Spokane International Airport
Encyclopedia
Spokane International Airport is a commercial airport
located about 5 miles (8 km) west of downtown Spokane
in Spokane County, Washington
. It is the primary airport for Spokane
, eastern
Washington, Coeur d'Alene
, and northern Idaho
. It is the second largest airport in Washington, processing over 3 million passengers in 2010.
and renamed Geiger Field after Major Harold Geiger
, an Army aviation
pioneer who died in a crash in 1927.
During World War II
, Geiger Field was a major training base by Second Air Force
as a group training airfield for B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment units, with new aircraft being obtained from Boeing
near Seattle. It was also used by Air Technical Service Command as an aircraft maintenance and supply depot; auxiliary airfields were located at Deer Park Airport and Felts Field.
Geiger was closed in late 1945 and turned over to War Assets Administration
(WAA) for disposal, then transferred to Spokane County and developed into a commercial airport. The airport hosted USAF Air Defense Command interceptor
units during the Cold War
; used for air defense of Hanford Nuclear Reservation
and Grand Coulee Dam
. Built in 1942 as the Spokane Air Depot, Fairchild Air Force Base
is located just four miles (7 km) to the west.
It was designated Spokane's municipal airport in 1946, replacing Felts Field, and received its present name in 1960.
A new control tower
has been built south of the airport, replacing the old one located near Concourse C. Currently, the new control tower is the tallest control tower in the State of Washington. Another project, recently completed, was the Terminal
, Rotunda
, and Concourse C Enhancement Project (TRACE). The project, which concluded in November 2006, added retail space and expanded the security checkpoints in the airport's three concourses, and gave the Rotunda an aesthetic renovation. In 2010, 2000 feet was added to Runway 3-21, and parallel taxiways 'A' and 'G' enabling heavier aircraft departures in summer months.
With the rapid growth of the Spokane area, the airport plans to add another concourse in the next 5–10 years. Spokane International Airport (SIA) looks to add more direct flights to the east coast as the Spokane market in recent years has been hosting big events and attracting business to the area.
has never served Spokane, it currently code shares with Alaska Airlines
and Horizon Air
.
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 about 5 miles (8 km) west of downtown Spokane
Downtown Spokane
Downtown Spokane is the central business district in Spokane, Washington. Downtown Spokane's rough boundaries are I-90 to the south, Division St. to the east, Maple St...
in Spokane County, Washington
Spokane County, Washington
Spokane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington, named after the Spokane tribe. As of the 2010 census the population was 471,221, making it the fourth most populous county in Washington state. The largest city and county seat is Spokane, the second largest city in the state,...
. It is the primary airport for Spokane
Spokane
Spokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS Spokane...
, eastern
Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington is the portion of the U.S. state of Washington east of the Cascade Range. The region contains the city of Spokane , the Tri-Cities, the Columbia River and the Grand Coulee Dam, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the fertile farmlands of the Yakima Valley and the...
Washington, Coeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Coeur d'Alene is the largest city and county seat of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. It is the principal city of the Coeur d'Alene Metropolitan Statistical Area. Coeur d'Alene has the second largest metropolitan area in the state of Idaho. As of the 2010 census the population of Coeur...
, and northern Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. It is the second largest airport in Washington, processing over 3 million passengers in 2010.
History
Known as Sunset Field before 1941, it was purchased from the county by the War DepartmentUnited States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
and renamed Geiger Field after Major Harold Geiger
Harold Geiger
Major Harold C. Geiger , born in East Orange, New Jersey, was a pioneer in US military aviation and ballooning who was killed in an airplane crash in 1927...
, an Army aviation
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
pioneer who died in a crash in 1927.
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...
, Geiger Field was a major training base by Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
as a group training airfield for B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment units, with new aircraft being obtained from Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
near Seattle. It was also used by Air Technical Service Command as an aircraft maintenance and supply depot; auxiliary airfields were located at Deer Park Airport and Felts Field.
Geiger was closed in late 1945 and turned over to War Assets Administration
War Assets Administration
The War Assets Administration was established in the Office for Emergency Management, effective March 25, 1946, by EO 9689, January 31, 1946. American factorieshad produced massive amounts of weaponry during the World War II...
(WAA) for disposal, then transferred to Spokane County and developed into a commercial airport. The airport hosted USAF Air Defense Command interceptor
Interceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to prevent missions of enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Interceptors generally rely on high speed and powerful armament in order to complete their mission as quickly as possible and set up...
units during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
; used for air defense of Hanford Nuclear Reservation
Hanford Site
The Hanford Site is a mostly decommissioned nuclear production complex on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington, operated by the United States federal government. The site has been known by many names, including Hanford Works, Hanford Engineer Works or HEW, Hanford Nuclear Reservation...
and Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation. It was constructed between 1933 and 1942, originally with two power plants. A third power station was completed in 1974 to increase its energy...
. Built in 1942 as the Spokane Air Depot, Fairchild Air Force Base
Fairchild Air Force Base
Fairchild Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately southwest of Spokane, Washington.The host unit at Fairchild is the 92d Air Refueling Wing assigned to the Air Mobility Command's 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force...
is located just four miles (7 km) to the west.
It was designated Spokane's municipal airport in 1946, replacing Felts Field, and received its present name in 1960.
Growth and expansion
There is currently a plan in place for future expansion of the airport as it continues to grow in passenger volume. Big components of the master plan include adding a third runway and expanding Concourse C with more gates. There have been, at times, non-stop flights to southern California since the 1970s. However, these are among the first to be suspended during economic downturns, high fuel prices, and airline restructuring.A new control tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
has been built south of the airport, replacing the old one located near Concourse C. Currently, the new control tower is the tallest control tower in the State of Washington. Another project, recently completed, was the Terminal
Airport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
, Rotunda
Rotunda (architecture)
A rotunda is any building with a circular ground plan, sometimes covered by a dome. It can also refer to a round room within a building . The Pantheon in Rome is a famous rotunda. A Band Rotunda is a circular bandstand, usually with a dome...
, and Concourse C Enhancement Project (TRACE). The project, which concluded in November 2006, added retail space and expanded the security checkpoints in the airport's three concourses, and gave the Rotunda an aesthetic renovation. In 2010, 2000 feet was added to Runway 3-21, and parallel taxiways 'A' and 'G' enabling heavier aircraft departures in summer months.
With the rapid growth of the Spokane area, the airport plans to add another concourse in the next 5–10 years. Spokane International Airport (SIA) looks to add more direct flights to the east coast as the Spokane market in recent years has been hosting big events and attracting business to the area.
Airlines and destinations
Spokane International Airport provides 24 gates on 3 concourses. Gates on Concourse A are numbered 11-15, gates on Concourse B are numbered 1-10, and gates on Concourse C are numbered 22-25 and 30-32. Although American AirlinesAmerican Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
has never served Spokane, it currently code shares with Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is an airline based in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac, Washington in the United States. The airline originated in 1932 as McGee Airways. After many mergers with and acquisitions of other airlines, including Star Air Service, it became known as Alaska Airlines in 1944...
and Horizon Air
Horizon Air
Horizon Air Industries, Inc. is a regional low-cost airline based in SeaTac, Washington, United States. It is the eighth largest regional airline in the USA, serving 52 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico....
.
Statistics
| Rank | City | Passengers per 12 months | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Seattle/Tacoma, WASeattle-Tacoma International Airport The Seattle–Tacoma International Airport , also known as Sea–Tac Airport or Sea–Tac , is an American airport located in SeaTac, Washington, at the intersections of State Routes 99 and 509 and 518, about west of Interstate 5... |
455,000 | Alaska, Horizon, Southwest |
| 2 |  Denver, CODenver International Airport Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel... |
223,000 | Frontier, Southwest, United |
| 3 |  Salt Lake City, UTSalt Lake City International Airport Salt Lake City International Airport is a major public airport in Utah. A joint civil-military facility, it is located in western Salt Lake City, approximately four miles from the central business district... |
176,000 | Delta |
| 4 |  Portland, ORPortland International Airport Portland International Airport is a joint civil-military airport and the largest airport in the U.S. state of Oregon, accounting for 90% of passenger travel and more than 95% of air cargo of the state. It is located within Portland's city limits just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah... |
154,000 | Horizon, Southwest |
| 5 |  Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN |
100,000 | Delta |
| 6 |  Phoenix, AZPhoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located southeast of the central business district of the city of Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States... |
79,000 | Southwest, US Airways |
| 7 |  Las Vegas, NVMcCarran International Airport McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. It covers an area of and... |
78,000 | Southwest |
| 8 |  Boise, IDBoise Airport Boise Airport , also known as Boise Air Terminal or Gowen Field, is a joint civil-military, commercial and general aviation airport located three nautical miles south of downtown Boise in Ada County, Idaho, USA... |
67,000 | Southwest |
| 9 |  Oakland, CAOakland International Airport Oakland International Airport , also known as Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, is a public airport located south of the central business district of Oakland, a city in Alameda County, California, United States... |
64,000 | Southwest |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA San Francisco International Airport San Francisco International Airport is a major international airport located south of downtown San Francisco, California, United States, near the cities of Millbrae and San Bruno in unincorporated San Mateo County. It is often referred to as SFO... |
39,000 | United |
Cargo
- ABX AirABX AirABX Air, Inc., formerly Airborne Express, is a cargo airline headquartered at Wilmington Air Park in unincorporated Clinton County, Ohio, United States, near the City of Wilmington. ABX Air operates scheduled, ad hoc charter and ACMI freight services. It also provides flight support services and...
- FedEx Express
- UPS AirlinesUPS AirlinesUPS Airlines is an American cargo airline owned by United Parcel Service Inc. . The company is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Its home airport is located at Louisville International Airport...
- USA Jet
- Alaska Air Cargo
- United Air Cargo
- Delta Air Cargo
- Southwest Cargo
- Frontier Airlines Cargo
Accidents and incidents
- On 21 January 1981, a Beechcraft Model 99Beechcraft Model 99|-See also:-External links:*...
A operated as Cascade AirwaysCascade AirwaysCascade Airways was an airline which flew primarily regional air routes out of Seattle, Washington, USA. It was founded in 1969, but later shut down in 1986.-Operations:The headquarters for the company was in Spokane, WA...
flight 201 crashed into a hill 4.5 miles from the runway. The accident was caused by an incorrect distance measuring equipment frequency, and premature descent to minimum distance altitude (MDA). Of the nine people on board, seven were killed (including both pilots), and the other two passengers were seriously injured. The airline ceased operations about five years later. - On 18 March 1994, DouglasDouglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
DC-3C N3433Y of Salair crashed shortly after take-off on a cargo flight to Portland International AirportPortland International AirportPortland International Airport is a joint civil-military airport and the largest airport in the U.S. state of Oregon, accounting for 90% of passenger travel and more than 95% of air cargo of the state. It is located within Portland's city limits just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah...
. The starboard engine failed shortly after take-off. The engine that failed had previously been in long-term service and had been fitted to the aircraft on 21 February, replacing an engine that developed a misfire and loss of power. It had accumulated 15 hrs flight time at the time of the accident. The aircraft was destroyed in the subsequent fire and both crew were killed.
See also
- Washington World War II Army AirfieldsWashington World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Force established numerous airfields in Washington for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers....
- Western Air Defense ForceWestern Air Defense ForceThe Western Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960.- History :...
(Air Defense Command) - 9th Air Division
External links
- Spokane International Airport, official site
- Spokane International Airport at WSDOT Aviation