing around 220 people at Augusta. In 2000, the airport was renamed Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field. Of the original buildings, all the hangars are still in use. The hotel, pool, and terminal building were demolished in conjunction with the construction of an entirely new terminal building, which opened in 2007.