Hartford Brainard Airport Association, Inc.

Historical Beginning:

On January 6, 2022, over 50 members of the general aviation community were present for the first inaugural meeting of the Hartford Brainard Airport Association (HBAA). The meeting occurred in response to the city of Hartford’s creation of a committee to consider closing Brainard Airport and replace it with “mixed use development” including high rise residential buildings, up-scale shopping and a marina. Represented at the meeting were general aviation pilots, flight instructors, student pilots, local community business leaders, avionics and aircraft maintenance business owners, and a wide array of other community leaders representing the opinions of central Connecticut. Everyone present was there to learn about the renewed efforts by both city of Hartford and Connecticut’s State politicians to close this busy and very active facility that has been serving the region for over 101 years. On the agenda for this meeting was education – to learn what was happening in the field – and then strategic development – to determine what actions must be taken to halt this remarkably poor decision by Hartford City Council to close an important regional asset.  The very enthusiastic 3-hour meeting concluded with a dedicated call to action and the creation of a formal, organized and professional movement committed to keeping this valuable facility from permanent closure.