Felts Field Airport
Encyclopedia
Felts Field is a public use airport
located four nautical mile
s (4.6 mi
, 7.4 km
) northeast of the central business district
of Spokane
, in Spokane County, Washington
, United States
. It is owned by Spokane City-County.
The airport has two hard surface runway
s and one runway on the Spokane River
. Felts Field is primarily used for general aviation
now, however was Spokane's primary passenger airport before the opening of Spokane International Airport
.
and east of Spokane proper. Aviation activities began there in 1913. In 1920 the field, then called the Parkwater airstrip, was designated a municipal flying field at the instigation of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce. In 1926, the United States Department of Commerce
officially recognized Parkwater as an airport, one of the first in the West. In September 1927, in conjunction with Spokane’s National Air Derby and Air Races, the airport was renamed Felts Field for James Buell Felts (1898-1927), a Washington Air National Guard
aviator killed in a crash that May. Parkwater Aviation Field, later Felts Field, was the location for flight instruction, charter service
, airplane repair, aerial photography
, headquarters of the 116th Observation Squadron of the Washington Air National Guard
, and eventually the first airmail
and commercial flights in and out of Spokane. After World War II
, commercial air traffic
moved to Geiger Field (later Spokane International Airport). Felts Field remains a busy regional hub for private and small-plane aviation and related businesses and services. In 1991 it was designated Felts Field Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places
.
of 1,957 feet (596 m) above mean sea level. It has two runway
s: 3L/21R is 4,499 by 150 feet (1,371 x 46 m) with a concrete
surface and 3R/21L is 2,650 by 75 feet (808 x 23 m) with an asphalt
surface. It also has a seaplane
landing area designated 3W/21W which measures 6,000 by 100 feet (1,829 x 30 m).
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2009, the airport had 75,124 aircraft operations, an average of 205 per day: 89% general aviation
, 11% air taxi
, and <1% military
. At that time there were 163 aircraft based at this airport: 69% single-engine
, 22% multi-engine, 1% jet
and 8% helicopter
.
cargo plane (Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner
) (N439AF) crashed on approach while attempting to land on runway 21R at Felts Field using ILS
. The pilot failed to maintain proper glide slope and crashed short of the runway into trees. The pilot was killed immediately on impact and aircraft was written off (Damaged beyond repair).
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 four nautical mile
Nautical mile
The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...
s (4.6 mi
Mile
A mile is a unit of length, most commonly 5,280 feet . The mile of 5,280 feet is sometimes called the statute mile or land mile to distinguish it from the nautical mile...
, 7.4 km
Kilometre
The kilometre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousand metres and is therefore exactly equal to the distance travelled by light in free space in of a second...
) northeast of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, in Spokane County, Washington
Spokane County, Washington
Spokane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington, named after the Spokane tribe. As of the 2010 census the population was 471,221, making it the fourth most populous county in Washington state. The largest city and county seat is Spokane, the second largest city in the state,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is owned by Spokane City-County.
The airport has two hard surface 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 and one runway on the Spokane River
Spokane River
The Spokane River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately long, in northern Idaho and eastern Washington in the United States. It drains a low mountainous area east of the Columbia, passing through the city of Spokane, Washington.-Description:...
. Felts Field is primarily used for 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...
now, however was Spokane's primary passenger airport before the opening of Spokane International Airport
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...
.
History
Felts Field, Spokane's historic airfield, is located on the south bank of the Spokane RiverSpokane River
The Spokane River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately long, in northern Idaho and eastern Washington in the United States. It drains a low mountainous area east of the Columbia, passing through the city of Spokane, Washington.-Description:...
and east of Spokane proper. Aviation activities began there in 1913. In 1920 the field, then called the Parkwater airstrip, was designated a municipal flying field at the instigation of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce. In 1926, the United States Department of Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
officially recognized Parkwater as an airport, one of the first in the West. In September 1927, in conjunction with Spokane’s National Air Derby and Air Races, the airport was renamed Felts Field for James Buell Felts (1898-1927), a Washington Air National Guard
Washington Air National Guard
The Washington Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Washington. It is, along with the Washington Army National Guard, an element of the Washington National Guard...
aviator killed in a crash that May. Parkwater Aviation Field, later Felts Field, was the location for flight instruction, charter service
Air charter
Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft as opposed to individual aircraft seats...
, airplane repair, aerial photography
Aerial photography
Aerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure. Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer, triggered remotely or...
, headquarters of the 116th Observation Squadron of the Washington Air National Guard
116th Air Refueling Squadron
The 116th Air Refueling Squadron flies the KC-135 Stratotanker. It is a unit of the Washington Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 141st Air Refueling Wing.-Federal mission:...
, and eventually the first airmail
Airmail
Airmail is mail that is transported by aircraft. It typically arrives more quickly than surface mail, and usually costs more to send...
and commercial flights in and out of Spokane. After 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...
, commercial air traffic
Commercial aviation
Commercial aviation is the part of civil aviation that involves operating aircraft for hire to transport passengers or cargo...
moved to Geiger Field (later Spokane International Airport). Felts Field remains a busy regional hub for private and small-plane aviation and related businesses and services. In 1991 it was designated Felts Field Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Facilities and aircraft
Felts Field covers an area of 416 acres (168.3 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 1,957 feet (596 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: 3L/21R is 4,499 by 150 feet (1,371 x 46 m) with a concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
surface and 3R/21L is 2,650 by 75 feet (808 x 23 m) with an asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
surface. It also has a seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
landing area designated 3W/21W which measures 6,000 by 100 feet (1,829 x 30 m).
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2009, the airport had 75,124 aircraft operations, an average of 205 per day: 89% 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...
, 11% 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...
, and <1% 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 163 aircraft based at this airport: 69% 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...
, 22% multi-engine, 1% 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...
and 8% 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...
.
Accidents and incidents
On November 29, 2003, Merlin AirwaysMerlin Airways
Merlin Airways is an American airline based in Billings, Montana, USA. It operates freight services under contract to FedEx Express and UPS Airlines. The airline previously conducted FAR Part 121 passenger operations in Alaska and Texas as well as providing charter service for gambling junkets...
cargo plane (Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner
Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner
The Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner or the Fairchild Aerospace Metro is a 19-seat, pressurised, twin turboprop airliner first produced by Swearingen Aircraft and later by Fairchild at a plant in San Antonio, Texas, United States....
) (N439AF) crashed on approach while attempting to land on runway 21R at Felts Field using ILS
Instrument Landing System
An 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...
. The pilot failed to maintain proper glide slope and crashed short of the runway into trees. The pilot was killed immediately on impact and aircraft was written off (Damaged beyond repair).