News Articles

The Small Community Air Service Development Grant Program (SCASDP) as administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation is making $16.9 million in federal grant funding available to airports in FY21 for air service development. Willard Airport will receive $850,000 of funding to support air service development efforts to the Washington, DC region. Willard is the […]

Letter from the Executive Director – July 2022 It’s a busy summer at University of Illinois – Willard Airport.  Our terminal is beginning to look like it did before the pandemic, with almost 400 people a day flying in and out. We’re working hard to modernize the terminal and improve the travel experience.  We just […]

Willard Airport was proud to be awarded $1 million in federal funding for a new security checkpoint.  The money was the last piece of funding for the $2.6 million project, with most of the other funds coming from the federal infrastructure bill. The current single-lane checkpoint, which is located on the bridge between the main […]

While the commercial aviation industry faces a huge shortage of qualified pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers, the Parkland Institute of Aviation, at Willard Airport, is working on a solution.  Parkland reports enrollment for aviation programs for fall of 2023 is up 25% from last year, to more than 100 full-time students – the highest number […]

Each year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspects every commercial service airport in the country.  Willard Airport works hard to keep everything on the field in perfect operating condition, so when the time for the year’s inspection comes, the airport is sure to pass. This year was special: Willard Airport passed without a single discrepancy.  […]