Bowman Field (airport)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bowman Field

IATA: LOU – ICAO: KLOU – FAA: LOU
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA)
Serves		Louisville, Kentucky
Elevation AMSL		546 ft / 166 m
Coordinates		38°13′41″N, 085°39′49″W
Website		www.flylouisville.com/bfa
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
6/24	4,357	1,328	Asphalt
14/32	3,579	1,091	Asphalt

For other uses, see Bowman Field.

Bowman Field (IATA: LOU, ICAO: KLOU, FAA LID: LOU) is a public airport located five miles (8 km) southeast of downtown area of Louisville, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA. The airport covers 426 acres (1.7 km²) and has two runways. It is classified by the FAA as a reliever airport for nearby Louisville International Airport.

1 History
2 Safety
3 Current operations
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

Bowman Field is Kentucky's first commercial airport and one of the oldest continually operating airfields in North America. The airport has played a vital role in the growth and evolution of the country's aviation industry. It was founded by Abram H. Bowman, who was drawn to aviation by the interest generated during World War I.

Bowman found an outlet for his enthusiasm after meeting and forming a brief partnership with Louisvillian Robert H. Gast, a pilot and World War I veteran of the Royal Flying Corps. Bowman leased a parcel of land east of Louisville from the U.S. Government in 1919 to operate the airfield, which opened in 1921.

The first business ventures began with the aerial photography business in 1921, and the 465th Pursuit Squadron (Reserve) began operations at Bowman Field in 1922.

During the Great Depression, Louisvillians would often come to the Art Deco terminal building to watch airplanes depart and land as a form of inexpensive entertainment.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Eastern Air Lines, Trans World Airlines (TWA) and the original Continental Airlines operated passenger and mail service in and out of Bowman Field. Commercial airline service continued until 1947, when operations were transferred to Standiford Field.

During World War II, Bowman Field was one of the nation's most important training bases as well as the nation's busiest airport. The facility became known as "Air Base City" when a bomber squadron moved in and more than 1,600 recruits underwent basic training in a three-month period. The United States Army Air Forces' school for flight surgeons, medical technicians, and flight nurses also called Bowman Field home.

[edit] Safety

Bowman Field is surrounded by tree-lined suburban neighborhoods, but accidents are relatively rare. As of 2008, the most recent two landing accidents had occurred in April 2008 and April 2002.^[1]

[edit] Current operations

Bowman Field

Today, Bowman Field is home to hundreds of privately owned aircraft as well as several commercial operations, including Central American Airways, which opened its doors in 1946, Falcon Aviation (which can trace its roots to the old Louisville Flying Service that began operations in 1932), Kentucky Flying Service, and Louisville Executive Aviation. The Aero Club of Louisville, Inc. and the Glendale Flying Club also operate out of the airport. Several flight schools operate there as well.

Kentucky Flying Service is no longer in operation. It was started by Captain Richard C. Mulloy who flew C-46s and C-47s with the Flying Tigers over "The Hump" in World War II. He was known by employees and students of Kentucky Flying Service as "Dick Mulloy."

Bowman Field is currently operated by the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, which also operates Louisville International Airport.