Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport
Encyclopedia
The Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport (IATA: SPA, ICAO: KSPA, FAA LID: SPA) is a general aviation airport located in the city of Spartanburg, South Carolina
. The airport is 3 miles (4.8 km) from downtown Spartanburg which makes it popular for private and corporate aircraft.
's first commercial airport was opened in 1927. Famed aviator Charles Lindbergh
participated in the grand opening of the airport only months following his historic flight across the Atlantic. Passenger air service commenced that same year but ended in 1962 with the opening of the Greenville-Spartanburg Jetport, later renamed Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
.
During World War II
, the airport served as a training facility for the United States Army Air Corp and a refueling stop for naval aviators.
An FAA operated air traffic control tower was operational at the airport but closed in 1981 during the PATCO controllers strike.
once had three intersecting runways with a parallel taxiway system that connected them to the aircraft parking apron. Runway 4/22 was 5203 feet (1,585.9 m) long by 150 feet (45.7 m) wide, Runway 17/35 was 4226 feet (1,288.1 m) long by 150 feet (45.7 m) wide, and runway 11/29 was 4403 feet (1,342 m) long by 150 feet (45.7 m) wide. Today only runway 4/22 remains but was redesignated as runway 5/23 several years ago. Prevailing winds in the area generally favor the use of this runway. Only remnants of the other runways are visible today.
An instrument landing system
(ILS) is available for use on runway 5. This runway also has high intensity runway edge lighting (HIRL), visual approach slope indicator lights (VASI), and a medium intensity approach lighting system (MALSR). Other navigational aids nearby are the Spartanburg Vortac (VOR
) (7.2 miles northeast) and the Fairmont Non-directional beacon
(NDB) (1.6 miles west).
The airport's terminal building houses a fixed base operator (FBO
) and a flight school. Adjacent to the terminal building are several aircraft hangars.
The airport is also home to the Spartanburg Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol
.
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
. The airport is 3 miles (4.8 km) from downtown Spartanburg which makes it popular for private and corporate aircraft.
History
South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
's first commercial airport was opened in 1927. Famed aviator Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
participated in the grand opening of the airport only months following his historic flight across the Atlantic. Passenger air service commenced that same year but ended in 1962 with the opening of the Greenville-Spartanburg Jetport, later renamed Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport , also known as GSP International Airport or Roger Milliken Field, is a public airport located in unincorporated Greenville and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina, United States, 3 miles south of central Greer; the airport serves Greenville and...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the airport served as a training facility for the United States Army Air Corp and a refueling stop for naval aviators.
An FAA operated air traffic control tower was operational at the airport but closed in 1981 during the PATCO controllers strike.
Runways and other facilities
The airportAirport
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...
once had three intersecting runways with a parallel taxiway system that connected them to the aircraft parking apron. Runway 4/22 was 5203 feet (1,585.9 m) long by 150 feet (45.7 m) wide, Runway 17/35 was 4226 feet (1,288.1 m) long by 150 feet (45.7 m) wide, and runway 11/29 was 4403 feet (1,342 m) long by 150 feet (45.7 m) wide. Today only runway 4/22 remains but was redesignated as runway 5/23 several years ago. Prevailing winds in the area generally favor the use of this runway. Only remnants of the other runways are visible today.
An instrument landing system
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
(ILS) is available for use on runway 5. This runway also has high intensity runway edge lighting (HIRL), visual approach slope indicator lights (VASI), and a medium intensity approach lighting system (MALSR). Other navigational aids nearby are the Spartanburg Vortac (VOR
VHF omnidirectional range
VOR, short for VHF omnidirectional radio range, is a type of radio navigation system for aircraft. A VOR ground station broadcasts a VHF radio composite signal including the station's identifier, voice , and navigation signal. The identifier is typically a two- or three-letter string in Morse code...
) (7.2 miles northeast) and the Fairmont Non-directional beacon
Non-directional beacon
A non-directional beacon is a radio transmitter at a known location, used as an aviation or marine navigational aid. As the name implies, the signal transmitted does not include inherent directional information, in contrast to other navigational aids such as low frequency radio range, VHF...
(NDB) (1.6 miles west).
The airport's terminal building houses a fixed base operator (FBO
FBO
FBO may refer to:* Faith-based organization, an organization with religious motivation.* Family business office, an organization that manages investments and trusts for a single wealthy family.* Film Booking Offices of America, a 1920s American film studio....
) and a flight school. Adjacent to the terminal building are several aircraft hangars.
The airport is also home to the Spartanburg Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol
Civil 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...
.