Boise Airport
Encyclopedia
Boise Airport , also known as Boise Air Terminal or Gowen Field, is a joint civil-military, commercial and general aviation
airport
located three nautical miles (6 km) south of downtown Boise
in Ada County
, Idaho
, USA
. The airport is operated by the city of Boise Department of Aviation and is overseen by an Airport Commission.
Boise is a landing rights airfield requiring international general aviation flights to receive permission from a Customs and Border Protection
officer before landing on the field.
In addition to being a commercial and general aviation airport, Boise also sees usage by the Idaho Air National Guard
on the Gowen Field Air National Guard Base portion of the airport. The National Interagency Fire Center
is based in the city of Boise and the Boise Airport is used for logistical support. The United States Forest Service
also uses Boise Airport as a base for aerial firefighting
air tankers during the wildfire season.
2,805,692 passengers transited Boise Airport in 2010, a negligible change from 2009. For 2009, Boise Airport ranked 76th in passenger enplanements among U.S. airports.
campus now stands. The first commercial airmail flight in the United States passed through this airfield on April 26, 1926, carried by Varney Airlines
. Varney Airlines began operating out of Boise in 1933, later merging with National Air Transport
to become United Airlines
. With United Airlines able to trace its roots to Varney, United is recognized as the airline that has operated the longest out of Boise, 83 years as of 2009. This airfield also played host to Charles Lindbergh
's Spirit of St. Louis
on September 4, 1927.
The current airport has its origins in 1936 when Boise began buying and leasing land for the airport. By 1938, Boise had the longest runway in the United States at that time, 8,800 feet (2,680 m). The steel hangar
for Varney Airlines was moved to the present field in 1939. As the size of aircraft grew, the hangar was no longer able to hold aircraft and was converted into a passenger terminal. It was part of the modern terminal
facility until the completion of a new terminal in 2004.
During World War II
, the Army Air Corps
, later Army Air Forces, leased the field for use a training base for B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator
bomber crews. More than 6,000 men were stationed there during the war.
The field was named Gowen Field on July 23, 1941 after 1st Lt Paul R. Gowen (1909–1938), who was born and raised in Caldwell
, attended the University of Idaho
, and graduated ninth in his class at West Point
in 1933. Gowen was killed instantly in a crash in Panama
in July 1938 while piloting a twin-engine B-10
bomber for the Army Air Corps
. The right engine failed shortly after take-off from Albrook Field, near Panama City. The other two crew members, navigator and radio operator, survived and crawled from the wreckage with burns.
After the war, the portion of the field used by the Army Air Forces was returned to the city. The Idaho Air National Guard
began leasing the airfield after the war and continues to lease it currently.
Between 2003 and 2005, the Boise Airport was remodeled. The airport now features a brand new terminal and an elevated roadway for departures. There were two different phases that were done when doing the new passenger terminal. Phase 1 considered things like baggage claim, lobby, and food and beverage concession Phase 2 was more about security checkpoints and a brand new concourse (Concourse C.
The Boise Airport Passenger Terminal designed by CSHQA
is a three-story, steel-framed 378000 square feet (35,117.3 m²) state-of-the-art aviation facility. Curvilinear, steel trusses create the undulating ceiling plane of the ticket lobby and define the signature profile of the building. The terminal has garnered national attention for the beauty of its design and is considered a prototypical post 9/11 facility.
The Boise Airport was ranked fourth in passenger satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates
2004 Global Airport Satisfaction Index Study.
The Boise Airport was a hub for Horizon Air
from the late 1980s to the early 2000s with over 50 flights to 15 destinations at its peak, but was scaled down post 9/11. It currently serves as a minor focus city.
of 2,871 feet (875 m) above mean sea level. It has two runway
s:
For the 12-month period ending April 30, 2007, the airport had 184,023 aircraft operations, an average of 504 per day: 52% general aviation
, 23% scheduled commercial
, 18% air taxi
, 7% military
. At that time there were 286 aircraft based at this airport: 58% single-engine
, 10% multi-engine, 7% jet
, 9% helicopter
and 16% military
.
In 2005, over 3 million passengers passed through the Boise airport.
The airport can handle minor maintenance and repairs through fixed base operator
s Jackson Jet Center, Turbo Air and Western Aircraft.
Law enforcement at the airport is handled by the Boise Police Department. The Airport Division has an authorized strength of 1 lieutenant, 2 sergeants, and 28 officers. There are currently 5 TSA certified K-9 units
trained in explosive detection.
's tallest structure and the Pacific Northwest
's tallest control tower. It has also been relocated to the south side of the airport in order to control an existing Guard assault strip and a possible new runway south of Gowen Field. The tower was planned and constructed when it was believed that the radar functions would be moved to Salt Lake City. After it was decided to leave the radar positions in Boise, the facility at the base of the tower had to be redesigned and partially remodeled to house the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). The tower and TRACON will not be operational until 2012 or 2013, as the FAA makes the changes and adds new equipment to the facility.
Gowen Field Air National Guard Base
primarily refers to the military facilities on the south side of the runways, which includes Air National Guard
, Army National Guard
, and reserve units of the Army
, Navy
, and Marine Corps. The field is home to the 124th Fighter Wing
(124 FW), Idaho Air National Guard
, which consists of one flying squadron operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command
(ACC) and 12 additional support units. The aircraft based at Gowen Field ANGB is the A-10 Thunderbolt II
close air support
attack aircraft of the 190th Fighter Squadron
(190 FS). The 124 FW was previously designated as the 124th Wing
(124 WG) until 2009 and as a composite unit also operated C-130 Hercules
transport aircraft in the 189th Airlift Squadron
(189 AS), which was operationally-gained by the Air Mobility Command
(AMC). BRAC
2005 directed that the Idaho Air National Guard
divest itself of the C-130 mission by 2009, transferring its C-130s to the Wyoming Air National Guard
, while retaining its A-10 fighter mission. The 124 FW is composed of over 1000 military personnel, ranging from full-time Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) and Air Reserve Technicians (ART) to traditional part-time air national guardsmen.
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located three nautical miles (6 km) south of downtown Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
in Ada County
Ada County, Idaho
Ada County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census, the county had a population of 392,365. The county seat and largest city is Boise, which is also the state capital. Other cities in the county with over 10,000 residents include Meridian, Eagle,...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The airport is operated by the city of Boise Department of Aviation and is overseen by an Airport Commission.
Boise is a landing rights airfield requiring international general aviation flights to receive permission from a Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs and immigration. CBP is the...
officer before landing on the field.
In addition to being a commercial and general aviation airport, Boise also sees usage by the Idaho Air National Guard
Idaho Air National Guard
The Idaho Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is, along with the Idaho Army National Guard, an element of the Idaho National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission....
on the Gowen Field Air National Guard Base portion of the airport. The National Interagency Fire Center
National Interagency Fire Center
The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, is the physical facility that is home to the National Interagency Coordination Center , and the National Multi-Agency Coordination group ....
is based in the city of Boise and the Boise Airport is used for logistical support. The United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
also uses Boise Airport as a base for aerial firefighting
Aerial firefighting
Aerial firefighting is the use of aircraft and other aerial resources to combat wildfires. The types of aircraft used include fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Smokejumpers and rappellers are also classified as aerial firefighters, delivered to the fire by parachute from a variety of fixed-wing...
air tankers during the wildfire season.
2,805,692 passengers transited Boise Airport in 2010, a negligible change from 2009. For 2009, Boise Airport ranked 76th in passenger enplanements among U.S. airports.
History
In 1926, the first municipal airport in Boise was built on a gravel bed where the Boise State UniversityBoise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
campus now stands. The first commercial airmail flight in the United States passed through this airfield on April 26, 1926, carried by Varney Airlines
Varney Airlines
Varney Air Lines was an airline company that started service on April 6, 1926 as an air-mail carrier. Formed by Walter Varney, the airline was based in Boise, Idaho, United States.-Historical background:...
. Varney Airlines began operating out of Boise in 1933, later merging with National Air Transport
National Air Transport
National Air Transport was a large airline. In 1930 it was bought by Boeing. The Air Mail Act of 1934 prohibited airlines and manufacturers from being under the same corporate umbrella, so Boeing split into 3 smaller companies, one of which is United Airlines, and it is this that included what had...
to become United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
. With United Airlines able to trace its roots to Varney, United is recognized as the airline that has operated the longest out of Boise, 83 years as of 2009. This airfield also played host to Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
's Spirit of St. Louis
Spirit of St. Louis
The Spirit of St. Louis is the custom-built, single engine, single-seat monoplane that was flown solo by Charles Lindbergh on May 20–21, 1927, on the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris for which Lindbergh won the $25,000 Orteig Prize.Lindbergh took off in the Spirit from Roosevelt...
on September 4, 1927.
The current airport has its origins in 1936 when Boise began buying and leasing land for the airport. By 1938, Boise had the longest runway in the United States at that time, 8,800 feet (2,680 m). The steel hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
for Varney Airlines was moved to the present field in 1939. As the size of aircraft grew, the hangar was no longer able to hold aircraft and was converted into a passenger terminal. It was part of the modern terminal
Airport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
facility until the completion of a new terminal in 2004.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
, later Army Air Forces, leased the field for use a training base for B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
bomber crews. More than 6,000 men were stationed there during the war.
The field was named Gowen Field on July 23, 1941 after 1st Lt Paul R. Gowen (1909–1938), who was born and raised in Caldwell
Caldwell, Idaho
Caldwell is a city in and the county seat of Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population to be 43,281, as of July 2009.Caldwell is the home of the College of Idaho. It is considered part of the Boise metropolitan area....
, attended the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, and graduated ninth in his class at West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1933. Gowen was killed instantly in a crash in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
in July 1938 while piloting a twin-engine B-10
Martin B-10
The Martin B-10 was the first all-metal monoplane bomber to go into regular use by the United States Army Air Corps, entering service in June 1934...
bomber for the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
. The right engine failed shortly after take-off from Albrook Field, near Panama City. The other two crew members, navigator and radio operator, survived and crawled from the wreckage with burns.
After the war, the portion of the field used by the Army Air Forces was returned to the city. The Idaho Air National Guard
Idaho Air National Guard
The Idaho Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is, along with the Idaho Army National Guard, an element of the Idaho National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission....
began leasing the airfield after the war and continues to lease it currently.
Between 2003 and 2005, the Boise Airport was remodeled. The airport now features a brand new terminal and an elevated roadway for departures. There were two different phases that were done when doing the new passenger terminal. Phase 1 considered things like baggage claim, lobby, and food and beverage concession Phase 2 was more about security checkpoints and a brand new concourse (Concourse C.
The Boise Airport Passenger Terminal designed by CSHQA
CSHQA
CSHQA is a full-service design firm specializing in architecture, engineering and planning. Established in 1889, CSHQA is now one of the northwest's leading architectural and engineering firms, with thousands of projects nationwide.- History :...
is a three-story, steel-framed 378000 square feet (35,117.3 m²) state-of-the-art aviation facility. Curvilinear, steel trusses create the undulating ceiling plane of the ticket lobby and define the signature profile of the building. The terminal has garnered national attention for the beauty of its design and is considered a prototypical post 9/11 facility.
The Boise Airport was ranked fourth in passenger satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates
J.D. Power and Associates
J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services firm founded in 1968 by James David Power III. The firm conducts surveys of customer satisfaction, product quality, and buyer behavior for industries ranging from cars to marketing and advertising firms. The firm is best known for...
2004 Global Airport Satisfaction Index Study.
The Boise Airport was a hub for Horizon Air
Horizon Air
Horizon Air Industries, Inc. is a regional low-cost airline based in SeaTac, Washington, United States. It is the eighth largest regional airline in the USA, serving 52 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico....
from the late 1980s to the early 2000s with over 50 flights to 15 destinations at its peak, but was scaled down post 9/11. It currently serves as a minor focus city.
Facilities
Boise Airport covers an area of 5000 acres (2,023.4 ha) at an elevationElevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 2,871 feet (875 m) above mean sea level. It has two runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s:
- Runway 10L/28R: 10,000 x 150 feet (3,048 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt, Weight capacity: 75,000 pounds (34,000 kg)/single wheel; VASIVisual Approach Slope IndicatorThe visual approach slope indicator is a system of lights on the side of an airport runway threshold that provides visual descent guidance information during the approach to a runway...
system - Runway 10R/28L: 9,763 x 150 feet (2,976 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt, Weight capacity: 75,000 pounds (34,000 kg)/single wheel; VASIVisual Approach Slope IndicatorThe visual approach slope indicator is a system of lights on the side of an airport runway threshold that provides visual descent guidance information during the approach to a runway...
, ILSInstrument Landing SystemAn instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
/DMEDistance Measuring EquipmentDistance measuring equipment is a transponder-based radio navigation technology that measures distance by timing the propagation delay of VHF or UHF radio signals....
For the 12-month period ending April 30, 2007, the airport had 184,023 aircraft operations, an average of 504 per day: 52% general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
, 23% scheduled commercial
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
, 18% air taxi
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
, 7% military
Military aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
. At that time there were 286 aircraft based at this airport: 58% single-engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
, 10% multi-engine, 7% jet
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
, 9% helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
and 16% military
Military aircraft
A military aircraft is any fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft that is operated by a legal or insurrectionary armed service of any type. Military aircraft can be either combat or non-combat:...
.
In 2005, over 3 million passengers passed through the Boise airport.
The airport can handle minor maintenance and repairs through fixed base operator
Fixed base operator
A Fixed-base operator or commonly abbreviated FBO is a term developed in the United States after the passage of the Air Commerce Act of 1926...
s Jackson Jet Center, Turbo Air and Western Aircraft.
Law enforcement at the airport is handled by the Boise Police Department. The Airport Division has an authorized strength of 1 lieutenant, 2 sergeants, and 28 officers. There are currently 5 TSA certified K-9 units
Detection dog
A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to and works at using its senses to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, or blood. Hunting dogs that search for game and search dogs that search for missing humans are generally not considered detection dogs...
trained in explosive detection.
New ATC Tower
On January 4, 2008, city officials broke ground for Boise Air Terminal's latest improvement, a new air traffic control tower. As of today the tower is complete and stands 295 feet (89.9 m) tall, being IdahoIdaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
's tallest structure and the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
's tallest control tower. It has also been relocated to the south side of the airport in order to control an existing Guard assault strip and a possible new runway south of Gowen Field. The tower was planned and constructed when it was believed that the radar functions would be moved to Salt Lake City. After it was decided to leave the radar positions in Boise, the facility at the base of the tower had to be redesigned and partially remodeled to house the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). The tower and TRACON will not be operational until 2012 or 2013, as the FAA makes the changes and adds new equipment to the facility.
Gowen Field Air National Guard Base
Gowen Field Air National Guard Base
Gowen Field Air National Guard Base is the home base of the Idaho Air National Guard 124th Fighter Wing.-Overview:The 124th Fighter Wing, Idaho Air National Guard includes two flying squadrons and 12 support units based at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base in Boise, Idaho...
primarily refers to the military facilities on the south side of the runways, which includes Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
, Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
, and reserve units of the Army
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
, Navy
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
, and Marine Corps. The field is home to the 124th Fighter Wing
124th Wing
The United States Air Force's 124th Fighter Wing is an Air National Guard unit operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command . The 124 FW is located at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, in Boise, Idaho.-Mission:...
(124 FW), Idaho Air National Guard
Idaho Air National Guard
The Idaho Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is, along with the Idaho Army National Guard, an element of the Idaho National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission....
, which consists of one flying squadron operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
(ACC) and 12 additional support units. The aircraft based at Gowen Field ANGB is the A-10 Thunderbolt II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
attack aircraft of the 190th Fighter Squadron
190th Fighter Squadron
The 190th Fighter Squadron flies the A-10 Thunderbolt II. It is a unit of the Idaho Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 124th Fighter Wing. The squadron was deployed to the Middle-East in 2003 to support the 2003 invasion of Iraq...
(190 FS). The 124 FW was previously designated as the 124th Wing
124th Wing
The United States Air Force's 124th Fighter Wing is an Air National Guard unit operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command . The 124 FW is located at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, in Boise, Idaho.-Mission:...
(124 WG) until 2009 and as a composite unit also operated C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
transport aircraft in the 189th Airlift Squadron
189th Airlift Squadron
The 189th Airlift Squadron was a unit of the Idaho Air National Guard equipped with the C-130H Hercules. Its parent unit was the 124th Wing. Following the BRAC 2005 the unit was deactivated in 2009.-External links:...
(189 AS), which was operationally-gained by the Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(AMC). BRAC
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
2005 directed that the Idaho Air National Guard
Idaho Air National Guard
The Idaho Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is, along with the Idaho Army National Guard, an element of the Idaho National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission....
divest itself of the C-130 mission by 2009, transferring its C-130s to the Wyoming Air National Guard
Wyoming Air National Guard
The Wyoming Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Wyoming. It is, along with the Wyoming Army National Guard, an element of the Wyoming National Guard...
, while retaining its A-10 fighter mission. The 124 FW is composed of over 1000 military personnel, ranging from full-time Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) and Air Reserve Technicians (ART) to traditional part-time air national guardsmen.
Airlines and destinations
A number of scheduled airline flights pass through Boise. In addition to airlines, there are several charter companies that operate out of Boise.Statistics
| 232,000 | Frontier, Southwest, United | ||
| 2 |  Salt Lake City, UTSalt Lake City International Airport Salt Lake City International Airport is a major public airport in Utah. A joint civil-military facility, it is located in western Salt Lake City, approximately four miles from the central business district... |
231,000 | Delta, Southwest |
| 3 |  Seattle/Tacoma, WASeattle-Tacoma International Airport The Seattle–Tacoma International Airport , also known as Sea–Tac Airport or Sea–Tac , is an American airport located in SeaTac, Washington, at the intersections of State Routes 99 and 509 and 518, about west of Interstate 5... |
196,000 | Alaska, Southwest |
| 4 |  Portland, ORPortland International Airport Portland International Airport is a joint civil-military airport and the largest airport in the U.S. state of Oregon, accounting for 90% of passenger travel and more than 95% of air cargo of the state. It is located within Portland's city limits just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah... |
131,000 | Alaska, Southwest |
| 5 |  Phoenix, AZPhoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located southeast of the central business district of the city of Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States... |
85,000 | Southwest, US Airways |
| 6 |  Las Vegas, NVMcCarran International Airport McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. It covers an area of and... |
67,000 | Southwest |
| 7 | Spokane, WA Spokane International Airport Spokane International Airport is a commercial airport located about west of downtown Spokane in Spokane County, Washington. It is the primary airport for Spokane, eastern Washington, Coeur d'Alene, and northern Idaho... |
62,000 | Southwest |
| 8 |  Minneapolis/St. Paul, MNMinneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the five-state upper Midwest region of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.-Overview:... |
62,000 | Delta |
| 9 |  San Francisco, CASan Francisco International Airport San Francisco International Airport is a major international airport located south of downtown San Francisco, California, United States, near the cities of Millbrae and San Bruno in unincorporated San Mateo County. It is often referred to as SFO... |
56,000 | United |
| 10 |  Chicago, IL (O'Hare)O'Hare International Airport Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop... |
55,000 | United |
Accidents and incidents
- On 9 December 1996, Douglas C-47A N75142 of Emery WorldwideEmery WorldwideEmery Worldwide was a cargo airline, once one of the leading carriers in the cargo airline world. Its headquarters were located in Redwood City, California....
crashed on approach to Boise Airport killing both crew. The aircraft was on a cargo flight to Salt Lake City International AirportSalt Lake City International AirportSalt Lake City International Airport is a major public airport in Utah. A joint civil-military facility, it is located in western Salt Lake City, approximately four miles from the central business district...
when the starboard engine caught fire shortly after take-off and the decision was made to return to Boise.
See also
- Idaho World War II Army AirfieldsIdaho World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Forces established numerous airfields in Idaho for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers....
External links
- Boise Airport official site
- Gowen Field history Idaho National Guard human resources office
- Idaho Air National Guard history official site
- Gowen Field ANGB at GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...