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Greenfield International Airport: Difference between revisions
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'''Greenfield International Airport''' (IATA: '''GIA''', ICAO: '''KGIA''', FAA LID: '''GIA'''), typically referred to as Greenfield Airport, is an international airport located on the northeast side of Greenfield, [[wikipedia:California|California]]. Operated by the Greenfield Department of Aviation, and covering over 4 kilometers of land, GIA has non-stop flights to over 130 destinations in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania as of 2022. | '''Greenfield International Airport''' (IATA: '''GIA''', ICAO: '''KGIA''', FAA LID: '''GIA'''), typically referred to as Greenfield Airport, is an international airport located on the northeast side of Greenfield, [[wikipedia:California|California]]. Operated by the Greenfield Department of Aviation, and covering over 4 kilometers of land, GIA has non-stop flights to over 130 destinations in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania as of 2022. | ||
GIA began as an airfield for manufacturing C-54 military transports during World War II. As one of the first airports developed after the war, GIA's innovative design pioneered concepts such as concourses, direct highway access to the terminal, jet bridges, and underground refueling systems. GIA became famous during the jet age, holding the distinction as one of the world's top fifty busiest airports from 1963 to 1998, reaching 27th place in 1994. In 2019 it was the world's ninety-sixth-busiest airport, serving 20 million passengers. | GIA began as an airfield for manufacturing C-54 military transports during World War II. As one of the first airports developed after the war, GIA's innovative design pioneered concepts such as concourses, direct highway access to the terminal, jet bridges, and underground refueling systems. GIA became famous during the jet age, holding the distinction as one of the world's top fifty busiest airports from 1963 to 1998, reaching 27th place in 1994. In 2019 it was the world's ninety-sixth-busiest airport, serving 20 million passengers. | ||
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=== World War II use === | === World War II use === | ||
During World War II the United States Navy used the airport as a training facility as well as a construction site for the manufacturing of the Douglas C-54 Skymaster military transports. A major defense contractor and contributor to World War II transport production, C54 Aircrafts, later known as Derksair, had their headquarters on the border of the Municipal field, and built many of their military aircraft | During World War II the United States Navy used the airport as a training facility as well as a construction site for the manufacturing of the Douglas C-54 Skymaster military transports. A major defense contractor and contributor to World War II transport production, C54 Aircrafts, later known as Derksair, had their headquarters on the border of the Municipal field, and built many of their military aircraft theere. Derksair used the airport for test and delivery flights from 1935 to 1952 when their main facility burned to the ground. | ||
Because of its location next to the Pacific ocean, it was believed that the airport could be a target for Japanese retaliation especially after Pearl Harbor. Special care was taken to protect the construction facilities including building a fake neighborhood on the roof of the warehouse. This town known as Little Lannex was made of wood and fabric and hid the massive construction hangar from the sky. However Greenfield never saw any combat during the war, and in a cruel turn of fate the supplies on the roof are believed to have caused the fire that burned down the facility and caused Derksair to go out of business at the end of the war. The vacant space left by the hangar was used in later years to develop jet age terminals. | Because of its location next to the Pacific ocean, it was believed that the airport could be a target for Japanese retaliation especially after Pearl Harbor. Special care was taken to protect the construction facilities including building a fake neighborhood on the roof of the warehouse. This town known as Little Lannex was made of wood and fabric and hid the massive construction hangar from the sky. However Greenfield never saw any combat during the war, and in a cruel turn of fate the supplies on the roof are believed to have caused the fire that burned down the facility and caused Derksair to go out of business at the end of the war. The vacant space left by the hangar was used in later years to develop jet age terminals. | ||
=== Passenger service and growth === | === Passenger service and growth === | ||
Greenfield Municipal became Greenfield International in 1946, when Nordair began direct flights | Greenfield Municipal became Greenfield International in 1946, when Nordair began direct flights here from Vancouver with their newly delivered Douglas DC-4s. The original terminal 1 did not have jet bridges and thus many felt a new terminal was needed to bring Greenfield into the jet age. A new terminal opened in 1955 which is currently the oldest existing terminal at the airport now called Terminal 3. | ||
Terminal 1 and 3 modernization was completed in 1971, Terminal 2 opened in 1974 while the concourse opened in 1977. The $500 million expansion was one of the largest single building projects ever taken on by the city. In 2015 the airport finished construction on their brand new international terminal at the location of the old terminal 1. Many preservationists where angry at the destruction of the historic terminal building, but | Terminal 1 and 3 modernization was completed in 1971, Terminal 2 opened in 1974 while the concourse opened in 1977. The $500 million expansion was one of the largest single building projects ever taken on by the city. In 2015 the airport finished construction on their brand new international terminal at the location of the old terminal 1. Many preservationists where angry at the destruction of the historic terminal building, but there was realistically no way the facility could have been outfitted for the modern needs of passengers and airlines. The new terminal 1 serves as the international terminal and holds the US customs. During this time a baggage system modernization occurred across the entire airport. | ||
In the 1980s GIA hosted hubs for Skyliners and Vision Airlines. The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 allowed regional carrier Altis (later renamed Speedfly Airlines) to create a small hub at GIA. Skyliners became the dominant carrier at GIA in the 1980s and 1990s and shifted most of its operations from LAX to GIA in 2002. As of 2015, GIA was Skyliners second largest hub overall. | In the 1980s GIA hosted hubs for Skyliners and Vision Airlines. The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 allowed regional carrier Altis (later renamed Speedfly Airlines) to create a small hub at GIA. Skyliners became the dominant carrier at GIA in the 1980s and 1990s and shifted most of its operations from LAX to GIA in 2002. As of 2015, GIA was Skyliners second largest hub overall. | ||
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=== Future === | === Future === | ||
Like many airports across the nation, the | Like many airports across the nation, the ageing terminal 2/3 are causing delays. Current plans involve the continued modernization of the baggage systems which started in 2012. A new terminal end is being built at the end of terminal 3, expanding the amount of gates to the terminal by 4. Minor updates to the facility will occur along side the construction. | ||
However, with airlines replacing traditional hub-and-spoke models with point-to-point models, large aircraft such as the 787 Dreamliner or the A350 will need to be able to land here. Unfortunately, runway extensions proposals have been rejected due to concerns regarding noise pollution in Lannex and aquatic conservation in the bay. | However, with airlines replacing traditional hub-and-spoke models with point-to-point models, large aircraft such as the 787 Dreamliner or the A350 will need to be able to land here. Unfortunately, runway extensions proposals have been rejected due to concerns regarding noise pollution in Lannex and aquatic conservation in the bay. | ||
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Terminal 2 was built in 1974 (the concourse was built in 1977). The main building has 7 gates, and the concourse has room for 20. It is the base for all domestic departures, and has check-in facilities for [[Unified Airlines]], [[Vision Airlines]], [[SkyLiners Airlines]], and Houston Air. | Terminal 2 was built in 1974 (the concourse was built in 1977). The main building has 7 gates, and the concourse has room for 20. It is the base for all domestic departures, and has check-in facilities for [[Unified Airlines]], [[Vision Airlines]], [[SkyLiners Airlines]], and Houston Air. | ||
Terminal 3 is the oldest of all the terminals. It has 5 gates ( | Terminal 3 is the oldest of all the terminals. It has 5 gates (excluding the bus gate), and is the operating base for [[Speedfly Airlines]] and SunCoast Airlines. | ||
=== Runways === | === Runways === | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|Air Chinese | |Air Chinese | ||
|Beijing- | |Beijing-Daxing | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Air Liberté | |Air Liberté | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|Hawaiian Airlines | |Hawaiian Airlines | ||
|Honolulu, Kahului, Kailua-Kona | |Honolulu, Kahului, Kailua-Kona | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Hong Kong Airways | |Hong Kong Airways | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|[[SkyLiners Airlines|SkyLiners]] | |[[SkyLiners Airlines|SkyLiners]] | ||
| Boston, Calgary, Chicago-O'Hare, Denver, Las Vegas, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, New York-JFK, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Diego, Tokyo-Narita, Vancouver, Washington-Dulles<br /> '''Seasonal:''' Reno-Lake Tahoe, Jackson Hole | | Boston, Calgary, Chicago-O'Hare, Denver, Las Vegas, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, New York-JFK, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Diego, Tokyo-Narita, Vancouver, Washington-Dulles<br /> '''Seasonal:''' Aspen, Reno-Lake Tahoe, Jackson Hole | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Speedfly Airlines]] | |[[Speedfly Airlines]] | ||
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* Unknown date, 1973: a Lockheed Electra operated by the Marine Corps crashed into the bay shortly after takeoff. The pitch control system of one of its propellers is said to have failed. All 8 personnel inside the aircraft perished. | * Unknown date, 1973: a Lockheed Electra operated by the Marine Corps crashed into the bay shortly after takeoff. The pitch control system of one of its propellers is said to have failed. All 8 personnel inside the aircraft perished. | ||
* June 6, 1984: A Vision Boeing 737-200 suffered a double bird strike during takeoff. The crew was able to use the APU to restart one of its engines shortly after it failed, and it returned for a safe emergency landing about 30 minutes after takeoff. Nobody was injured. | * June 6, 1984: A Vision Boeing 737-200 suffered a double bird strike during takeoff. The crew was able to use the APU to restart one of its engines shortly after it failed, and it returned for a safe emergency landing about 30 minutes after takeoff. Nobody was injured. | ||
* January 17, 1994, During the [[Earthquake]] of 1994, a Golden Pacific Boeing 747-200 went off a taxiway and fell into a ditch. The aircraft was not removed until 3 weeks after the earthquake. | |||
* March 14, 1996: A [[Golden Pacific]] 777-200ER [[Golden Pacific Flight 008|overran the runway]] during landing due to pilot error in inclement weather and crashed into [[I-205]]. All 192 people in the aircraft died, making for the deadliest aviation accident in all of California. | * March 14, 1996: A [[Golden Pacific]] 777-200ER [[Golden Pacific Flight 008|overran the runway]] during landing due to pilot error in inclement weather and crashed into [[I-205]]. All 192 people in the aircraft died, making for the deadliest aviation accident in all of California. | ||
* September 1, 2017, Vision Airlines Flight 3015: Pilot error led to the wingtips of a Vision Boeing 737 to get within 100 meters of the wingtips of a Boeing 757. Due to poor visibility, the 757 did not initiate a go around and landed as usual, causing its wake turbulence to affect the 737. The 737 suffered a wingstrike on an attempted landing and had to go around then make a successful second landing. One minor injury was reported. This accident made it so that parallel landings may not be carried out at night, as directed by ATC. Later investigations revealed that external radio signal jamming was affecting the ILS' capability to communicate with the aircraft, which caused this incident. | |||
* November 29, 2022: A [[Globe Handling]] vehicle went head-on with a Speedfly Airlines Bombardier Dash 8-400 (N225SL) during its pushback. The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries and the back of the plane was severely damaged, causing bits of cargo to fall out. The plane underwent repairs at the airport and returned to service 3 months later. Initial investigations revealed that the driver was under the influence of alcohol and did not stop the vehicle in time. This prompted more frequent drugs and alcohol testing amongst all of GIA staff. The driver's license was since revoked for 12 months. | |||
* September 1, 2017, Vision Airlines Flight 3015: Pilot error led to the wingtips of a Vision Boeing 737 to get within 100 meters of the wingtips of a Boeing 757. Due to poor visibility, the 757 did not initiate a go around and landed as usual, causing its | |||
* November 29, 2022: A [[Globe Handling]] vehicle went head-on with a Speedfly Airlines Bombardier Dash 8-400 during its pushback. The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries and the back of the plane was severely damaged, causing bits of cargo to fall out. The plane | |||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||