Bradley International Airport is a public
airportAn 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
Windsor LocksWindsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,043 at the 2000 census.Situated on the Connecticut River, the town is named after a set of canal locks...
on the border with
East GranbyEast Granby is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was estimated at 5,058 in 2005. The town recently celebrated its 150th anniversary with a three-day festival on June 7, 8, and 9, 2008.-Geography:...
, in
Hartford County, ConnecticutHartford County is located in the north central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of 2000 the population was 857,183. The population estimate for 2005 was 877,393....
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is owned by the State of Connecticut.
The airport is situated in the towns of Windsor Locks,
SuffieldSuffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It had once been within the boundaries of Massachusetts. The town of Suffield is located in the Connecticut River Valley with Enfield, Connecticut neighboring to the East. In 1900, 3,521 people lived in Suffield; and in 1910,...
and
East GranbyEast Granby is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was estimated at 5,058 in 2005. The town recently celebrated its 150th anniversary with a three-day festival on June 7, 8, and 9, 2008.-Geography:...
, about halfway between
HartfordHartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located in Hartford County on the Connecticut River, north of the center of the state, south of Springfield, Massachusetts. Its 2006 population of 124,512 ranks Hartford as the state's second-largest city, after Bridgeport. New...
and
SpringfieldSpringfield is the largest city on the Connecticut River and the county seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States.In the 2000 census, the city population was 154,082. It is the third largest city in Massachusetts and fourth largest in New England...
. It is Connecticut's busiest commercial airport, with 350 daily operations, and the second-busiest airport in New England after Boston's
Logan International Airport
.
Delta Air LinesDelta Air Lines, Inc. is a United States airline based and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Delta operates an extensive domestic and international network, spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Australia...
(along with its wholly-owned subsidiary
Northwest AirlinesNorthwest Airlines, Inc. , a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, Inc., is a major United States airline headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport...
) is currently the largest carrier at Bradley International Airport with 41 daily flights, and 57 daily when all seasonal flights are in season. Also
Delta Air LinesDelta Air Lines, Inc. is a United States airline based and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Delta operates an extensive domestic and international network, spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Australia...
(along with its wholly-owned subsidiary
Northwest AirlinesNorthwest Airlines, Inc. , a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, Inc., is a major United States airline headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport...
) carry over 1 million passengers a year, with the help of it's regional airline affiliates. United Airlines currently uses the biggest everyday aircraft. The fly in a Boieng 757-200 to Washington Dulles and Chicago O'Hare twice a day.. Other airlines like Delta/Northwest, use a 757 during busier periods.
The airport is home to the
New England Air MuseumThe New England Air Museum is located at Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, USA. The museum is housed in three large display buildings consisting of more than of exhibit space...
.
History
Bradley has its origins in the 1940 acquisition of of land in Windsor Locks by the State of Connecticut. In 1941, this land was turned over to the U. S. Army, as the country began its preparations for the impending war.
Less than a year after the Army assumed control, the field at Windsor Locks had its first fatality. Among those assigned to duty in Windsor Locks was the young Lt. Eugene M. Bradley of
Antlers, OklahomaAntlers is a city in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,552 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pushmataha County.-Geography:Antlers is located at...
. While participating in a training drill, Lt. Bradley's P-40 crashed on August 21, 1941. Following a funeral at Talarski Funeral Home in Hartford, Lt. Bradley's remains were interred in the national cemetery in
San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio is the second-largest city in the state of Texas and the seventh-largest city in the United States. The city is characteristic of other Southwest urban centers in which there are sparsely populated areas and a low density rate outside of the city. It was the fourth-fastest growing...
.
After a groundswell of sentiment in favor of naming the airfield in Windsor Locks in honor of the airman, the airfield was renamed Army Air Base, Bradley Field, Connecticut on January 20, 1942.
Following the end of
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1945, the airfield was returned to the State of Connecticut in 1946.
In 1947, when the airport returned to civilian use, the airfield in Windsor Locks became known as Bradley International Airport. Also the arrival of
Eastern Air LinesEastern 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:...
Flight 624 came that same year, which was the first civilian flight at the airport. International shipping operations at the airport began during the same year. It eventually came to replace the older, smaller
Hartford-Brainard AirportHartford-Brainard Airport is a Class D, towered public airport located three miles southeast of downtown Hartford, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States...
as Hartford's primary airport.
In 1948, the federal government deeded the Airport to the State of Connecticut for public and commercial use.
In 1950, Bradley International Airport exceeds the 100,000-passenger mark, handling 108,348 annual passengers.
In 1960, Bradley passed the 500,000 mark, handling 500,238 passengers.
In 1971, the International Arrivals building opened, followed by the installation of
instrument landing systemsAn 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...
on two of the runways in 1977.
In 1979, a
tornadoThe Windsor Locks, Connecticut tornado struck the towns of Windsor, Windsor Locks, and Suffield, Connecticut on October 3, 1979. The short-lived but intense tornado struck without warning and caused three deaths and 500 injuries...
ripped through Windsor Locks, wreaking destruction along the eastern portions of the airport. The
New England Air MuseumThe New England Air Museum is located at Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, USA. The museum is housed in three large display buildings consisting of more than of exhibit space...
sustained some of the worst damage. It reopened in 1982.
1986: New Terminal A and Bradley Sheraton Hotel completed. Roncari cargo terminal constructed
In 2001 construction commenced on a new parking garage. When it was completed, it initially could not be used; the intervening attacks of 9/11 had led to a regulation that would have required it to be set back further from the airport. For some time it was open but every vehicle had to be individually inspected, which severely reduced its value. Bradley eventually received a waiver for it from the Department of Homeland Security.
2001 also saw the commencement of the Terminal Improvement Project- an ambitious project to add a new terminal and gates to the airport and centralize passenger screening. The new terminal built by The Tomasso Group opened in 2003. The terminal improvement was part of a larger project to enhance the reputation of the City of Hartford as a destination for business and vacation travel.
On October 2–3, 2007, the
Airbus A380The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. The largest passenger airliner in the world, the A380 made its maiden flight on 27 April 2005 from Toulouse, France, and made its first commercial flight on 25...
visited Bradley as part of its world tour, stopping in Hartford to showcase the aircraft to Connecticut workers for Pratt and Whitney and
Hamilton SundstrandHamilton Sundstrand, is a global corporation that manufactures and supports aerospace and industrial products for worldwide markets. It was formed from the merger of Hamilton Standard and Sundstrand Corporation in 1999...
, both divisions of United Technologies, who helped build the GP7000 TurboFan engines which is an option to power the aircraft. Bradley Airport is one of only 68 airports worldwide large enough to accommodate the A380.
On October 18, 2007, Bradley International Airport was named as one of the top five small airports in the North American Airport Satisfaction Study by J.D. Powers.
On October 7, 2008,
EmbraerEmbraer , is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate. The company produces commercial, military, and corporate aircraft, and provides related aerospace services...
, an aerospace company based in Brazil, selected Bradley as its future Northeast service center in the United States. An $11 million project is in place with support from teams of the
Connecticut Department of TransportationThe Connecticut Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S. state of Connecticut...
and Connecticut's Economic and Community Development. Embraer will build and operate a full maintenance and repair facility for its line of
business jetBusiness jet, private jet or, colloquially, bizjet is a term describing a jet aircraft, usually of smaller size, designed for transporting groups of business people or wealthy individuals. Business jets may be adapted for other roles, such as the evacuation of casualties or express parcel...
s, employing up to 60 highly skilled aircraft technicians over the next five years. The opening ceremony for the new facility was October 7, 2008.
On June 23, 2009, Bradley reopened runway 6/24 after reconstructing the runway. The runway originally closed on April 13, 2009, and reconstruction began on April 14, 2009.
On July 16, 2009, Bradley International Airport Celebrated the Grand Opening of the Black Bear Saloon, a new full-service restaurant in Terminal A just past security.
Terminal A
East Concourse
The East Concourse (Gates A1-A12) hosts the
SkyTeamSkyTeam is the second largest airline alliance in the world – behind Star Alliance – partnering fourteen carriers from four continents. The company slogan is "Caring more about you". SkyTeam also operates a cargo alliance called SkyTeam Cargo....
alliance carriers as well as
Southwest AirlinesSouthwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline. Southwest is the largest airline in the world by number of passengers carried per year . Southwest, the 6th largest U.S. airline by revenue, maintains the third-largest passenger fleet of aircraft among all of the world's commercial airlines....
.
Continental AirlinesContinental Airlines is a United States certificated air carrier. Based in Downtown Houston, Texas, it is the fourth-largest airline in the US based on revenue passenger miles. Since 1998, Continental's marketing slogan has been "Work Hard, Fly Right."Continental operates flights to destinations...
will be moving to the West concourse after joining
Star AllianceStar Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance. Founded in 1997, its name and emblem represent the five founding airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines System, Thai Airways International, and United Airlines...
on October 24, 2009. They will be using Gates 24 & 25. Gates A1, A3, A5 and A7 will be taken by American Airlines and Air Canada will take Gate A8 when Terminal B closes in November 2009
West Concourse
The West Concourse (Gates A20-A30) hosts the
Star AllianceStar Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance. Founded in 1997, its name and emblem represent the five founding airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines System, Thai Airways International, and United Airlines...
carriers, with the exception of
Air CanadaAir Canada is Canada's largest airline and flag carrier. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to 96 destinations worldwide. Its largest hub is Toronto Pearson International Airport in Ontario. Its main base is Montreal-Pierre...
(which operates out of the East Concourse).
Terminal B
Terminal B (gates B1-B10) hosts the
OneworldOneworld is one of the world's three largest global airline alliances with its central management team, Oneworld Management Company, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Oneworld was founded in 1999 by American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Canadian Airlines and Qantas Airways...
alliance carrier
American Airlines
, as well as
Air CanadaAir Canada is Canada's largest airline and flag carrier. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to 96 destinations worldwide. Its largest hub is Toronto Pearson International Airport in Ontario. Its main base is Montreal-Pierre...
's regional partners. This terminal also handles all charter service and unsceduled airline service. The terminal will be closed by fall of 2009. All flights will be moved to Terminal A in the East Concourse. A1, A3, A5, A7 will be taken by American Airlines and Air Canada will be taking Gate A8.
Cargo operations
Incidents and Accidents
- November 12, 1995- An American Airlines MD-83 N566AA, crashed while trying to land at Bradley. American Airlines flight 1572, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees while on approach to runway 15 at Bradley International Airport. The airplane also impacted an instrument landing system antenna as it landed short of the runway on grassy, even terrain.
- January 21, 1998- A Continental Express ATR-42 N15827 had an emergency during roll on landing. During the landing roll, a fire erupted in the right engine. The airplane was stopped on the runway, the engines were shut down, and the occupants evacuated. The fire handles for both engines were pulled and both fire bottles on the right engine discharged. However, the fire on the right engine continued to burn. The airport fire services attended shortly afterward and extinguished the fire.
- January 6, 2003- An embraer erj-145LR Continental Express crashed at Cleveland Hopkins Airport after leaving Bradley. An ILS runway 6L approach was performed. After touchdown, the flight crew was unable to stop the airplane on the runway. The airplane continued beyond the departure end, on extended runway centerline, and struck the ILS runway 6 localizer antenna. It came to rest with the nose about 600 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. The nose landing gear had collapsed rearward and deformed the forward pressure bulkhead.
- April 1, 2004- A beechcraft 1900D operating as US Airways Express/Colgan Air N149CJ hit a fuel truck while parking. The Beech 1900D landed on runway 24, and was cleared to taxi to the ramp. As the airplane entered the ramp area, the flight crew planned to stop beyond the hold-short line, to wait for another airplane to exit gate 25. As the flight crew crossed the hold-short line, and were almost at a complete stop, they felt a "buffet," which became a "large jolt," on the left side of the fuselage. After realizing a fuel truck impacted the left engine and propeller, the captain shut down the engines, and evacuated the passengers from the right window emergency exit.
Military operations
- Connecticut Air National Guard
The Connecticut Air National Guard is a part of the United States National Guard and an Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force. It consists of approximately 1,200 airmen and officers assigned to one flying wing and one air control squadron....
- 103d Airlift Wing
The United States Air Force's 103d Airlift Wing is an Air National Guard airlift unit located at Bradley ANGB, Connecticut.-Mission:Before the completion of the BRAC realignment with the 104th Fighter Wing in Massachusetts, the 103 FW provided the firepower of the A-10 for close-air support as well...
(103 AW) "Flying Yankees"
- 118th Airlift Squadron (118 AS): operates the C-21. The squadron was previously designated as the 118th Fighter Squadron and operated the Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II
The A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic for the United States Air Force to provide close air support of ground forces by attacking tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets with a limited air interdiction...
close air support aircraft from the mid 1970's to 2007.
- Military air transports that are commonly seen include the KC-135 Stratotanker
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker was the first jet powered aerial refueling tanker of the US Air Force, replacing the KC-97 Stratotanker. Similar in design to the later and enlarged Boeing 707 airliner, it was initially tasked to refuel strategic bombers, but was used extensively in the Vietnam war...
, C-17 Globemaster, and the C-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. Capable of takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft...
.
- Connecticut Army National Guard
The Connecticut Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
International Arrivals Building
In December 2002, a new International Arrivals Building opened to the west of Terminal B. This new International Arrivals Building houses the Federal Inspection Station and has one jetway for deboarding the aircraft. The IAB replaced the old FIS in Terminal B and will be enlarged as volume demands. Two government agencies provide crucial support at the facility, these agencies are: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The FIS Terminal (International Arrivals Building) is a two-story, facility adjacent to Terminal B and the recently constructed Remote Deicing Collection Facility. This entire Construction project included the FIS Terminal and associated landside and airside improvements; entrance roadway, sidewalks and concrete hardstand for arriving aircraft parking. The FIS Terminal can process more than 300 passengers per hour from aircraft as large as a Boeing 747. International departures will be handled from the existing terminal complex. This facility cost approximately $7.7 million, which included the building and site work. A unique, 9’ x 20’ American flag tile mosaic was donated by Robert LaRosa, president of LaRosa Building Group, which designed and constructed the facility. The mosaic is visible upon entering the front of the building. This project was funded through the Bradley Improvement Fund.
All international arrivals except for those from airports with
customs preclearanceThe United States operates border preclearance facilities at a number of ports and airports in foreign countries. They are staffed and operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. Travelers pass through Immigration and Customs, Public Health, and Department of Agriculture inspections...
are processed through the IAB.
Rail
The closest train stations are
Windsor LocksWindsor Locks is a train station in Windsor Locks, Connecticut located on the New Haven-Springfield Line. It is the northernmost Amtrak station in the State of Connecticut.- External links :*...
and
WindsorWindsor is a historic train station in Downtown Windsor, Connecticut located on the New Haven-Springfield Line, as well as a spur of the Northeast Regional Line....
, both serviced by
AmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a blend of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union Station...
.
Connecticut TransitConnecticut Transit is a bus system serving much of the U.S. state of Connecticut and is a division of that state's Department of Transportation. CT Transit provides bus service via contract providers for seven different metropolitan areas in the state, mostly concentrated in Hartford and New...
buses travel between the Windsor train station and the airport. The state of Connecticut has planned for commuter rail between New Haven and Springfield, and increased bus service, if not a complete rail link, has been discussed for the airport.
Bus
Connecticut Transit operates bus #30 "Bradley Flyer" between Hartford, Windsor train station and Bradley Airport.
Future
Airport officials are continuing their efforts towards completing the airport's master plan, which includes demolishing the Murphy Terminal, or Terminal B, and replacing it with an entirely new terminal. The new terminal will have a state of the art food court and other retail options for passengers. It will be double the current terminal's size and be broken up into two separate concourses with 24 passenger gates in total (12 in each). It is also slated to contain international arrivals capabilities with customs and immigration services. It is unsure whether the current international arrivals building will be included in the design, as such would depend on international air travel demand. A new parking garage is also planned. These plans may come to fruition after the full completion of Terminal A, which includes renovating the United check-in areas and adding more concessions. The Sheraton Hotel, located between terminals A and B, is also undergoing extensive renovations.
EmbraerEmbraer , is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate. The company produces commercial, military, and corporate aircraft, and provides related aerospace services...
, the Brazillian aerospace company, selected Bradley as its Northeast service center in the United States. Embraer built a full maintenance and repair facility for its line of business jets, opening October 7, 2008 and closing after less than a year of operation in August of 2009. They are planning to reopen it if the economy gets better. They still are paying rent for the space. .
See also
- Hartford-Brainard Airport
Hartford-Brainard Airport is a Class D, towered public airport located three miles southeast of downtown Hartford, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States...
(HFD)
- Westover Metropolitan Airport
For the military airport use of this facility, see Westover Joint Air Reserve BaseWestover Metropolitan Airport is a civilian airline, and general aviation airport located in the Massachusetts communities of Chicopee, Granby, and Ludlow, near the cities of Springfield and Holyoke, Massachusetts...
(CEF) - Previously marketed by Skybus AirlinesSkybus Airlines Inc. was a privately-held airline based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It operated as an ultra-low-cost carrier modeled after the European airline Ryanair, and aimed to be the least expensive airline in the United States...
as "Hartford (Chicopee, MA)", however due to the collapse of Skybus AirlinesSkybus Airlines Inc. was a privately-held airline based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It operated as an ultra-low-cost carrier modeled after the European airline Ryanair, and aimed to be the least expensive airline in the United States...
in April 2008, the passenger terminal is currently empty.
- Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN)
- Connecticut World War II Army Airfields
During World War II, Connecticut was a major United States Army Air Force training center for pilots and aircrews.The USAAF established Six major airfields under the command of First Air Force, headquartered at Mitchel Army Airfield, New York between 1942 and 1945.The mission of these bases...
External links