Wichita Falls Regional Airport

Wichita Falls Regional Airport (IATA: SPS[3], ICAO: KSPS, FAA LID: SPS) is a public and military use airport six miles north of Wichita Falls in Wichita County, Texas.[2] Its runways and taxiways are shared with Sheppard Air Force Base; most operations are military, but American Eagle flies to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Not to be confused with Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport.
For the military use of this facility, see Sheppard Air Force Base.
Wichita Falls Regional Airport

Sheppard Air Force Base
USGS 1996 orthophoto
Summary
Airport typePublic / Military
OwnerU.S. Air Force
OperatorCity of Wichita Falls
LocationWichita Falls, Texas
OpenedJuly 4, 1928 (1928-07-04)[1]
Elevation AMSL1,019 ft / 311 m
Coordinates33°59′20″N 098°29′31″W
WebsiteFlyWichitaFalls.net
Map
SPS is located in Texas
SPS
SPS
Location
SPS is located in the United States
SPS
SPS
SPS (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
15R/33L 13,100 3,993 Concrete
15C/33C 10,002 3,049 Asphalt/Concrete
15L/33R 6,000 1,829 Asphalt/Concrete
18/36 7,021 2,140 Asphalt
Statistics (2020)
Aircraft operations (year ending September 30, 2020)202,034
Based aircraft213

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a primary commercial service airport.[4] Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 47,191 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008,[5] 43,952 in 2009 and 44,296 in 2010.[6]

History

In January 1928, 240 acres (97 ha) of land, along what was then called Burkburnett Road, was purchased from J.A. Kemp in order to build Wichita Falls' first-ever airport.[7] Construction of airplane hangars began later than month, designed by Charles Reid of the engineering firm of Reid and Costley.[8][9] C.W. Calhoun was the first president of the Wichita Falls Airport Corporation.[9] The airport was originally named Kell Field, in honor of Frank Kell, a prominent financier and builder from Wichita Falls. [10] The airport opened on July 4, 1928.[1] Two U.S. Army airplanes from Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio were the first airplanes to land at the airport.[1] Originally operated as a privately owned airport, the airport was later sold to the City of Wichita Falls.[11]

Braniff Airways first provided service to Wichita Falls Municipal Airport beginning on November 13, 1930.[12] Braniff asked the Civil Aeronautics Board for authority to discontinue service in 1969. The Civil Aeronautics Board approved its request to discontinue service because Braniff, in 1966, had begun operating the route with its new BAC One-11 Fastback Jets, which seated twice as many passengers as the previous propeller-powered Convair 340 and 440, which had served the route. As a result, Load Factors were not sufficient to continue the service and it was discontinued on May 7, 1969.[13]

Continental Airlines served Wichita Falls Municipal Airport until 1977. Continental Airlines asked the Civil Aeronautics Board to approve its request to end its service at the airport and have Metro Airlines serve the airport instead. At the time, Continental Airlines served a Wichita Falls–Lawton–Oklahome City route.[14] After originally disapproving the request, the Civil Aeronautics Board approved the change. Metro Airlines started serving Wichita Falls on October 30, 1977, with flights serving Lawton, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa.[15] By 1979, Metro Airlines had flights to Dallas–Fort Worth Regional Airport and Houston Intercontinental Airport.[16]

Texas International Airlines was operating jet service into the airport in 1970 with seven flights a day all operated with McDonnell Douglas DC-9 jetliners with five nonstop flights every weekday to Dallas/Fort Worth plus two daily nonstops to Amarillo with three direct one stop flights to Houston and one daily direct one stop flight to Denver as well as direct no change of plane service to New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Harlingen, McAllen and Monterrey, Mexico.[17]

Rio Airways started service to Wichita Falls in 1971.[18][19] After signing an agreement with Delta Airlines, its flights were branded Delta Connection.[19] Rio Airways discontinued service to Wichita Falls in 1987 due to few passengers aboard its flights.[19]

As of 1980, passengers flying from Wichita Falls to Dallas and connecting to an American Airlines flight could check in at Metro Airlines' ticket counter in Wichita Falls for both of their flights. This was the first time American Airlines had offered such an arrangement. [20] Metro Airlines service between Wichita Falls and Dallas was rebranded as American Eagle starting in 1985.[21]

Texas Star Airlines began providing service from Wichita Falls and Dallas Love Field, Austin, Fort Worth Meacham Airport, and Brownsville in 1981.[22][23] Two years later, it discontinued all service at Wichita Falls, saying the service was no longer worthwhile with one or two passengers on average on each flight.[22]

Trans-Central Airlines served Wichita Falls for a few months before it went out of business in 1984.[24] Air Spirit Airlines also served Wichita Falls for a few months before it went out of business in 1985.[25]

Atlantic Southeast Airlines began serving Wichita Falls, branded as Delta Connection, in 1986, with flights to Dallas–Fort Worth.[26][27] Atlantic Southeast Airlines ended these flights in 2001 due to a lack of profitability. This left American Airlines as the only carrier offering scheduled commercial service to Wichita Falls.[28]

Facilities

The airport covers 3,800 acres (1,500 ha) at an elevation of 1,019 feet (311 m). It has four runways:[2]

  • 15R/33L is 13,100 by 300 feet (3,993 x 91 m) concrete;
  • 15C/33C is 10,002 by 150 feet (3,049 x 46 m) asphalt/concrete;
  • 15L/33R is 6,000 by 150 feet (1,829 x 46 m) asphalt/concrete;
  • 17/35 is 7,021 by 150 feet (2,140 x 46 m) asphalt.

In the year ending September 30, 2020 the airport had 202,034 aircraft operations, average 553 per day: 97% military, <2% general aviation, and 2% airline. 213 aircraft were then based at this airport: 200 military, 3 single-engine, 9 multi-engine, and 1 jet.[2]

Airline and destination
AirlinesDestinations
American Eagle Dallas/Fort Worth

See also

References
  1. "Airport Fete Features '4th' Activity Here". Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). July 4, 1928. p. 1.
  2. FAA Airport Form 5010 for SPS PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective November 15, 2012.
  3. "IATA Airport Code Search (SPS: Wichita Falls / Sheppard AFB)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  4. "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF, 2.03 MB). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010.
  5. "Enplanements for CY 2008" (PDF, 1.0 MB). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. December 18, 2009.
  6. "Enplanements for CY 2010" (PDF, 189 KB). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2011.
  7. "Wichita Falls Gets Airport". San Angelo Evening Standard (San Angelo, Texas). January 10, 1928. p. 10.
  8. "Airport Company to Build Hangar Next Few Weeks". Wichita Falls Times. January 22, 1928. p. 9.
  9. "Engineers Work on Plan for Airport Hangars". Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). March 8, 1928. p. .3.
  10. "'Kell Field' Is Name Chosen for Wichita Falls Muny Airport". Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). May 13, 1928. p. 5.
  11. "Airport Deed Handed City". '"Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). July 28, 1928. p. 14.
  12. Fisher, Bruce (September 5, 1979). "Recession? Braniff International Keeps on Flying". Wichita Falls Times. p. 21.
  13. Moore, John "June 27, 1969). "City Resets Continental Airlines Talks". Wichita Falls Times. p. 1.
  14. Anderson, Helen (September 2, 1977). "Route Switch Okay Sought". Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). p. 3.
  15. "Metro Airlines To Start Service". TImes Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). October 29, 1977. p. 2.
  16. "Metro Airlines Ranked Near Top". Wichita Falls Times. July 15, 1979. p. 34.
  17. https://www.departedflights.com, Complete historic airline timetables, July 1, 1970 Texas International Airlines system timetable, Wichita Falls flight schedules,
  18. Clark, John (January 9, 1974). "Air Travelers Due New Stop Sunday". Wichita Falls Times. p. 1.
  19. "Rio Airways Stops Wichita Falls Flights". Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). February 14, 1987. p. 9.
  20. "Metro Sets D-FW Check-ins Here". Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). September 17, 1980. p. 25.
  21. Ball, Karen (February 19, 1985). "Council May Seek New Way to Market Downtown Area". Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). p. 1.
  22. Adams, Doug (August 27, 1983) ."Texas Star Airlines to Halt Wichita Falls Operations". Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). p. 3.
  23. Webre, Jim (September 4, 1981). "Wichita Falls-Austin Routes Sought By Airline". Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). p. 1.
  24. Ball, Karen (August 23, 1984). "Airline Shuts Down Operations". Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). p. 1.
  25. Lackey, Joe (May 7, 1985). "Airline Looking to Regain Skies". Times Record News (Wichita Falls, Texas). p. 1.
  26. Copelin, Carroll (October 2, 1986). "Commuter Line Serving City Sold to Investment Group". Wichita Falls Times. p. 4.
  27. "Ariline Revenue Up". Wichita Falls Times. October 29, 1986. p. 19.
  28. "Airline Ends Service". Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas). April 21, 2001. p. 22.
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