South Alabama Regional Airport
Encyclopedia
South Alabama Regional Airport at Bill Benton Field , formerly known as Andalusia-Opp Airport, is a public airport
located four miles (6 km) east of the central business district
of Andalusia
and approx. 9 miles (14.5 km) west of Opp
, both cities in Covington County
, Alabama
, United States
. According to the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
for 2009–2013, it is categorized
as a general aviation
facility.
The Andalusia-Opp Airport Authority voted in May 2007 to change the name of the airport to South Alabama Regional Airport. It was also announced the same month that the airport had received a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to extend the runway from 5,000 to 6000 feet (1,828.8 m).
paved runway
(11/29) measuring 5,001 x 100 ft (1,524 x 30 m).
For the 12-month period ending June 16, 2006, the airport had 62,750 aircraft operations, an average of 171 per day: 81% military and 19% general aviation
. There are 24 aircraft based at this airport: 75% single engine, 8% multi-engine and 17% helicopter
s.
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 miles (6 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 Andalusia
Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia is a city in and the county seat of Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 8,794.According to the 2007 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 8,705...
and approx. 9 miles (14.5 km) west of Opp
Opp, Alabama
Opp is a city in Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 6,607. -Geography:Opp is located at . According to the U.S...
, both cities in Covington County
Covington County, Alabama
Covington County, Alabama, is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Brigadier General Leonard Covington of Maryland. As of 2010 the population was 37,765...
, 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...
. According to the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems is an inventory of U.S. aviation infrastructure assets. It is developed and maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration . Its purposes are:* to identify all the airports in the U.S...
for 2009–2013, it is categorized
FAA airport categories
The United States Federal Aviation Administration has a system for categorizing public-use airports that is primarily based on the level of commercial passenger traffic through each facility. It is used to determine if an airport is eligible for funding through the federal government's Airport...
as a 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...
facility.
The Andalusia-Opp Airport Authority voted in May 2007 to change the name of the airport to South Alabama Regional Airport. It was also announced the same month that the airport had received a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to extend the runway from 5,000 to 6000 feet (1,828.8 m).
Facilities and aircraft
South Alabama Regional Airport covers an area of 550 acres (222.6 ha) which contains one asphaltAsphalt
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...
paved 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...
(11/29) measuring 5,001 x 100 ft (1,524 x 30 m).
For the 12-month period ending June 16, 2006, the airport had 62,750 aircraft operations, an average of 171 per day: 81% military and 19% 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...
. There are 24 aircraft based at this airport: 75% single engine, 8% multi-engine and 17% 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...
s.
External links
- Andalusia-Opp Airport Authority
- Airfield photos for 79J from Civil Air PatrolCivil Air PatrolCivil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...