Huntsville International Airport
Encyclopedia
Huntsville International Airport , also known as Carl T. Jones Field, is an airport
located 9 miles (14 km) southwest of the central business district
of Huntsville
, a city in Madison County
, Alabama
, United States
. The airport is a part of the Port of Huntsville
(along with the International Intermodal Center and Jetplex Industrial Park), and serves the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area
. It is located at 1000 Glenn Hearn Boulevard in Huntsville, Alabama. It has a single straightforward layout with 12 gates and features restrooms, shops, restaurants, phones and large murals depicting various aviation and space exploration scenes. There is a Four Points by Sheraton
above the ticketing area/lobby, and adjacent to the terminal is a parking garage and to opposite sides are the control tower and a golf course. The airport's west runway, at 12600 ft (3,840.5 m), is the second longest in the Southeastern United States
, being just 400 ft shorter than the international runway at Miami International Airport
.
The airport's "Fly Huntsville" custom jingle encourages passengers to depart directly from Huntsville instead of driving to Birmingham or Nashville. However, a hesitancy by locals to fly from HSV may be understandable, as an August 2009 report by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics covering the first quarter of 2009 revealed that Huntsville passengers paid, on average, the highest airfares in the United States. The airport reported that commercial airline passenger traffic at Huntsville International increased 2.3 percent in January 2010 over the same period one year before.
, and frequent service to Mexico
and Hong Kong
. It is therefore the only true international airport in the state.
These airlines have Huntsville operations:
system.
Currently, Huntsville International is undergoing major renovations of the concourse facilities, which will add:
Also, plans are underway for another terminal area, added runways, and the lengthening of the two current runways.
operated by United Airlines crashed while attempting to takeoff at Huntsville. While the plane was accelerating down the runway, the pilots pulled the nose up too early and retracted the front landing gear. The aircraft sank back laying the front of the fuselage on the runway. The pilots retarted the throttle and the plane stopped 272 feet (82.9 m) past the runway end.
April 4, 1977: Southern Airways Flight 242
, left Huntsville bound for Atlanta but crashed near Rome, Georgia
. The Douglas DC-9 operated by Southern Airways
entered a severe thunderstorm causing both engines to fail, the pilots attempted an emergency landing on State Highway 92 in Georgia but crashed, killing 63 people on the plane and 9 on the ground.
December 11, 1991: A Beechcraft Beechjet 400A crashed into Mount Lavendar after taking off from Rome, Georgia
, to Huntsville. The aircraft crashed after entering a mountainous terrain with low visibility.
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 9 miles (14 km) southwest 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 Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
, a city in Madison County
Madison County, Alabama
Madison County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is a major part of the Huntsville Metropolitan Area.It is also included in the merged Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The county is named in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America, and the...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The airport is a part of the Port of Huntsville
Port of Huntsville
The Port of Huntsville is an inland port located in Huntsville, Alabama that consists of the:* Huntsville International Airport* International Intermodal Center* Jetplex Industrial Park-External links:*...
(along with the International Intermodal Center and Jetplex Industrial Park), and serves the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area
Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area
The Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area is the most populated sub-region of North Alabama, and is the second fastest growing region in the State of Alabama, with 510,088 living within the CSA...
. It is located at 1000 Glenn Hearn Boulevard in Huntsville, Alabama. It has a single straightforward layout with 12 gates and features restrooms, shops, restaurants, phones and large murals depicting various aviation and space exploration scenes. There is a Four Points by Sheraton
Four Points by Sheraton
Four Points by Sheraton is a Starwood Hotels & Resorts hotel brand, targeted towards business travelers and small conventions. The Four Points is Starwood's 3rd largest brand and is found in over 24 different countries with around 149 properties worldwide....
above the ticketing area/lobby, and adjacent to the terminal is a parking garage and to opposite sides are the control tower and a golf course. The airport's west runway, at 12600 ft (3,840.5 m), is the second longest in the Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
, being just 400 ft shorter than the international runway at Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
.
The airport's "Fly Huntsville" custom jingle encourages passengers to depart directly from Huntsville instead of driving to Birmingham or Nashville. However, a hesitancy by locals to fly from HSV may be understandable, as an August 2009 report by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics covering the first quarter of 2009 revealed that Huntsville passengers paid, on average, the highest airfares in the United States. The airport reported that commercial airline passenger traffic at Huntsville International increased 2.3 percent in January 2010 over the same period one year before.
Airlines and destinations
Huntsville International Airport is served by seven airlines representing all three international airline alliances.Cargo
Huntsville International is the largest airport in Alabama in terms of cargo transport. Huntsville features daily cargo service to EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and frequent service to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. It is therefore the only true international airport in the state.
These airlines have Huntsville operations:
- ABX AirABX AirABX Air, Inc., formerly Airborne Express, is a cargo airline headquartered at Wilmington Air Park in unincorporated Clinton County, Ohio, United States, near the City of Wilmington. ABX Air operates scheduled, ad hoc charter and ACMI freight services. It also provides flight support services and...
- Atlas AirAtlas AirAtlas Air, Inc. is an American cargo airline based in Purchase, Harrison, New York. It operates scheduled freight flights on a wet lease basis for some of the world's leading airlines, flying to 101 cities in 46 countries. Its crew bases include: Miami International Airport, New York's John F...
- CargoluxCargoluxCargolux Airlines International S.A., trading as Cargolux, is a cargo airline with its head office on the grounds of Luxembourg – Findel Airport in Sandweiler, Luxembourg. It is one of the largest scheduled all-cargo airlines in Europe with a global network...
- FedEx Express
- PanalpinaPanalpinaPanalpina is a Swiss company, provider of forwarding and logistics services, specializing in intercontinental air and ocean freight and associated supply chain management solutions. It operates a network of some 500 branches in more than 90 countries; in a further 60 countries, the group cooperates...
- UPS AirlinesUPS AirlinesUPS Airlines is an American cargo airline owned by United Parcel Service Inc. . The company is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Its home airport is located at Louisville International Airport...
Expansion
In 1989, Huntsville International became the first airport in the United States to install an ASR-9 dual-channel airport surveillance radarAirport Surveillance Radar
An airport surveillance radar is a radar system used at airports to detect and display the position of aircraft in the terminal area.-Digital Airport Surveillance Radar :...
system.
Currently, Huntsville International is undergoing major renovations of the concourse facilities, which will add:
- A $60 million terminal expansion (under construction)
- A new 219 ft (66.8 m) tall control towerControl towerA control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
(completed in 2007, opened May 4, 2008) - An expanded 5000 ft2 concession area on concourse (opened April 12, 2008)
- Upgraded flight information display systems at gates & parking areas (completed in 2007)
- A parking deck expansion with 1,330 additional parking spaces (completed in December 2008)
- An enlarged 20000 ft2 public waiting and security screening area (completed in June 2009)
- An expansion on the west runway, making it the second longest in the southeast (completed in 2006)
- A new taxiway between both runways with a 269 ft (82 m) tunnel running underneath (under construction)
- A new air cargo building at the International Intermodal Center, which will include about 92000 square feet (8,547.1 m²) (completed in February 2009)
- Security system improvement (completed in October 2008)
- Taxiway "L" between the airport's east and west runways (completed in October 2008)
- Dirt work on a new Jetplex Industrial Park north access road linking the airport's entrance to Wall Triana Highway (completed in July 2008)
- AirTran started servicing HSV with direct flights to Orlando in May, 2010, and to Baltimore in June, 2010.
Also, plans are underway for another terminal area, added runways, and the lengthening of the two current runways.
Accidents and Incidents
October 17, 1965: A Douglas DC-6Douglas DC-6
The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
operated by United Airlines crashed while attempting to takeoff at Huntsville. While the plane was accelerating down the runway, the pilots pulled the nose up too early and retracted the front landing gear. The aircraft sank back laying the front of the fuselage on the runway. The pilots retarted the throttle and the plane stopped 272 feet (82.9 m) past the runway end.
April 4, 1977: Southern Airways Flight 242
Southern Airways Flight 242
Southern Airways Flight 242 was a DC-9-31 jet, registered N1335U, that executed a forced landing on a highway in New Hope, Paulding County, Georgia, United States after suffering hail damage and losing thrust on both engines in a severe thunderstorm on April 4, 1977.At the time of the accident, the...
, left Huntsville bound for Atlanta but crashed near Rome, Georgia
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
. The Douglas DC-9 operated by Southern Airways
Southern Airways
Southern Airways was a regional airline operating in the United States from its founding by Frank Hulse in 1949 until 1979 when it merged with North Central Airlines to become Republic Airlines, which on October 1, 1986, became part of Northwest Airlines, which in 2008 became a part of Delta Air...
entered a severe thunderstorm causing both engines to fail, the pilots attempted an emergency landing on State Highway 92 in Georgia but crashed, killing 63 people on the plane and 9 on the ground.
December 11, 1991: A Beechcraft Beechjet 400A crashed into Mount Lavendar after taking off from Rome, Georgia
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
, to Huntsville. The aircraft crashed after entering a mountainous terrain with low visibility.
External links
- Huntsville International Airport (official web site)