Klamath Falls Airport

For the military use of this facility, see Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base.
Crater Lake- Klamath Regional Airport
Kingsley Field
IATA: LMT – ICAO: KLMT – FAA LID: LMT
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner City of Klamath Falls
Serves Klamath Falls, Oregon
Elevation AMSL 4,095 ft / 1,248 m
Coordinates 42°09′22″N 121°43′59″W / 42.15611°N 121.73306°W / 42.15611; -121.73306Coordinates: 42°09′22″N 121°43′59″W / 42.15611°N 121.73306°W / 42.15611; -121.73306
Maps

FAA airport diagram
LMT

Location in Oregon

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
14/32 10,301 3,140 Asphalt/Concrete
7/25 5,258 1,603 Asphalt
Statistics (2011)
Aircraft operations 39,004
Based aircraft 170

Crater Lake- Klamath Regional Airport (Klamath Falls Airport) (IATA: LMT[2], ICAO: KLMT, FAA LID: LMT) is in Klamath County, Oregon five miles southeast of Klamath Falls, which owns it.[1] It is used by general aviation, military aviation and a few airline flights. In 2013 the Airport changed its name to Crater Lake- Klamath Regional Airport.

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a primary commercial service airport since it has over 10,000 passenger boardings (enplanements) per year.[3] Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 15,856 enplanements in 2011, a decrease from 21,353 in 2010.[4]

As Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, the airport is the home of the Oregon Air National Guard's 173d Fighter Wing (173 FW) flying the F-15 Eagle. An Air Education and Training Command (AETC)-gained unit, the 173 FW specializes as an advanced air-to-air combat training center for Regular Air Force and Air National Guard F-15 pilots, as well as hosting joint and combined air combat exercises for all US military services and those of Canada. Kingsley Field is home to a USAF flight surgeon training school. The 173d Fighter Wing is currently under the command of Colonel James C. Miller.

History

In 1928 the citizens of Klamath Falls approved the sale of $50,000 worth of bonds to build Klamath Falls Municipal Airport. It had gravel runways and one Fixed-Base Operator; in 1942 it was selected for a Naval Air Station later named NAS Klamath Falls. In 1945 the airport transferred back to civil use; the January 1952 C&GS diagram shows runway 7 (5258 ft long), 14 (7134 ft) and 18 (5164 ft).

In 1954 the airport was selected as a site for U.S. Air Force installation under a joint civil-military arrangement supporting Air Defense Command, later Aerospace Defense Command (ADC) aircraft and squadrons. In 1957 the airport was dedicated as Kingsley Field in honor of 2nd Lieutenant David R. Kingsley, USAAF, an Oregonian killed in action on June 23, 1944 after a B-17 bombing mission over the oil fields of Ploesti, Rumania. In 1976 ADC was inactivated and control of the military installation passed to Tactical Air Command (TAC). In 1978 the Department of Defense closed Kingsley Field as a regular Air Force installation, transferring all military facilities to the Air National Guard.[5]

Facilities

Klamath Falls Airport covers 1,166 acres (472 ha) at an elevation of 4,095 feet (1,248 m). It has two runways: 14/32 is 10,301 by 150 feet (3,140 x 46 m) asphalt and concrete; 7/25 is 5,258 by 100 feet (1,603 x 30 m) asphalt.[1]

In 2011 the airport had 39,004 aircraft operations, average 106 per day: 43% general aviation, 41% military, 14% air taxi, and 2% airline. 170 aircraft were then based at the airport: 62% single-engine, 19% jet, 15% military, 3% multi-engine, and 1% helicopter.[1]

Airline history

Until 1959 United Airlines served Klamath Falls with Douglas DC-3 and Convair 340 propliners. Later West Coast Airlines flew Fairchild F-27 turboprops to destinations in Oregon and California. West Coast then merged with Bonanza Air Lines and Pacific Air Lines to form Air West which then changed its name to Hughes Airwest and in turn was merged into Republic Airlines. Air West followed by Hughes Airwest continued to serve the airport with Fairchild F-27 turboprops. Hughes Airwest then introduced the first jet service with McDonnell Douglas DC-9 jetliners as F-27 aircraft began to be retired from their fleet. Republic continued to serve the airport as well with DC-9 jets. Air West, Hughes Airwest and Republic operated flights to destinations in California including San Francisco (SFO), Oregon and Washington state until Republic ceased all service into the airport during the mid 1980s. Portland, OR-based Air Oregon served the airport with Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner propjets during the late 1970s and early 1980s with direct flights to Portland (PDX), Seattle (SEA) and other destinations in the Pacific Northwest. During the mid 1980s, Pacific Express operated British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven twin jets to San Francisco (SFO) via Redding and also to Portland (PDX) via Redmond. Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, flew de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8 turboprops to Portland (PDX) and Seattle (SEA). WestAir operating as United Express flew British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31 turboprops to San Francisco while Reno Air Express operating on behalf of Reno Air flew BAe Jetstream 31 turboprops flew to San Jose, California (SJC). United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines pulled out of Klamath Falls in the late 1990s but then resumed flights when Horizon Air cancelled all service into the airport.

SkyWest operating as United Express and flying Embraer EMB-120 turboprops was the only airline serving Klamath Falls before ending all service into the airport.

In late 2010 SkyWest dropped one flight to Portland. Passenger count then dropped in 2011; however, passengers per flight had increased.[6] United Express, operated by SkyWest, terminated service to Portland and San Francisco on June 5, 2014. [7] The airport currently has no scheduled passenger airline service; however, PenAir is planning to introduce new service to Portland operated with Saab 340 turboprops in early 2016. However, this service is on hold due to TSA refusal to station security agents at the terminal.[8]

Cargo Carriers

AirlinesDestinations
Ameriflight Medford, Portland
FedEx Feeder Portland, Redmond/Bend

Funding

The Airport City Fund operates the airport's both civilian and military interest. Revenue mainly is provided from city property taxes, transient room taxes and the rental activities in the airport itself. Because of the commercial flights at the airport, the Federal Aviation Administration contributes funds to keep the runways and taxiways in good conditions.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 FAA Airport Master Record for LMT (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective November 15, 2012.
  2. ↑ "IATA Airport Code Search (LMT: Klamath Falls)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  3. ↑ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF, 2.03 MB). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. External link in |work= (help)
  4. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2011" (PDF, 1.7 MB). CY 2011 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. October 9, 2012. External link in |work= (help)
  5. ↑ Kingsley Field (ANG)
  6. 1 2 Cith of Klamath Falls Annual Report 2011, page 6.
  7. ↑ http://www.kdrv.com/klamath-airport-to-lose-united-service/
  8. ↑ http://www.ktvz.com/news/klamath-falls-airport-wont-get-tsa-screeners/36300558


External links

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