STOLport
Encyclopedia
A STOLport or STOLPORT is an airport
designed with STOL
(Short Take-Off and Landing) operations in mind, normally having a short single runway; shorter than 5000 feet (1,524 m). The term does not appear to be in common usage as of 2008. STOLports can only accept certain types of aircraft, often only smaller propeller aircraft, often with limits on the amount of fuel that can be taken.
and Los Angeles, California
areas, none were apparently successful. La Guardia Airport operated a 1096 feet (334.1 m) STOL runway starting in 1968, which was dubbed the La Guardia STOLPORT. The Victoria STOLport
also failed in Montreal
, Canada
. Walt Disney World Resort
also had a STOLport for a short period. At one point in 1968 a 2400 feet (731.5 m) STOLport was under consideration for a roof top in Manhattan. In the early 1970s, a study was conducted to help the FAA to determine if it was necessary to create an elevated STOLport test facility. The International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) defines STOLports as "unique airports designed to serve airplanes that have exceptional short-field performance capabilities."
is listed as FAA site number 19448.1*S. As of January 2009, around 80 facilities are coded as STOLports by the FAA in the United States. According to the FAA, in 1968 twenty-five potential STOLport sites were identified in the Northeast Megalopolis
. The first US STOLport for commercial operation was commissioned August 5, 1968 at La Guardia airport and was available for VFR
use only. Logan International Airport
opened an 1800 feet (548.6 m) STOL runway September 20, 1968 for use testing Eastern's
Breguet 941
shuttle on east coast routes. The first officially designated STOLport was opened October 17, 1971 at Walt Disney World. Prior to that date only portions of facilities were designated STOLports. Plans at the time called for an interstate STOL transportation system. On July 26, 1972 the FAA V/STOL office was renamed to the Quiet Short-Haul Air Transportation System Office refocusing it and reflecting public concerns about noise created by smaller more numerous STOLports as opposed to larger airports. The Quiet Short-Haul Air Transportation System Office was eliminated June 11, 1974. Additionally some STOLPorts were never open to public aviation and were privately owned, such as the Avon STOLPort, a 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) runway adjacent to the town of Avon, Colorado built for handling ski tourism flights, which was owned and operated by Rocky Mountain Airways
who also was the first purchaser of the de Havilland Canada DHC-7 aircraft to develop it specifically for the purpose of transporting passengers to high mountain airports with short runways.
, typically equipped with a 2600 feet long runway. They were intended to improve transportation systems and shorten down travel times to areas that were considered difficult to reach by other means. In Norwegian, they are called "kortbaneflyplass" ("short runway airport"). As they were built in areas with relatively low population density and terrain that often wouldn't permit a standard length runway, it became essential to build shorter runway and use smaller airplanes. Today, the airports are frequented by airliners that have been awarded subsides from the Norwegian government. They typically fly feeder routes to larger hub airports that have direct routes to Oslo
and other major cities in Norway. Though most of the routes are flown by Widerøe
, other airliners do occasionally win bids on some of the routes.
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...
designed with STOL
STOL
STOL is an acronym for short take-off and landing, a term used to describe aircraft with very short runway requirements.-Definitions:There is no one accepted definition of STOL and many different definitions have been used by different authorities and nations at various times and for a myriad of...
(Short Take-Off and Landing) operations in mind, normally having a short single runway; shorter than 5000 feet (1,524 m). The term does not appear to be in common usage as of 2008. STOLports can only accept certain types of aircraft, often only smaller propeller aircraft, often with limits on the amount of fuel that can be taken.
History
Several attempts were made from the late 1960s to the early 1970s to create STOLports in the United States in the New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
areas, none were apparently successful. La Guardia Airport operated a 1096 feet (334.1 m) STOL runway starting in 1968, which was dubbed the La Guardia STOLPORT. The Victoria STOLport
Victoria STOLport
Victoria STOLport was a Short Take-Off and Landing aerodrome near downtown Montreal during the mid 1970s. The STOLport had been constructed on the former parking lot for Expo 67...
also failed in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
also had a STOLport for a short period. At one point in 1968 a 2400 feet (731.5 m) STOLport was under consideration for a roof top in Manhattan. In the early 1970s, a study was conducted to help the FAA to determine if it was necessary to create an elevated STOLport test facility. The International Civil Aviation Organization
International Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization , pronounced , , is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth...
(ICAO) defines STOLports as "unique airports designed to serve airplanes that have exceptional short-field performance capabilities."
STOLports in the United States
In the United States, STOLports are one of several types of facilities, they are identified with an S at the end of the site ID. For example, Calvert Peak STOLportCalvert Peak STOLport
Calvert Peak STOLport is a private STOLport located 14 miles west of Glendale in Curry County, Oregon, USA....
is listed as FAA site number 19448.1*S. As of January 2009, around 80 facilities are coded as STOLports by the FAA in the United States. According to the FAA, in 1968 twenty-five potential STOLport sites were identified in the Northeast Megalopolis
Northeast megalopolis
The Northeast megalopolis or Boston–Washington megalopolis is the heavily urbanized area of the United States stretching from the the northern suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts to the southern suburbs of Washington, D.C. On a map, the region appears almost as a perfectly straight line. As of 2000,...
. The first US STOLport for commercial operation was commissioned August 5, 1968 at La Guardia airport and was available for VFR
Visual flight rules
Visual flight rules are a set of regulations which allow a pilot to operate an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going. Specifically, the weather must be better than basic VFR weather minimums, as specified in the rules of the...
use only. Logan International Airport
Logan International Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
opened an 1800 feet (548.6 m) STOL runway September 20, 1968 for use testing Eastern's
Eastern Air Lines
Eastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
Breguet 941
Breguet 941
-External links:* *...
shuttle on east coast routes. The first officially designated STOLport was opened October 17, 1971 at Walt Disney World. Prior to that date only portions of facilities were designated STOLports. Plans at the time called for an interstate STOL transportation system. On July 26, 1972 the FAA V/STOL office was renamed to the Quiet Short-Haul Air Transportation System Office refocusing it and reflecting public concerns about noise created by smaller more numerous STOLports as opposed to larger airports. The Quiet Short-Haul Air Transportation System Office was eliminated June 11, 1974. Additionally some STOLPorts were never open to public aviation and were privately owned, such as the Avon STOLPort, a 4000 feet (1,219.2 m) runway adjacent to the town of Avon, Colorado built for handling ski tourism flights, which was owned and operated by Rocky Mountain Airways
Rocky Mountain Airways
Rocky Mountain Airways was an American commuter airline headquartered in Hangar No. 6 of Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado. It was sold to Texas Air Corporation/Continental Airlines in 1986....
who also was the first purchaser of the de Havilland Canada DHC-7 aircraft to develop it specifically for the purpose of transporting passengers to high mountain airports with short runways.
STOLports in Norway
Between 1965 and 1987, approximately 30 regional airports were built in NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, typically equipped with a 2600 feet long runway. They were intended to improve transportation systems and shorten down travel times to areas that were considered difficult to reach by other means. In Norwegian, they are called "kortbaneflyplass" ("short runway airport"). As they were built in areas with relatively low population density and terrain that often wouldn't permit a standard length runway, it became essential to build shorter runway and use smaller airplanes. Today, the airports are frequented by airliners that have been awarded subsides from the Norwegian government. They typically fly feeder routes to larger hub airports that have direct routes to Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and other major cities in Norway. Though most of the routes are flown by Widerøe
Widerøe
Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
, other airliners do occasionally win bids on some of the routes.
Americas
- Port Stanley AirportPort Stanley AirportPort Stanley Airport is a STOLport in the Falkland Islands, two miles outside the capital, Stanley. The airport is the only civilian airport in the islands with a paved runway...
(Falkland IslandsFalkland IslandsThe Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
) 3013 feet (918.4 m) - Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) 3988 feet (1,215.5 m) - Calvert Peak STOLportCalvert Peak STOLportCalvert Peak STOLport is a private STOLport located 14 miles west of Glendale in Curry County, Oregon, USA....
(USA) (Activated July 1969) 1627 feet (495.9 m) - Victoria STOLportVictoria STOLportVictoria STOLport was a Short Take-Off and Landing aerodrome near downtown Montreal during the mid 1970s. The STOLport had been constructed on the former parking lot for Expo 67...
(Canada)
Denmark
- Nuuk AirportNuuk AirportNuuk Airport is an airport in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. The airport is a technical base and focus city for Air Greenland, the flag-carrier airline of Greenland, linking the capital with several towns in western and south-western part of the country, including the airline hub at Kangerlussuaq...
3117 feet (950.1 m) and eight other airports in GreenlandGreenlandGreenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
serving regular flights. - Vágar AirportVágar AirportVágar Airport is the only airport in the Faroe Islands, a self-governing territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, and is located east of Sørvágur. Due to the Faroe Islands' rather anomalous status, the airport is not fully subject to the rules of the European Union...
4101 feet (1,250 m) (Faroe IslandsFaroe IslandsThe Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
, under extension to 5903 feet (1,799.2 m))
Norway
In Norway these airports are called "kortbaneflyplass" (translates to "short runway airport"), and do typically have a runway length of about 2600 feet (792.5 m) feet.- Berlevåg AirportBerlevåg AirportBerlevåg Airport is a regional airport serving Berlevåg in Finnmark, Norway. In 2005 Berlevåg Airport had 4,264 passengers. It is operated by Avinor.-Service:...
- Brønnøysund Airport
- Båtsfjord AirportBåtsfjord AirportBåtsfjord Airport is a small regional airport serving Båtsfjord in Finnmark, Norway. The airport is connected to the town centre by route 894. BJF is operated by Avinor and had 10,110 passengers in 2004 ....
- Florø AirportFlorø AirportFlorø airport is an airport serving the town of Florø in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located south of the town centre, on an area of land called Florelandet...
- Førde Airport, BringelandFørde Airport, BringelandFørde Airport, Bringeland is located in the municipality of Gaular in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The airport is at Bringelandsåsen, about east of the end of the Dalsfjorden at an elevation of above sea level....
- Hammerfest AirportHammerfest AirportHammerfest Airport is an airport serving the town of Hammerfest in Finnmark, Norway. The airport is located north of the town centre. The airport was opened on 30 July 1974 as part of a series of regional airports in northern Norway. It is operated by Avinor. In 2007, the airport served 148,541...
- Hasvik AirportHasvik AirportHasvik Airport is a regional airport serving Hasvik in Finnmark, Norway. In 2005 Hasvik airport had 4,579 passengers, making it the second smallest airport operated by Avinor....
- Honningsvåg Airport, ValanHonningsvåg Airport, ValanHonningsvåg Airport, Valan is located at Valan, north of the city centre of Honningsvåg, in Nordkapp municipality in Finnmark, Norway. It is owned and operated by Avinor AS....
- Leknes AirportLeknes AirportLeknes Airport is a regional airport serving Leknes in Lofoten, Nordland, Norway. In 2005 Leknes Airport had 74,572 passengers. It is operated by Avinor.-Service:...
- Mehamn AirportMehamn AirportMehamn Airport is a regional airport serving Mehamn in Finnmark, Norway. In 2005 Mehamn Airport had 10,895 passengers and is currently operated by Avinor...
- Mo i Rana Airport, RøssvollMo i Rana Airport, RøssvollMo i Rana Airport, Røssvoll is a regional airport serving Mo i Rana in Nordland, Norway. In 2005 Mo i Rana Airport had 71,454 passengers. It is operated by Avinor.-Service:...
- Mosjøen Airport, KjærstadMosjøen Airport, KjærstadMosjøen Airport, Kjærstad is a regional airport serving Mosjøen in Nordland, Norway. In 2007 Mosjøen Airport had 76,294 passengers. It is owned and operated by the state owned Avinor.-Service:...
- Namsos Airport, HøknesøraNamsos Airport, HøknesøraNamsos Airport, Høknesøra is a regional airport located along the Namsen river, just outside of the town of Namsos in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The airport is served with Dash 8 aircraft from Widerøe on public service obligation contracts with the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and...
- Narvik Airport, FramnesNarvik Airport, FramnesNarvik Airport, Framnes is a regional airport serving the city of Narvik in Nordland, Norway. The airport is a secondary airport with only short regional flights, while the primary Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes has long-distance jet services. Framnes is significantly closer to Narvik than...
- Rørvik Airport, RyumRørvik Airport, RyumRørvik Airport, Ryum is a regional airport operated by Avinor that serves the municipalities of Vikna and Nærøy in the northwestern part of Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located south of the village of Rørvik and about west of the town of Kolvereid in Nærøy...
- Røst AirportRøst AirportRøst Airport is a regional airport serving the island and municipality of Røst in Nordland, Norway. It is owned and operated by Avinor. Services are provided by Widerøe, operating de Havilland Canada DHC-8-100 Dash 8 aircraft on contract with the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Services...
- Sandane Airport, AndaSandane Airport, AndaSandane Airport, Anda is an airport in the Gloppen municipality in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway, opened in 1975. The airport is located north of the municipality centre, at the base of a peninsula between the fjords Nordfjord and Gloppefjord...
- Sandnessjøen Airport, StokkaSandnessjøen Airport, StokkaSandnessjøen Airport, Stokka is a regional airport serving Sandnessjøen in Nordland, Norway. In 2009, Sandnessjøen Airport served 88,934 passengers. It is operated by Avinor.-Service:...
- Sogndal Airport, HaukåsenSogndal Airport, HaukåsenSogndal Airport, Haukåsen opened in 1971 and is owned and operated by Avinor. The airport is located about southwest of Kaupanger in the municipality of Sogndal in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway...
- Stokmarknes Airport, SkagenStokmarknes Airport, SkagenStokmarknes Airport, Skagen is an airport in Hadsel municipality in Norway, 3 nautical miles east northeast of Stokmarknes, and south of Sortland....
- Svolvær Airport, HelleSvolvær Airport, HelleSvolvær Airport, Helle is a regional airport serving the communities of Svolvær in Nordland, Norway.- Service :...
- Sørkjosen AirportSørkjosen AirportSørkjosen Airport , is an airport in Sørkjosen in the municipality of Nordreisa, Troms in Northern Norway, about from the municipal center of Storslett...
- Vadsø AirportVadsø AirportVadsø Airport is a small regional airport, opened in 1974, which serves the municipality of Vadsø in the county of Finnmark, Norway. The airport lies 2 nautical miles east of the main population centre. The airport has a single 877 m long runway and it has been considered extending this to...
- Vardø Airport, SvartnesVardø Airport, SvartnesVardø Airport, Svartnes is a regional airport serving Vardø in Finnmark, Norway. In 2005 Vardø Airport had 10,408 passengers. It is operated by Avinor.-Service:...
- Ørsta/Volda Airport, Hovden
England
- Land's End AirportLand's End AirportLand's End Airport , situated in St Just, west of Penzance, in Cornwall, is the most south westerly airport of mainland Britain. The airport is managed by Westward Airways, and is home to Isles of Scilly Skybus and MSH Flight Training....
(2,598 ft) - London City AirportLondon City AirportLondon City Airport is a single-runway airport. It principally serves the financial district of London and is located on a former Docklands site, east of the City of London, opposite the London Regatta Centre, in the London Borough of Newham in east London. It was developed by the engineering...
(4,984 ft) - Plymouth City AirportPlymouth City AirportPlymouth City Airport is an airport located within the City of Plymouth north northeast of the city centre in Devon, England. The airport opened on this site in 1925 and was officially opened by the Edward VIII, as Prince of Wales, in 1931...
(3,809 ft) - now closed - Shoreham AirportShoreham Airport- Sussex Police Air Operations Unit :The Sussex Police Air Operations Unit is headquartered at Shoreham Airport. The unit has been equipped since February 2000 with a MD Explorer, registered as "G-SUSX". The unit is headed by a Police Inspector, assisted by a Police Sergeant and two Police...
(3,399 ft)
Scotland
- Barra Airport (2,776 ft)
- Coll Airport (1,640 ft)
- Colonsay AirportColonsay AirportColonsay Airport is located on the island of Colonsay, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Located west of Scalasaig, it is a small airport, with to Oban Airport by ....
(1,644 ft) - Dundee AirportDundee Airport-Road:The airport lies on the main A85 Riverside Drive, which links the city centre to the Kingsway and the A90, with the airport barely a couple of kilometers from the city centre itself. Taxis are available from outside the airport.-Bus:...
(4,593 ft) - Fair Isle AirportFair Isle AirportFair Isle Airport , is a small airport located on Fair Isle between Orkney and Shetland.Fair Isle Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee...
(1,594 ft) - North Ronaldsay AirportNorth Ronaldsay Airport-External links:*...
(1,532 ft) - Oban AirportOban AirportOban Airport is located northeast of Oban, near the village of North Connel, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Operated by Argyll and Bute council, it has a CAA licence as a commercial airport following recent upgrading. Currently Hebridean Air Services is the only airline based at Oban...
(4,154 ft/1,266 m) - Sanday AirportSanday AirportSanday Airport is located north northeast of Kirkwall Airport on Sanday, Orkney Islands, Scotland.Sanday Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee . The aerodrome is not licensed for...
(1,532 ft) - Stronsay AirportStronsay AirportStronsay Airport is located northeast by north of Kirkwall Airport on Stronsay, Orkney Islands, Scotland.Stronsay Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee . The aerodrome is not...
(1,690 fft) - Tingwall AirportTingwall AirportTingwall Airport , also known as Lerwick/Tingwall Airport, is located in the Tingwall valley, near the village of Gott, northwest of Lerwick on the mainland island of the Shetland, Scotland....
(2,597 ft) - Tiree AirportTiree AirportTiree Airport is located north northeast of Balemartine on the island of Tiree in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. It is owned and maintained by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited....
(4,829 ft) - Westray AirportWestray AirportWestray Airport is an airport located at Aikerness, on Westray in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. It is best known for being one of the two airports joined by the shortest scheduled flight in the world, a leg of Loganair's inter-island service, to Papa Westray Airport...
(1,532 ft) - Whalsay Airport (Shetland IslandsShetland IslandsShetland is a subarctic archipelago of Scotland that lies north and east of mainland Great Britain. The islands lie some to the northeast of Orkney and southeast of the Faroe Islands and form part of the division between the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the North Sea to the east. The total...
) (1,499 ft)
Further reading
- A Flight Investigation using Variable Glide Path Trajectories to Compensate for Winds and Moderate Wind Shears.
- Elevated STOLport Test Facility Conceptual Development and Cost Study.
- Technical Feasibility of Floating Interim Manhattan STOLport.
- County Plans Study of Stolport for Pasadena. Los Angeles Times. September 10, 1972
- Possible STOLport Sites Now Up to 3. The New York Times. May 28, 1972
- Short-Runway Port For Planes Is Urged At the Trade Center. The New York Times. November 18, 1966
- F.A.A. Backs $36,000 Study Of a Floating STOLport Here The New York Times. July 3, 1970.
- Starting STOL. Time. Aug. 16, 1968.
- Flying Downtown. Time. Jan. 12, 1968
- Catalina Needs STOLPORT to prosper. Independent Press-Telegram. Sunday, August 24, 1969
- http://members.tripod.com/airfields_freeman/CO/Airfields_CO_NW.htm Abandoned and Little Known Airports - Avon STOLPort (WHR), Avon, CO.