The airport was built during the 1940s by the United States Army Air Forces and served as a military flight training facility.[3] It also was used by Air Transport Command to deliver US-built aircraft destined for Britain under Lend-lease from the factories on the West Coast or for assignment to selected British pilots.[citation needed] Some of the aircraft were partially disassembled and prepared for being loaded on board ships for the trip across the Atlantic Ocean.[citation needed]
After World War II, the U.S. government gave airport control to the City of Venice, naming the city the airport sponsor through various federal grant assurances.[1][3]
Venice Municipal Airport covers an area of 835 acres (338 ha) which contains two paved runways: 5/23 (asphalt) and 13/31 (concrete), 5/23 measuring 5,000 x 150 ft (1,524 x 46 m) and 13/31 measuring 5,640 x 150 ft (1,719 x 46 m).[1][2]
For the 12-month period ending October 12, 2018, the airport had 60,834 aircraft operations, an average of 167 per day: 100% general aviation. At that time there were 197 aircraft based at this airport: 173 single-engine, 18 multi-engine, 5 helicopter, and 1 glider.[2]
It is also the base of FFTC (Florida Flight Training Center) [5] that offers pilot training to local and international students. Self-service aviation fuel, as well as aircraft maintenance services are provided by FFM (Florida Flight Maintenance).
Suncoast Air Center, located just west of the approach end of Runway 23, is the primary fixed-base operator (FBO) and provides ground support and aviation services to aircraft that use the airfield. They offer both Avgas and JetA fuels, with Avgas available via full or self-service.[6]
Sarasota Avionics International maintains its headquarters in a 10,000 SF hangar on the northwest side of the airport.
There is one restaurant located at the airport. The Suncoast Cafe is housed within Suncoast Air Center's FBO terminal and is open for breakfast and lunch.
