Grand Bahama International Airport
Encyclopedia
Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA) is a privately owned international airport
in Freeport
, Bahamas. The airport is a joint venture between Hutchison Port Holdings
(HPH) and The Port Group (or the Grand Bahama Port Authority
). The facility also includes 741 acres (299.9 ha) of land that adjoins it to the Freeport Harbour Company Limited as they operate as one entity, known as the Sea Air Business Centre (SABC).
Grand Bahama International Airport is one of two Bahamian airports that has US border preclearance facilities.
The airport
has an 3359 metre runway which is capable of handling the largest aircraft in service and is relatively close to all major cities of the Eastern Seaboard
of the United States
.
Some features that are available at the Grand Bahama International Airport are:
International airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
in Freeport
Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
, Bahamas. The airport is a joint venture between Hutchison Port Holdings
Hutchison Port Holdings
Hutchison Port Holdings is a private holding company incorporated in British Virgin Islands, it is the subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa. In April 2006 Hutchison Whampoa sold 20% shares to PSA International, Hutchison Whampoa still owned 80%....
(HPH) and The Port Group (or the Grand Bahama Port Authority
Grand Bahama Port Authority
The Grand Bahama Port Authority is a privately held corporation that also acts as the municipal authority for Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas...
). The facility also includes 741 acres (299.9 ha) of land that adjoins it to the Freeport Harbour Company Limited as they operate as one entity, known as the Sea Air Business Centre (SABC).
Grand Bahama International Airport is one of two Bahamian airports that has US border preclearance facilities.
The 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...
has an 3359 metre runway which is capable of handling the largest aircraft in service and is relatively close to all major cities of the Eastern Seaboard
Eastern seaboard
An Eastern seaboard can mean any easternmost part of a continent, or its countries, states and/or cities.Eastern seaboard may also refer to:* East Coast of Australia* East Coast of the United States* Eastern Seaboard of Thailand-See also:...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Some features that are available at the Grand Bahama International Airport are:
- ILS (Instrument Landing System)
- VOR System
- PAPI (Position Approach Path Indicator) system
- Distance Remaining Markers
- Category seven (7) Fire Fighting Facilities
- General Aviation services, including fuelling
- Special Cargo/Freight handling area
- US Pre-Clearance Facility
Airlines and destinations
Accidents and incidents
- On 12 November 1964, Lockheed LodestarLockheed LodestarThe Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar was a passenger transport aircraft of the World War II era.-Design and development:The prototype of the Lockheed Model 18, which first flew in 1939, was constructed from one of a batch of Lockheed Model 14 Super Electras which had been returned to the manufacturer by...
N171Q stalled after take-off and was destroyed by fire in the subsequent crash, killing all four people on board. - On 22 November 1966, de Havilland DH.125British Aerospace BAe 125The British Aerospace 125 is a twin-engined mid-size corporate jet, with newer variants now marketed as the Hawker 800. It was known as the Hawker Siddeley HS.125 until 1977...
N235KC of Florida Commuter AirlinesFlorida Commuter AirlinesFlorida Commuter Airlines was a small U.S. regional airline based out of Palm Beach International Airport that evolved directly from Roberson Air, Inc. which did business as Red Baron Airlines. This happened when Dr. Rudolph P. Scheerer bought out Dr. Clive E. Roberson for a 100% stake in the...
crashed into the sea 7.3 km (3.9 nmi) off Grand Bahamas during an illegal flight from Miami, FloridaMiami, FloridaMiami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. - On 24 November 1979, Convair 440-86 N444JM of Mackey International Airlines was on an international non-scheduled passenger flight to Fort Lauderdale International Airport when the starboard engine caught fire just after take-off. On approach to Grand Bahamas International, the engine fell off. On landing, the aircraft departed the runway and ended up in the sea. All 46 people on board escaped from the aircraft.
- On 12 September 1980, Douglas DC-3ADouglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
N75KW of Florida Commuter Airlines, operating a scheduled international passenger flight from West Palm Beach International AirportPalm Beach International AirportPalm Beach International Airport is a public airport located 3 nautical miles west of Palm Beach, Florida, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and serves Palm Beach County. The airport is operated and maintained by Palm Beach County Department of Airports. Road access to the airport is available...
, Palm Beach, FloridaPalm Beach, FloridaThe Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to Grand Bahama International Airport crashed into the seaFlorida Commuter Airlines crashThe Florida Commuter Airlines Flight 65 crash into the Atlantic Ocean near West End Settlement on Grand Bahama Island occurred on September 12, 1980. The Douglas DC-3 departed West Palm Beach, FL at 20:35 and crashed at about 20:58 leaving no survivors. The plane was not recovered...
6.5 kilometres (3.5 nmi) off West EndWest End, Grand BahamaWest End is the oldest town and westernmost settlement on the Bahamian island of Grand Bahama. It is the current capital of Grand Bahama, contrary to the belief that Freeport City is the capital of the island. It is also the third largest settlement in the Bahamas...
. All 34 on board were killed. - On 20 July 2000, Douglas C-47A N54AA of Allied Air Freight suffered an engine failure on take-off from Grand Bahama International Airport on a cargo flight to Nassau International Airport, Bahamas. The aircraft crashed while attempting to return to Grand Bahama International and was destroyed. Both crew were killed.
External links
- Bimini Island Air Also operates charters from any airport in Florida