Clinton National Airport

Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (IATA: LIT, ICAO: KLIT, FAA LID: LIT), also known as Adams Field, is a joint civil-military airport on the east side of Little Rock, Arkansas.[3][4] It is operated by the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission.[5]

Clinton National Airport
Adams Field
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Little Rock
OperatorLittle Rock Municipal Airport Commission
ServesLittle Rock
OpenedJune 19, 1931 (1931-06-19)[1]
Elevation AMSL266 ft / 81 m
Coordinates34°43′48″N 92°13′12″W
Websiteclintonairport.com
Map
LIT is located in Arkansas
LIT
LIT
Location of airport in Arkansas
LIT is located in the United States
LIT
LIT
LIT (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
04L/22R 8,273 2,522 Concrete
04R/22L 8,251 2,515 Concrete
18/36 6,224 1,897 Concrete
Helipads
Number Length Surface
ft m
H1 50 15 Concrete
Statistics (2022)
Total passengers2,021,040
Aircraft operations (through year ending 2/28/2021)61,278
Sources: Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport[2][3]

The largest commercial airport in Arkansas, it served more than 2.1 million passengers in the year spanning from March 2009 through to February 2010.[6] While Clinton National Airport does not have direct international passenger flights, more than 50 flights arrive or depart at Little Rock each day, with nonstop service to 14 cities.[7] The airport is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2019–2023, in which it is categorized as a small-hub primary commercial service facility.[8]

History
The airport, from an approach road

The airport was originally named Adams Field after Captain George Geyer Adams, 154th Observation Squadron, Arkansas National Guard, who was killed in the line of duty on September 4, 1937.[4] He was a strong advocate for the airport, and also a Little Rock city councilor.

American Airlines was the first airline to serve Little Rock when it first landed at Adams Field on June 19, 1931.[1]

During World War II the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces Third Air Force for antisubmarine patrols and training.

In 1972 the airport opened its current 12-gate terminal.[4]

In August 2008, the airport approved a plan to renovate the terminal over a 15-year period. This would expand the terminal from 12 to 16 gates.[9]

On March 20, 2012, the municipal airport commission voted to rename the airport the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, named after Arkansas native, former Governor and United States President Bill Clinton and his wife, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.[10] The name Adams Field will continue to be used when referring to the airport's runways and air traffic, and will be the airport's official designator. In 2017, Republican state Sen. Jason Rapert filed a bill that would have forced the airport's renaming but relented when he found little support for the measure.[11]

In October 2013, Travel + Leisure released a survey of travelers that ranked Clinton National Airport as the worst of the 67 domestic airports considered in the survey. The survey report cited long lines and few food and shopping choices, among other criticisms.[12] A survey commissioned by the airport contradicted Travel + Leisure's claim, finding that more than 90% of passengers were satisfied with their experience.[13]

Facilities and aircraft
Welcome sign at terminal

Clinton National Airport covers 2,000 acres (809 ha) at an elevation of 266 feet (81 m) above mean sea level. It has three concrete runways: 4L/22R is 8,273 by 150 feet (2,522 x 46 m); 4R/22L is 8,251 by 150 feet (2,515 x 46 m); 18/36 is 6,224 by 150 feet (1,897 x 46 m). It has one concrete helipad 50 by 50 feet (15 x 15 m).[3][14]

In the year ending February 28, 2021, the airport had 61,278 aircraft operations, an average of 168 per day: 44% general aviation, 25% scheduled commercial, 17% military, and 13% air taxi. The military operations are mostly C-130 transports from nearby Little Rock Air Force Base practicing touch-and-go landings. At the time, 125 aircraft were based at this airport: 38 single-engine, 34 multi-engine, 49 jet, and 4 helicopter.[3]

There are two Fixed Based Operators (FBOs) on the field: Signature Flight Support and Atlantic Aviation. Central Flying Service, under new ownership, operates on the field offering aircraft maintenance, sales and flight training.

Dassault Aircraft Services (DAS), a subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, operates a large facility at the airport. It is the site of two Falcon aircraft operations: the main Completion Center for all Falcon jets worldwide, and the company-owned Service Center. Current production model Falcons are manufactured in France, then flown in "green" condition to the Completion Center where optional avionics and custom interiors are installed, and exteriors are painted. Dassault Aircraft Services (DAS) – Little Rock provides inspection, maintenance, modification, completion and repair needs for the Falcon product line. The Dassault Aircraft Services (DAS) – Little Rock Service Center and Completion Center employs nearly 1,600 people and has a combined occupy a total of nearly 1,250,000 square feet (116,000 m2), making Little Rock the largest Dassault facility in the world.

Terminal

The single terminal has twelve gates. Six gates are along the length of the terminal (three on either side) and a rotunda at the end has six more.

Airlines and destinations
LIT - ATL Delta
Delta Airlines Service to Atlanta
American Airlines Service to Little Rock
American Airlines was the first airline to serve Little Rock
LIT - United Airlines
United Airlines Serves Little Rock

Passenger
LIT- Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air
AirlinesDestinations
Allegiant Air Orlando/Sanford
Seasonal: Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Los Angeles, St. Petersburg/Clearwater
American Airlines Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth
American Eagle Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York–LaGuardia, Washington–National
Seasonal: Miami
Delta Air Lines Atlanta
Delta Connection New York–LaGuardia
Frontier Airlines Denver
Southwest Airlines Atlanta, Dallas–Love, Denver, Houston–Hobby (resumes March 10, 2024), Las Vegas, St. Louis
Seasonal: Phoenix–Sky Harbor
United Express Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental

Cargo
Airline Destinations
UPS Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth, Louisville, Lubbock, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Ontario, Shreveport

Statistics

Top destinations
Busiest domestic routes from LIT (May 2022 – April 2023)[6]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Atlanta, Georgia 245,510 Delta, Southwest
2 Texas Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 176,050 American
3 Texas Dallas–Love Field, Texas 111,220 Southwest
4 Colorado Denver, Colorado 98,240 Frontier, United, Southwest
5 North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina 89,620 American
6 Illinois Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 80,750 American, United
7 Texas Houston–Intercontinental, Texas 70,230 United
8 Missouri St. Louis, Missouri 63,970 Southwest
9 Virginia Washington–Reagan National, D.C. 19,950 American
10 Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada 19,530 Frontier, Southwest

Ground transportation

Rock Region Metro provides transit service to the airport via Route 12, which operates from the airport to downtown Little Rock.[15]

Accidents and incidents
  • On January 19, 1990, an Eastman Kodak Grumman Gulfstream II crashed during final approach to Little Rock National Airport; all seven on board were killed. Unfavorable weather conditions and pilot error contributed to the accident.[16]
  • On June 1, 1999, American Airlines Flight 1420, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 with 145 passengers and crew, attempting to land in a severe thunderstorm, overran the end of runway 4R, crashed through a fence and down a rock embankment into a flood plain; one crewmember and ten passengers were killed.[17]
  • On February 22, 2023, a Beechcraft Super King Air took off during gusty winds and heavy rain. Shortly after takeoff, the plane crashed near a 3M plant, killing all 5 on board. The passengers were members of an environmental firm called CTEH enroute to investigate an explosion at a metal factory in Bedford, Ohio.[18][19]

Notes
  • Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

See also

References
  1. Dougan, Michael B. (2016). "Aviation". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  2. "December 2022 Total Enplanements and Deplanements" (PDF). clintonairport.com. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  3. FAA Airport Form 5010 for LIT PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. effective December 30, 2021.
  4. "History". Clinton National Airport. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  6. "RITA BTS Transtats – LIT". www.transtats.bts.gov. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  7. "Non-Stop Jet Service". Clinton National Airport. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013.
  8. "NPIAS Report 2019-2023 Appendix A" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. October 3, 2018. p. 17. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  9. "LR airport terminal OK'd for redesign". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. August 20, 2008. Archived from the original on February 17, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2008.
  11. Brantley, Max (March 17, 2017). "Rapert folds on renaming Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport". Arkansas Times. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  13. "Passenger Satisfaction Flying High at Clinton National Airport". KLRT-TV. May 5, 2015. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  14. "LIT airport data at skyvector.com". skyvector.com. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  15. "System Map" (PDF). Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  16. Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Gulfstream American G-1159 Gulfstream II N46TE Little Rock National Airport, AR (LIT)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  17. Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) N215AA Little Rock National Airport, AR (LIT)". aviation-safety.net.
  18. Digital, THV11 (February 22, 2023). "Five people dead after plane crash near Little Rock 3M plant". thv11.com. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  19. Accident description for N55PC at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on February 24, 2023.
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