Jackson-Evers International Airport
Encyclopedia
Jackson-Evers International Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport
located in Jackson
, Mississippi
, five nautical miles (9 km) east of the central business district
of Jackson, across the Pearl River
.
It services commercial, private, and military aviation. It is named after Medgar Evers
, the former Mississippi
Field Secretary for the NAACP, and is administered by the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority (JMAA), which also oversees aviation activity at Hawkins Field
(HKS) in northwest Jackson.
As of March 2011, the Jackson-Evers International Airport
was ranked as the 8th-best airport in a worldwide consumer survey
conducted by Airports Council International. It was the only airport within the United States
to be ranked within the top ten.
's inaugural flight, from Dallas Love Field, landed at Hawkins Field in 1929. The new 1963 facility was named Allen C. Thompson Field (after the Mayor of Jackson at the time, who was presumably instrumental in obtaining the land for the airfield), which remains the name for the land on which the airport is built. The airport was designated "Jackson Municipal Airport."
In the early 1990s, the airport's name was changed to "Jackson International Airport," to reflect the fact that it has the facilities to serve international flights, even though the airport does not currently do so. The airport does contain an office for U.S. Customs to service international arrivals and has established a Foreign Trade Zone
.
Recent improvements to the facilities include a new covered garage for long-term parking. In 1997 Southwest Airlines began service to Jackson from Chicago, Baltimore, Houston
, and Orlando
. Currently, the airport services approximately 247 aircraft per day. Following a decision made by the Jackson City Council in December 2004, on 22 January 2005 the airport name was officially changed to Jackson-Evers International Airport. In 2006, the airport authority received a federal grant (Small Community Air Service Development) to recruit non-stop flight service to Newark
to provide Jackson with non-stop service to the New York City metropolitan area. Continental Airlines commenced service from Jackson to Newark on September 25, 2007; however, due to high fuel costs, the route was terminated in the summer of 2008. American Airlines non-stop service between O'Hare
and Jackson-Evers was also recently halted.
The 172d Airlift Wing
(172 AW) of the Mississippi Air National Guard
has also maintained an Air National Guard
base on the airport since 1963, having relocated that year from nearby Hawkins Field
. The 172 AW previously operated the C-119 Flying Boxcar
, C-124 Globemaster, C-130 Hercules
, C-141 Starlifter
and currently flies the C-17 Globemaster III
.
of 346 feet (105 m) above mean sea level. It has two runway
s designated 16L/34R and 16R/34L, each with a 8,500 x 150 ft (2,591 x 46 m) asphalt
surface.
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 in Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, five nautical miles (9 km) east 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 Jackson, across the Pearl River
Pearl River (Mississippi-Louisiana)
The Pearl River is a river in the U.S. states of Mississippi and Louisiana. It forms in Neshoba County, Mississippi from the confluence of Nanih Waiya and Tallahaga creeks. It is long. The Yockanookany and Strong rivers are tributaries. Northeast of Jackson, the Ross Barnett Reservoir is formed by...
.
It services commercial, private, and military aviation. It is named after Medgar Evers
Medgar Evers
Medgar Wiley Evers was an African American civil rights activist from Mississippi involved in efforts to overturn segregation at the University of Mississippi...
, the former Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
Field Secretary for the NAACP, and is administered by the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority (JMAA), which also oversees aviation activity at Hawkins Field
Hawkins Field (airport)
Hawkins Field is a city-owned public-use airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of Jackson, a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States.-Facilities and aircraft:...
(HKS) in northwest Jackson.
As of March 2011, the Jackson-Evers International Airport
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...
was ranked as the 8th-best airport in a worldwide consumer survey
Survey
-Quantitative research:* Statistical survey, a method for collecting quantitative information about items in a population* Paid survey, a method that companies use to collect consumer opinions about a product by paying consumers for participating in the survey...
conducted by Airports Council International. It was the only airport within the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to be ranked within the top ten.
History
The land that is now Jackson-Evers International Airport was first dedicated in 1963 as a new commercial and military air facility to replace Hawkins Field, which had served as Jackson's first airport and been operating since 1928. Delta Air LinesDelta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
's inaugural flight, from Dallas Love Field, landed at Hawkins Field in 1929. The new 1963 facility was named Allen C. Thompson Field (after the Mayor of Jackson at the time, who was presumably instrumental in obtaining the land for the airfield), which remains the name for the land on which the airport is built. The airport was designated "Jackson Municipal Airport."
In the early 1990s, the airport's name was changed to "Jackson International Airport," to reflect the fact that it has the facilities to serve international flights, even though the airport does not currently do so. The airport does contain an office for U.S. Customs to service international arrivals and has established a Foreign Trade Zone
Foreign trade zone
A foreign-trade zone in the United States is a geographical area, in United States Ports of Entry Ports of Entry, where commercial merchandise, both domestic and foreign receives the same Customs treatment it would if it were outside the commerce of the United States...
.
Recent improvements to the facilities include a new covered garage for long-term parking. In 1997 Southwest Airlines began service to Jackson from Chicago, Baltimore, Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, and Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. Currently, the airport services approximately 247 aircraft per day. Following a decision made by the Jackson City Council in December 2004, on 22 January 2005 the airport name was officially changed to Jackson-Evers International Airport. In 2006, the airport authority received a federal grant (Small Community Air Service Development) to recruit non-stop flight service to Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
to provide Jackson with non-stop service to the New York City metropolitan area. Continental Airlines commenced service from Jackson to Newark on September 25, 2007; however, due to high fuel costs, the route was terminated in the summer of 2008. American Airlines non-stop service between 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...
and Jackson-Evers was also recently halted.
The 172d Airlift Wing
172d Airlift Wing
The 172d Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force airlift unit of the Mississippi Air National Guard. It is located at Jackson-Evers International Airport in Mississippi. It operates eight Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, and previously flew the C-141B Starlifter.-Mission:Coupled with its...
(172 AW) of the Mississippi Air National Guard
Mississippi Air National Guard
The Mississippi Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Mississippi. It is, along with the Mississippi Army National Guard, an element of the Mississippi National Guard...
has also maintained an 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...
base on the airport since 1963, having relocated that year from nearby Hawkins Field
Hawkins Field
Hawkins Field is a baseball stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. It is the home field of the Vanderbilt Commodores college baseball team. The stadium opened in 2002 adjacent to Vanderbilt Stadium and Memorial Gymnasium and holds 3,700 people...
. The 172 AW previously operated the C-119 Flying Boxcar
C-119 Flying Boxcar
The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute...
, C-124 Globemaster, 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...
, C-141 Starlifter
C-141 Starlifter
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
and currently flies the C-17 Globemaster III
C-17 Globemaster III
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
.
Facilities and aircraft
Jackson-Evers International Airport covers an area of 3381 acres (1,368.2 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 346 feet (105 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 designated 16L/34R and 16R/34L, each with a 8,500 x 150 ft (2,591 x 46 m) 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.
- In February 2011 five new jetways were installed, two on the east Concourse (gates 3&4) and three on the west Concourse (gates 15, 17, and 19)
- For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2007, the airport had 68,378 aircraft operations, an average of 187 per day: 32% air taxiAir taxiAn 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...
, 28% militaryMilitary aviationMilitary 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...
, 24% general aviationGeneral aviationGeneral 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...
and 16% scheduled commercialAirlineAn 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...
. At that time there were 45 aircraft based at this airport: 20% single-engineAircraft engineAn 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...
, 36% multi-engine, 22% jetJet aircraftA 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...
, 4% helicopterHelicopterA 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 18% militaryMilitary aircraftA 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:...
.