McCook Regional Airport
Encyclopedia
McCook Regional Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport
located two nautical miles (3.7 km) east of the central business district
of the City of McCook
, in Red Willow County
, Nebraska
, United States
. It was formerly known as McCook Municipal Airport. The airport is served by one commercial airline, with service subsidized by the Essential Air Service
program.
Air Midwest
, operating as U.S. Airways Express, commenced service on October 29, 2006, with two daily flights to Grand Island
and continuing service to Omaha Eppley Airfield
(1 stop) and Kansas City International Airport
(2 stops).
an even larger training airfield was built some eight miles north of McCook Regional, for the purpose of training of heavy bomber
crews. Known, somewhat confusingly, as McCook Army Airfield
, the base closed in 1945 and was transferred to state control and renamed McCook State Airfield. It closed for good in 1969 and since has largely reverted to farmland. However the former base's five massive World War II-era hangars are still clearly visible from the air.
of 2,583 feet (787 m) above mean sea level. It has three runway
s: 12/30 is 6,449 by 100 feet (1,966 x 30 m) with a concrete
surface; 4/22 is 4,000 by 75 feet (1,219 x 23 m) with a concrete surface; 17/35 is 1,350 by 160 feet (411 x 49 m) with a turf
surface.
For the 12-month period ending May 31, 2009, the airport had 16,900 aircraft operations, an average of 46 per day: 89% general aviation
, 10% scheduled commercial
and 1% military
. At that time there were 32 aircraft based at this airport: 97% single-engine
and 3% multi-engine.
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 two nautical miles (3.7 km) east of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of the City of McCook
McCook, Nebraska
McCook is a city in Red Willow County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,994 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Red Willow County...
, in Red Willow County
Red Willow County, Nebraska
-History:Red Willow County was formed in 1873. It was named after the Red Willow Creek.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,448 people, 4,710 households, and 3,188 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile . There were 5,278 housing...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was formerly known as McCook Municipal Airport. The airport is served by one commercial airline, with service subsidized by the Essential Air Service
Essential Air Service
Essential Air Service is a U.S. government program enacted to guarantee that small communities in the United States, which, prior to deregulation, were served by certificated airlines, maintained commercial service. Its aim is to maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service to these...
program.
Air Midwest
Air Midwest
Air Midwest, Inc., was a Federal Aviation Administration Part 121 certificated air carrier operating under air carrier certificate number AMWA510A issued on May 15, 1965. It was headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, United States, and was a subsidiary of Mesa Air Group. It operated flights as US...
, operating as U.S. Airways Express, commenced service on October 29, 2006, with two daily flights to Grand Island
Central Nebraska Regional Airport
Central Nebraska Regional Airport is a public use airport located three nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Grand Island, a city in Hall County, Nebraska, United States...
and continuing service to Omaha Eppley Airfield
Eppley Airfield
Eppley Airfield is a medium hub primary airport located three miles northeast of the central business district of Omaha, a city in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States. It is the largest airport in the state of Nebraska...
(1 stop) and Kansas City International Airport
Kansas City International Airport
Kansas City International Airport , originally named Mid-Continent International Airport, is a public airport located 15 miles northwest of the central business district of Kansas City, in Platte County, Missouri, United States. In 2008, 10,469,892 passengers used the airport...
(2 stops).
History
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...
an even larger training airfield was built some eight miles north of McCook Regional, for the purpose of training of heavy bomber
Heavy bomber
A heavy bomber is a bomber aircraft of the largest size and load carrying capacity, and usually the longest range.In New START, the term "heavy bomber" is used for two types of bombers:*one with a range greater than 8,000 kilometers...
crews. Known, somewhat confusingly, as McCook Army Airfield
McCook Army Airfield
McCook Army Airfield was activated on 1 April 1943. It is located nine miles northwest of McCook, a city in Red Willow County, Nebraska, United States and is southwest of Lincoln, Nebraska. It was constructed in 1943...
, the base closed in 1945 and was transferred to state control and renamed McCook State Airfield. It closed for good in 1969 and since has largely reverted to farmland. However the former base's five massive World War II-era hangars are still clearly visible from the air.
Facilities and aircraft
McCook Regional Airport covers an area of 667 acres (269.9 ha) at an elevationElevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 2,583 feet (787 m) above mean sea level. It has three runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s: 12/30 is 6,449 by 100 feet (1,966 x 30 m) with a concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
surface; 4/22 is 4,000 by 75 feet (1,219 x 23 m) with a concrete surface; 17/35 is 1,350 by 160 feet (411 x 49 m) with a turf
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
surface.
For the 12-month period ending May 31, 2009, the airport had 16,900 aircraft operations, an average of 46 per day: 89% general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
, 10% scheduled commercial
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
and 1% military
Military aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
. At that time there were 32 aircraft based at this airport: 97% single-engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
and 3% multi-engine.
External links
- Aerial photo as of 11 April 1999 from USGS The National Map