Great Falls International Airport
Encyclopedia
Great Falls International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport
located within city limits, three miles (5 km) southwest of central Great Falls
in Cascade County
, Montana
, USA
. GTF serves the Great Falls area, as well as other communities throughout central Montana.
Great Falls International Airport is also home to Great Falls Air National Guard Base
and the Montana Air National Guard
's 120th Fighter Wing
(120 FW), the "Vigilantes." An Air National Guard
unit operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command
(ACC), the 120 FW transitioned from the F-16C Fighting Falcon
to the F-15C Eagle
in January 2009, which it employs in the air defense and air dominance missions.
Malmstrom Air Force Base
, home of the 341st Missile Wing
(341 MW) of the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), is located 10 miles (16.1 km) east of GTF, on the east side of Great Falls. With the transfer of its previously assigned KC-135 aircraft in the 1990s, Malmstrom's 12000 feet (3,657.6 m) runway is currently closed to fixed-wing traffic and open only to military helicopters. As a result, Great Falls ANGB provides support for transient fixed-wing military aircraft visiting Malmstrom AFB.
and became a home for the 7th Ferrying Command of the U.S. Army Air Forces during the war. During the war years, more than 7,500 bombers and fighter aircraft passed through Great Falls on their way to the war fronts in Europe and the Pacific. While using the airport as an air base, the U.S. Army acquired an additional 740 acres (3 km²) of land and built many buildings and other facilities. The airport remained under government control until June 1948, at which point the newly-established Department of Defense
deeded the airport back to the City of Great Falls with the stipulation that the facility could revert to military control in the event of a national emergency. The airport was released from this clause in 1961.
In 1975, the terminal at Great Falls International Airport was replaced and all runways, aprons, and taxiways updated. With the use of Federal Aviation Administration
matching funds, the Great Falls International Airport Authority performs annual operations, maintenance, and capital improvements.
In 2005, the airport recorded the most enplanements in its history (160,887), primarily due to deployment of local U.S. Air Force and Montana National Guard troops overseas. In 2010, the airport recorded the second-highest level number of boardings (159,287) in its history. It was the fifth-busiest of the state's 15 major airports in 2010, behind Billings (389,401 enplanements), Bozeman (365,210), Missoula (288,807), and Kalispell (174,795). As of April 2011, the airport was on track for another record-setting year, having boarded more than 50,200 individuals—a 7 percent increase over the 2010 record levels
Members of the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce created a fund to subsidize (for a short period of time) new passenger airline flights to the airport. Airport officials had hoped Frontier Airlines
would begin service in 2011. But the airline, which previously said it would be expanding in seven markets in 2011, said it would not begin service in Great Falls due to uncertainty about oil prices.
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 within city limits, three miles (5 km) southwest of central Great Falls
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
in Cascade County
Cascade County, Montana
-National protected areas:*Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge*Lewis and Clark National Forest -Economy:Malmstrom Air Force Base is a driving force in the regional economy...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. GTF serves the Great Falls area, as well as other communities throughout central Montana.
Great Falls International Airport is also home to Great Falls Air National Guard Base
Great Falls Air National Guard Base
Great Falls Air National Guard Base is the home base of the Montana Air National Guard 120th Fighter Wing.-Overview:The 120th Fighter Wing of the Montana Air National Guard occupies of leased land on the Great Falls International Airport , located approximately southwest of downtown Great Falls,...
and the Montana Air National Guard
Montana Air National Guard
The Montana Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Montana. It is, along with the Montana Army National Guard, an element of the Montana National Guard.-120th Fighter Wing:...
's 120th Fighter Wing
120th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 120th Fighter Wing is a unit located at Great Falls International Airport, Montana.-Mission:The 120th Fighter Wing, as part of the Montana Air National Guard,serves a dual mission:...
(120 FW), the "Vigilantes." An Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
unit operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
(ACC), the 120 FW transitioned from the F-16C Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
to the F-15C Eagle
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
in January 2009, which it employs in the air defense and air dominance missions.
Malmstrom Air Force Base
Malmstrom Air Force Base
Malmstrom Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place in Cascade County, Montana, United States. It was named in honor of World War II POW Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom...
, home of the 341st Missile Wing
341st Missile Wing
The United States Air Force's 341st Missile Wing is an intercontinental ballistic missile unit headquartered at Malmstrom AFB, Montana...
(341 MW) of the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), is located 10 miles (16.1 km) east of GTF, on the east side of Great Falls. With the transfer of its previously assigned KC-135 aircraft in the 1990s, Malmstrom's 12000 feet (3,657.6 m) runway is currently closed to fixed-wing traffic and open only to military helicopters. As a result, Great Falls ANGB provides support for transient fixed-wing military aircraft visiting Malmstrom AFB.
History
Great Falls International Airport was initiated in November 1928 following a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The airport was leased by the U.S. War Department during World War IIWorld 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...
and became a home for the 7th Ferrying Command of the U.S. Army Air Forces during the war. During the war years, more than 7,500 bombers and fighter aircraft passed through Great Falls on their way to the war fronts in Europe and the Pacific. While using the airport as an air base, the U.S. Army acquired an additional 740 acres (3 km²) of land and built many buildings and other facilities. The airport remained under government control until June 1948, at which point the newly-established Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
deeded the airport back to the City of Great Falls with the stipulation that the facility could revert to military control in the event of a national emergency. The airport was released from this clause in 1961.
In 1975, the terminal at Great Falls International Airport was replaced and all runways, aprons, and taxiways updated. With the use of Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
matching funds, the Great Falls International Airport Authority performs annual operations, maintenance, and capital improvements.
In 2005, the airport recorded the most enplanements in its history (160,887), primarily due to deployment of local U.S. Air Force and Montana National Guard troops overseas. In 2010, the airport recorded the second-highest level number of boardings (159,287) in its history. It was the fifth-busiest of the state's 15 major airports in 2010, behind Billings (389,401 enplanements), Bozeman (365,210), Missoula (288,807), and Kalispell (174,795). As of April 2011, the airport was on track for another record-setting year, having boarded more than 50,200 individuals—a 7 percent increase over the 2010 record levels
Members of the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce created a fund to subsidize (for a short period of time) new passenger airline flights to the airport. Airport officials had hoped Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines, Inc., is an American airline headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The carrier, which is a subsidiary and operating brand of Republic Airways Holdings, operates flights to 83 destinations throughout the United States, Mexico, and Costa Rica and maintains hubs at...
would begin service in 2011. But the airline, which previously said it would be expanding in seven markets in 2011, said it would not begin service in Great Falls due to uncertainty about oil prices.
Airlines and destinations
Cargo Carriers
- Alpine AirAlpine Air ExpressAlpine Air Express is an American airline based in Provo, Utah, USA. It operates scheduled air cargo services on over 15 routes throughout Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana. Its main base is the Provo Municipal Airport.- History :...
- AmeriflightAmeriflightAmeriflight LLC is an American cargo airline with its headquarters in Hangar 1 on the grounds of Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California. It is the largest United States FAA Part 135 cargo carrier, operating scheduled and contract cargo services to destinations in 30 US states, Canada, Mexico, and...
- Empire AirEmpire AirlinesEmpire Airlines is a charter and cargo airline based in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA. It operates over 120 scheduled and charter cargo flights a day in 18 US states and Canada. Its main base is Coeur d'Alene Airport with a hub at Spokane International Airport....
- FedEx Express
External links
- Great Falls International Airport (official site)
- Montana Air National Guard