The Richard Lloyd Jones, Jr. Airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has a new name: Tulsa Riverside Airport.
The new name becomes effective Jan. 1, 2022. The airport’s International Air Transport Association (IATA) code, RVS, and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) code, KRVS, will remain the same.
After surveying pilots, tenants, and others in the community, officials with the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust decided to return to the airport’s original name to assist with clarification in regards to its airport code (RVS), as well as geographic location.
The new name also will prevent pilots from confusing Richard Lloyd Jones, Jr. Airport with the Jones Memorial Airport, which is 34 miles to the southwest in Bristow, Oklahoma, airport officials said.
“So many of our pilots and neighbors refer to the airport by this name already, so making it official was a priority of ours,” said Austin Wheeler, Airport Manager for Richard Lloyd Jones, Jr. Airport. “Working with our tenants, we opted for Tulsa Riverside Airport so that we could reduce confusion and keep the image of an airport that is open for any and all pilots who want to stop in and visit our great city.”
Richard L. Jones, Jr. was the longest tenured board member of the Tulsa Airport Authority, serving from 1948 to 1978, many of those years serving as chair of the Board of Trustees. On July 22, 1978, the Tulsa Riverside Airport was renamed the Richard Lloyd Jones, Jr. Airport to recognize his service.
Opened July 3, 1958, KRVS has three runways, more than 200 commercial and private hangars, and more than 500 based aircraft. More than 350 people are employed at the airport, according to officials. The airport boasts six flight schools, two FBOs, and generates an annual economic output of $95 million. Aircraft operations (takeoffs and landings) totaled 177,452 in 2020, making KRVS the busiest airport in the state and one of the top 60 busiest airports in the nation.
A blast from the past! I learned to fly there back in the early 80’s.
I lived in Tulsa from ‘74 to ‘82 so I was there when the name changed to Jones. Very few call it that. I’m glad they changed it back. It was always going to be Riverside to those of us who flew in the area back then.
Paul, you’re right.
I got my PSEL through Ross Aviation back in ’70 when Ross and Spartan were the only two big players around. It was Riverside then and even after the name was changed we continued to talk to Riverside Tower and Ground. As recently as ’18 when I was last in there, it was still Riverside Tower and Ground. I’m glad the airport commission acknowledged the need to revert to the original name. It was a silly waste of time and money when they renamed the field, and now they get to do it again to correct that faux pax.