Henry E. Rohlsen Airport

Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (IATA: STX, ICAO: TISX, FAA LID: STX) is a public airport located six miles (10 km) southwest of Christiansted on the island of St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands.[1] The airport is named after Henry E. Rohlsen, a St. Croix native who was one of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.

Henry E. Rohlsen Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerVirgin Islands Port Authority
ServesSt. Croix, United States Virgin Islands
Elevation AMSL74 ft / 23 m
Coordinates17°42′16″N 064°48′06″W
Websiteviport.com
Map
STX is located in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
STX
STX
Location in Saint Croix
STX is located in the U.S. Virgin Islands
STX
STX
STX (the U.S. Virgin Islands)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
10/28 10,004 3,049 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2021 - March 2022)
Total Passengers451,000
Based aircraft37

The airport, which was a hub for Aero Virgin Islands in the 1970s and 1980s, has the capability to receive jets up to the size of the Boeing 747s. Prior to 1996 the airport was known as Alexander Hamilton International Airport.[2]

History
Check-in area
Apron view

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces Sixth Air Force stationed the 12th Bombardment Squadron (25th Bombardment Group) at the airport for antisubmarine patrols flying B-18 Bolo aircraft from November 8, 1941, to November 10, 1942. During the time the airport was operated by the military it was named Benedict Airfield. When the airport was transferred to civilian control it was renamed to honor former St. Croix resident Alexander Hamilton.

Historically, a number of airlines operated scheduled passenger jet service into St. Croix in the past. These air carriers included Air Florida with Douglas DC-9-10s, Caribair with McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s, Continental Airlines with Boeing 727-200s, Eastern Airlines with Boeing 727-100s, 727-200s and 757-200s, Midway Airlines with Boeing 737-200s, Pan Am with Boeing 727-200s as well as wide body Airbus A300B4s [3] and Trans Caribbean Airways with Boeing 727-200s.[4] One air carrier that has served St. Croix for many years is American Airlines. In 1974, American was serving the airport with Boeing 707 and Boeing 727-100 jetliners with nonstop flights to New York City.[5] In 1994, American was operating Airbus A300-600R wide body jets into St. Croix with nonstop service to Miami.[6] A Boeing 747 carrying relief supplies during the aftermath of Hurricane Marilyn landed at the airport in 1995. Satellite imagery in Google Earth shows the presence of C-17 and C-130 military transports in 2006 and 2015.

On Sunday, November 11, 2018, the second largest cargo airplane in the world, the Antonov An-124 landed on St. Croix to deliver building supplies for houses as part of the hurricane recovery.[7]

Facilities and aircraft

Henry E. Rohlsen Airport covers an area of 1,455 acres (589 ha) which contains one asphalt paved runway (10/28) measuring 10,004 ft × 150 ft (3,049 m × 46 m). For the 12-month period ending September 30, 2013, the airport had 36,287 aircraft operations, an average of 99 per day: 68% air taxi, 25% general aviation, 6% scheduled commercial and 1% military. In the same period, there were also 36 aircraft based at this airport, including 11 single-engine, 15 multi-engine, 5 jets, four military aircraft and one helicopter.[1]

Terminal modernization and expansion project

In August 2018, the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) held a charrette to announce and discuss the expansion and renovation of the terminal.[8][9][10][11][12] On March 14, 2019, the VIPA announced bidding for phase one of the upgrade project to be in September.[13][14] The renovation was expected to be complete within a year.[15]

VIPA had begun the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport Terminal Expansion and Modernization Project as of September 2020. The improvements to the terminal will be completed in four phases over a six-year period.

Phase one entails enclosing 5,500 square feet of walkway space to increase the seating capacity in the lounge, refurbishing the existing passenger lounge space and restrooms, enclosing the 1,100 square-foot open-air gardens with a new roof structure to provide additional concessions space, and upgrading the mechanical systems for the additional air-conditioned area.

Phase one is estimated to cost $8.6 million and was funded via a $7 million grant from the US Department of Commerce- Economic Development Administration in 2019 with a local match of $1.6 million from the VI Port Authority. The construction was anticipated to take 18 months and be completed in March 2022. However, the project is ahead of schedule and should be completed before the end of the Calendar Year 2021.

Phases two through four include the addition of a second level to accommodate jet bridges, additional hold room, concession and retail space, improvement of passenger flow and baggage handling in the terminal; redesign, expansion, and modernization of the interior of the terminal to make the best use of the existing floor plan; the addition of vibrant, tropical landscaping; and changes to improve the flow of vehicular traffic. Expanding the terminal will allow St. Croix to take full advantage of its 10,000-foot runway.

While Phase 1 of the HERA Terminal Expansion is fully funded, VIPA is actively seeking funding sources for Phases 2 through 4. The project is estimated to cost a total of $140 million.[16]..
On Monday, December 21, 2021, phase one of the terminal expansion and modernization project has been completed [17]

The Virgin Islands Port Authority celebrates Phase One of the Henry E. Rohlsen Terminal Expansion and Modernization Project,[18][19][20] and now work commences on Phase II, which is to the construction of jet bridges and the build-out of the second floor of the terminal.[21]
The tour of airport development experts continued on St. Croix.[22]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
American Airlines Miami
Seasonal: Charlotte
Cape Air Saint Thomas, San Juan (resumes December 15, 2023)[23]
Delta Air Lines Seasonal: Atlanta
Fly The Whale Saint Thomas[24]
Silver Airways Saint Thomas, San Juan
Spirit Airlines Fort Lauderdale

Cargo
AirlinesDestinations
DHL Aviation San Juan
FedEx Express San Juan

Statistics

Top destinations
Busiest Domestic Routes from STX (August 2022 – July 2023)[25]
Rank Airport Passengers Carriers
1 Florida Miami, Florida 90,190 American
2 Florida Fort Lauderdale, Florida 48,480 Spirit
3 Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico 28,010 Cape Air, Seaborne Airlines
4 United States Virgin Islands Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 19,410 Air Sunshine, Cape Air, Sea Flight, Seaborne Airlines, Fly The Whale
5 Georgia (U.S. state) Atlanta, Georgia 16,250 Delta
6 North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina 9,530 American

Airline market share
Largest airlines at STX (August 2022 - July 2023)[26]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 American Airlines 198,000 46.77%
2 Spirit Airlines 98,160 23.17%
3 Silver Airways 58,230 13.74%
4 Delta Airlines 32,340 7.63%
5 Cape Air 18,490 4.36%
6 Other 18,350 4.33%

Accidents and incidents
  • On July 24, 1979, Prinair Flight 610 crashed shortly after takeoff from Alexander Hamilton Airport. One crew member and seven passengers were killed.[27]
  • On December 7, 2017, at about 8:54 p.m., a private plane, a Beech Baron on its way to St. Thomas, had to return to St. Croix due to an emergency and crashed before it could make it to the runway, resulting in five fatalities.[28] A preliminary investigation revealed that engine failure was the cause of the crash.[29] It was also revealed that the pilot operating the aircraft was unqualified to fly multi-engine airplanes.[30]

References

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

  1. FAA Airport Form 5010 for STX PDF, effective July 5, 2007
  2. "Virgin Islands Port Authority". The United States Virgin Islands' Airports and Seaports. Archived from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  3. "Pan Am A300B4-203". AirlineFan.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  4. http://www.departedflights.com Archived December 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Official Airline Guides (OAGs) dated Nov. 15, 1979 and July 1, 1983; http://www.airchives.net%5B%5D, Caribair system timetables; http://www.timetableimages.com Archived February 2, 2001, at the Wayback Machine, July 7, 1969 Trans Caribbean Airways system timetable
  5. http://www.departedflights.com Archived December 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Dec. 1, 1974 American Airlines system timetable
  6. http://www.departedflights.com Archived December 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Oct. 1, 1991 Official Airline Guide (OAG), St. Croix-Miami schedules
  7. "Watch: Second Largest Cargo Plane in the World Delivers Payload to St. Croix -". Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  8. "Port Authority Hosting Charrette As It Unveils Plans For St. Croix Airport Redesign; Community Invited To Attend". Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  9. "VIPA Invites Public to Vision Charette to Discuss Rohlsen Airport Upgrades | St. Croix Source". Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "St. Croix Airport Redesign Unveiled: Second Floor, Escalator, Jet Bridges, Baggage Handling Expansion And More". Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  12. staff, Source (August 22, 2018). "Feds Put V.I. at Top of List for Redevelopment of Rohlsen Airport". Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  13. "Port Authority Sprucing up Marine Facilities and Airports". March 14, 2019.
  14. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Contractor: STX Airport Renovation Should be Complete in 12 Months". October 6, 2020.
  16. "MODERNIZING AND EXPANDING THE HERA TERMINAL". VI Port Authority. 2021.
  17. "VIPA Celebrates Completion of Phase One of Terminal Expansion". December 21, 2021.
  18. "VIPA Celebrates Completion of Phase One of Terminal Expansion". December 21, 2021.
  19. https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x8c1ac9298dbecb53%3A0x91da0e0873820dad!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMQZax6m4AJkFrJVKb7KonZDWq49weaMndzci0S%3Dw284-h160-k-no!5sHenry%20E.%20Rohlsen%20Airport%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgARICGAI&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipPo7hWuV7bpw346T6hfJ9eJnDRk0CDDnQ6RHhWq&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjs0_WGx6f1AhVTlYkEHe0UAVYQoip6BAhDEAM&cshid=1641830556921276
  20. https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x8c1ac9298dbecb53%3A0x91da0e0873820dad!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMQZax6m4AJkFrJVKb7KonZDWq49weaMndzci0S%3Dw284-h160-k-no!5sHenry%20E.%20Rohlsen%20Airport%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgARICGAI&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipNQiBA2kWbp3_dXckrF4ezZHOJoaLp-VQ_XWAYv&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjs0_WGx6f1AhVTlYkEHe0UAVYQoip6BAhDEAM&cshid=1641830556921276>
  21. "Progress is Underway for VIPA Construction Projects". December 27, 2021.
  22. "St. Croix Undergoing 'Steady Tourism Development' As Airport Project Opens Up 'Opportunity Galore'". viconsortium.com.
  23. "Search Flights from San Juan (SJU)". Cape Air. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  24. "Detail". April 2023.
  25. "OST_R - BTS - Transtats". www.transtats.bts.gov. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  26. "Christiansted, VI: Henry E. Rohlsen (STX)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
  27. Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network
  28. "Five Are Dead In Plane Crash At St. Croix Airport". Archived from the original on December 10, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  29. "Engine Failure Led To Plane Crash, FAA Preliminary Investigation Reveals". Archived from the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  30. "Pilot Who Operated Plane That Crashed At St. Croix Airport Was Not Licensed To Fly Multi-Engine Aircraft, FAA Records Show". Archived from the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.

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