Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport

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Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport
IATA: GPT – ICAO: KGPT – FAA: GPT
Summary
Airport type		Public
Owner		Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport Authority
Serves		Gulfport, Mississippi
Elevation AMSL		28 ft / 9 m
Coordinates		30°24′26″N 089°04′12″W / 30.40722, -89.07
Website		www.FlyGPT.com
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
14/32	9,002	2,744	Asphalt/Concrete
18/36	4,935	1,504	Asphalt
Statistics (2006)
Aircraft operations			85,809
Based aircraft			35
Annual Passengers			899,911
Sources: airport web site^[1] and FAA^[2]

Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (IATA: GPT, ICAO: KGPT, FAA LID: GPT) is a public use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) northeast of the central business district of Gulfport, a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. It is owned by the Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport Authority.^[2]

In 2007, a total of 899,911 passengers utilized the airport, a 15.9% increase over 2006.^[3]

1 History
2 Hurricane Katrina
3 Facilities and aircraft
4 Cargo Facility
5 Airlines and destinations
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History

Originally constructed in 1942 to train B-25 and B-29 flight crews for WWII, Gulfport Field was conveyed from the War Department to the City of Gulfport in 1949 for use as a civil airport. The City negotiated airline service contracts with Southern Airways and later National Airlines to provide passenger and cargo service to the Coast beginning in the early 1950's. Through the late 1970's, Southern Airways continued as the primary airline, followed by successors Republic and Northwest into the 1990's. Beginning in 1953, the Mississippi National Guard developed a training activity which has grown into a high-tech Combat Readiness Training Center, one of four in the Nation. Military traffic has expanded each year, and now more than 20,000 Air Guard and Reserve flight personnel are trained at the base annually. Within 10 minutes, supersonic fighters and in-flight refuelers can simulate a combat environment over the Gulf of Mexico or at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, MS. Additionally, the Army National Guard established the Aviation Classification Repair Depot operation which repairs several types of combat and transport helicopters for military activities throughout the Southeast and Puerto Rico.

[edit] Hurricane Katrina

The airport was closed for repairs (or reconstruction) following severe damage by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. On September 8, 2005, the airport reopened for commercial flights on Northwest Airlines to Memphis and other airlines quickly followed suit. On February 1, 2006, Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport was back to 100% of pre-Katrina seats. As of September 12, 2006, the Airport was at 120% of seats available pre-Katrina. Currently, the airport is thriving with many non-stop flights to numerous destinations, and is undergoing extensive renovation scheduled for completion in 2007. All pre-Katrina carriers are back in operation as well as new carriers.

[edit] Facilities and aircraft

Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport covers an area of 1,400 acres (567 ha) at an elevation of 28 feet (9 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways: 14/32 with a 9,002 x 150 ft (2,744 x 46 m) asphalt/concrete surface and 18/36 with a 4,935 x 150 ft (1,504 x 46 m) asphalt surface.^[2] For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2006, the airport had 85,809 aircraft operations, an average of 235 per day: 62% general aviation, 19% military, 12% air taxi and 7% scheduled commercial. At that time there were 35 aircraft based at this airport: 46% single-engine, 23% multi-engine, 3% jet, 17% helicopter and 11% military.^[2]

[edit] Cargo Facility

A 40,000 square foot cargo facility will be completed by 4th Quarter 2008 at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport. The cargo facility includes 20,000 square feet of chiller space, 20,000 square feet of cargo sorting and distribution space, and 6,000 square feet of office space. Airside access from the runway system has been designed with safety and efficiency in mind. The ramp can facilitate two MD11s or DC10s or one B747. The area is also expandable with 120 acres reserved for air cargo on airport.