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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://flyhia.com/ Harrisburg International Airport] (official site)
*[http://www.flyhia.com/ Harrisburg International Airport] (official site)
*[http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Internet/Bureaus/pdBOA.nsf/infoHIA Pennsylvania Bureau of Aviation: Harrisburg International Airport]
*[http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Internet/Bureaus/pdBOA.nsf/infoHIA Pennsylvania Bureau of Aviation: Harrisburg International Airport]
*{{FAA-diagram|00188}}
*{{FAA-diagram|00188}}

Revision as of 18:36, 10 April 2012

Harrisburg International Airport
  • IATA: MDT
  • ICAO: KMDT
  • FAA LID: MDT
    MDT is located in Pennsylvania
    MDT
    MDT
    Location of airport in Pennsylvania
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerSusquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority
ServesHarrisburg, Pennsylvania
LocationLower Swatara Township, Pennsylvania
Elevation AMSL310 ft / 94 m
Coordinates40°11′37″N 076°45′48″W / 40.19361°N 76.76333°W / 40.19361; -76.76333
Websitewww.FlyHIA.com
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
13/31 10,001 3,048 Asphalt
Statistics (2005)
Aircraft operations71,190
Based aircraft29
Sources: airport website[1] and FAA[2]
For the military use of the airport prior to 1969, see Olmsted Air Force Base

Harrisburg International Airport (IATA: MDT, ICAO: KMDT, FAA LID: MDT) is a public use airport located in Lower Swatara Township, Pennsylvania,[3] eight nautical miles (15 km) southeast of the central business district of Harrisburg. It is owned by the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority.[2]

The airport code MDT is a reference to the surrounding community of Middletown, which is a suburb of Harrisburg. Planes landing at MDT from the south are often routed near or over Three Mile Island, only a few miles from the airport. The airport, frequently referred to as HIA, is the primary commercial service airport in South Central Pennsylvania and ranks as the third-busiest airport in Pennsylvania for both passenger enplanements and cargo shipments behind Philadelphia International Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport.[4][5]

History

Harrisburg International Airport has been serving south-central Pennsylvania for over 100 years.[6] Beginning in 1898, the Signal Corps of the U.S. Army was stationed here. This was followed by the first military airplanes landing in 1918 at what had become Olmsted Field of the fledgling U.S. Army Air Service.

The Middletown Air Depot (later Middletown Air Materiel Area) at Olmsted provided logistical and maintenance support of military aircraft until it was closed in 1969. With the turnover from the U.S. Air Force, commercial airline flights were switched from the Capital City Airport to the new Harrisburg International Airport which was established at the former Air Force Base. Architect William Pereira designed the new terminals which were completed in 1973.

In 1998, the Commonwealth transferred ownership to the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA). The Authority board consists of community volunteers appointed to staggered, five-year terms by the elected officials from Cumberland, Dauphin, and York counties, the cities of Harrisburg and York, and Fairview and Lower Swatara townships.

Approximately 1,400 people work in the airport system of Harrisburg International Airport.[7]

Facilities and aircraft

Harrisburg International Airport covers an area of 680 acres (280 ha) at an elevation of 310 feet (94 m) above mean sea level. It has one asphalt paved runway designated 13/31 and measuring 10,001 by 200 feet (3,048 x 61 m).[2]

Runway 13 is equipped with a CAT III approach allowing operations down to 600 ft RVR (Runway Visual Range). The airport is also equipped with a Surface Movement Guidance Control System (SMGCS) that allows for aircraft and vehicle ground movements during reduced visibility specifically below 1200 ft RVR down to 600 ft RVR.

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2005, the airport had 71,190 aircraft operations, an average of 195 per day: 54% air taxi, 22% general aviation, 13% scheduled commercial and 12% military. At that time there were 29 aircraft based at this airport: 17% single-engine, 28% multi-engine, 31% jet, 3% helicopter and 21% military.[2]

The terminal at the airport has 12 gates and is a pier finger lay out; the passenger terminal is located centrally on the airfield and is almost parallel to the center of the runway.[8]

Ground transportation

Built in 2004, and attached to the new terminal building via a climate-controlled sky bridge, the Multi-Modal Transportation Facility (MMTF) is a four-story facility that handles all forms of ground transportation. The top three levels provide 2,504 parking places for Short-Term Hourly, Daily, and Long-Term public parking. The first level accommodates all limos, taxis, hotel shuttles, public and charter buses, plus the rental car ready/return lot.[9]

Inside the first floor lobby area, travelers can access six rental car counters, restrooms, flight, and bus information displays, and a seating area. On the second floor of the lobby area, climate-controlled moving sidewalks connect to the aerial walkway which leads directly into the terminal building.[9]

Route 7 of the Capital Area Transit System provides bus transportation to and from downtown Harrisburg and surrounding communities. The Middletown Amtrak Station, located approximately 3 miles east of the Terminal, in provides Amtrak service via the high-speed Northeast and Keystone corridors. Although there had been a proposal to construct a new rail terminal adjacent to the MMTF, the final location selected for the new station is approximately 2.5 miles west, in Highspire, PA.[10]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinationsConcourse
Air Canada operated by Air Georgian Toronto-Pearson A
AirTran operated by Southwest Airlines Fort Lauderdale, Orlando
Seasonal: Atlanta [all end August 12, 2012] 		B
American Eagle Chicago-O'Hare C
Delta Air Lines Atlanta A
Delta Connection operated by Chautauqua Airlines Detroit A
Delta Connection operated by Comair Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Detroit A
Delta Connection operated by ExpressJet Atlanta A
Delta Connection operated by Pinnacle Airlines Detroit A
Frontier Airlines Orlando [begins May 24, 2012][11]
Seasonal: Denver [begins May 22, 2012][12] 		TBA
United Airlines Chicago-O'Hare B
United Express operated by CommutAir Cleveland, Newark A
United Express operated by GoJet Airlines Washington-Dulles B
United Express operated by Mesa Airlines Chicago-O'Hare, Washington-Dulles B
United Express operated by Trans States Airlines Chicago-O'Hare, Washington-Dulles B
US Airways Charlotte C
US Airways Express operated by Mesa Airlines Charlotte C
US Airways Express operated by Piedmont Airlines Boston, Charlotte, Philadelphia C
US Airways Express operated by PSA Airlines Charlotte C

Statistics

Top Ten Busiest Domestic Routes Out of Harrisburg International Airport
(June 2010-May 2011) [13]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Illinois Chicago, IL 141,000 American Eagle, United, United Express
2 North Carolina Charlotte, NC 122,000 US Airways, US Airways Express
3 Georgia (U.S. state) Atlanta, GA 85,000 AirTran (Seasonal), Delta, Delta Connection
4 Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 65,000 US Airways Express
5 Michigan Detroit, MI 60,000 Delta Connection
6 Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. 52,000 United Express
7 Florida Orlando, FL 38,000 AirTran
8 Ohio Cincinnati, OH 27,000 Delta Connection
9 New Jersey Newark, NJ 24,000 Continental Connection
10 Ohio Cleveland, OH 21,000 Continental Connection

Air cargo

Harrisburg International Airport is well positioned with freight-forwarding capabilities. The airport is located adjacent to I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike), I-83, and I-81, allowing for fast air-to-ground transfer of goods and commodities. Three major air cargo shippers also maintain air service at the east end of the airport, in a dedicated apron area adjacent to the runway. They are:[14]

Pennsylvania Air National Guard use

Despite the closure of Olmsted AFB in 1969, the US Air Force continues to maintain an Air National Guard presence at Harrisburg International Airport[15] in the form of Harrisburg Air National Guard Station and the Pennsylvania Air National Guard's 193rd Special Operations Wing (193 SOW), an Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)-gained unit flying the EC-130 Commando Solo aircraft. The 193 SOW is the sole operator of this critical aircraft asset for the entire US Air Force and in 2001 transitioned from the EC-130E to the new EC-130J variant. The wing has seen extensive Federal service in recent years in support of Operations Just Cause, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Harrisburg International Airport also remains an active touch and go practice runway for SAM 28000 and SAM 29000. These two planes are used to carry the President when he needs to travel via air. They are also known as Air Force One, the call which is adopted when the president is aboard either aircraft (or any other Air Force aircraft for that matter). The Air Force pilots use the custom VC-25's (Boeing 747s) to practice via touch and go at the airport. These practice runs are at random (for obvious security reasons), but they do tend to be seen at around a weekly rate. The Air Force chooses to use HIA as the practice airport for a number of reasons, mostly because of its relatively long runway (able to land and take off a fully loaded 747), relatively low amount of traffic, its close proximity to Andrews Air Force Base, and the presence of the Air National Guard at HIA.

See also

References

  1. ^ Harrisburg International Airport, official site
  2. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for MDT PDF, effective 2008-06-05
  3. ^ "Lower Swatara township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on March 2, 2010.
  4. ^ "Commercial Service Airports by State and Type of Carrier" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  5. ^ "Airports Reporting All-Cargo Data for Calendar Year 2005" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  6. ^ Harrisburg International Airport History
  7. ^ Airport Authority History SARAA, accessed February 14, 2010.
  8. ^ http://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/1012/00188AD.PDF
  9. ^ a b Multi-Modal Transportation Facility SARAA, accessed February 12, 2010.
  10. ^ New Middletown Amtrak station site will be at Ann Street and Route 230
  11. ^ http://finance.yahoo.com/news/frontier-airlines-expands-nonstop-orlando-190000812.html
  12. ^ http://media.frontierairlines.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5331
  13. ^ http://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=MDT&Airport_Name=Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg International Olmsted Field&carrier=FACTS
  14. ^ Cargo operations at HIA Harrisburg International Airport, accessed March 4, 2010.
  15. ^ Burger, T.W. (21 June 2010). "Pennsylvania Air National Guard unit called rescuers on wings". Harrisburg Patriot News. Retrieved 17 December 2010.


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