- Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport
Infobox Airport
name = Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport
IATA = BRO
ICAO = KBRO
FAA = BRO
type = Public
owner = City of Brownsville
operator =
city-served =Brownsville, Texas
location =
elevation-f = 22
elevation-m = 7
coordinates = coord|25|54|25|N|097|25|33|W|region:US_type:airport_scale:40000
website =
r1-number = 13L/31R
r1-length-f = 3,000
r1-length-m = 914
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 13R/31L
r2-length-f = 7,400
r2-length-m = 2,256
r2-surface = Asphalt
r3-number = 17/35
r3-length-f = 6,000
r3-length-m = 1,829
r3-surface = Asphalt
stat-year = 2007
stat1-header = Aircraft operations
stat1-data = 43,105
stat2-header = Based aircraft
stat2-data = 56
footnotes = Source:Federal Aviation Administration FAA-airport|ID=BRO|use=PU|own=PU|site=23499.*A, effective 2008-04-10]Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport airport codes|BRO|KBRO|BRO is a city-owned public-use
airport located fournautical mile s (7 km) east of thecentral business district of Brownsville, a city in Cameron County,Texas ,United States .The airport is mostly used for
general aviation , but is also served by one commercial airline. It is a convenient airport for flying into theRio Grande Valley and Northern Mexico. Most cities in the Rio Grande Valley are accessible from BRO by automobile within 30-60 minutes. It is also the closest airport toSouth Padre Island .Fares for flights leaving out of Brownsville are competitive with that of nearby airports, mainly
McAllen-Miller International Airport in McAllen andValley International Airport in Harlingen.The
National Weather Service forecast office for Deep South Texas is located on the airport grounds.History
* On March 9, 1929,
Charles Lindbergh landed in BRO after a five hour, 38 minute historic flight fromMexico City to the United States. This established the first leg of Airmail Service to Mexico
** In honor, an event in whichAmelia Earhart attends is held, a crowd of over 20,000 greeting Lindbergh upon his arrival. This event has been described as an international event of great significance.
*Pan-American Airways started service on the airport on June 4th, 1929, the beginning of a 30 year relationship between BRO and PanAm.
* DuringWorld War II the airport was used by theUnited States Army Air Forces
** The first American jet engine flight was tested at Brownsville Army Air Field.
** B-29 bomber renovated here.
** Airport had one of the largest overhaul facilities in the country. By the end of the war Pan American had overhauled nearly 6,000 engines.
** Civilian Pilot Training program initiated to train military and commercial pilots.
** Only Mexican military unit to engage in combat during World War II, the 201st Fighter Squadron, trained at the Brownsville Army Air Field.
* In the 1960s, the 16th weatherradar system in the nation was installed at BRO
* In 1983, the airport was officially renamed the Brownsville-South Padre Island International AirportFacilities and aircraft
Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport covers an area of 1,700
acre s (688 ha) at anelevation of 22 feet (7 m) abovemean sea level . It has threeasphalt pavedrunway s: 13L/31R measuring 3,000 x 75 ft (914 x 23 m), 13R/31L measuring 7,400 x 150 ft (2,256 x 46 m) and 17/35 measuring 6,000 x 150 ft (1,829 x 46 m).For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2007, the airport had 43,105 aircraft operations, an average of 118 per day: 52%
general aviation , 35% military, 13%air taxi and <1% scheduled commercial. At that time there were 56 aircraft based at this airport: 91% single-engine and 9% multi-engine.Various aircraft types, including
Embraer ERJ 135 , EmbraerERJ 145 andBombardier CRJ-200 aircraft, are used by Continental in Brownsville. Previous aircraft used includeATR-42 aircraft (ExpressJet Airlines), as well asBoeing 737-300 and737-500 aircraft (Continental Airlines).Airlines and destinations
*
Continental Airlines - Gates 1 & 2
**Continental Express operated byExpressJet Airlines (Houston-Intercontinental)
**Continental Express operated byChautauqua Airlines (Houston-Intercontinental)Terminal
The Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport features a full-service passenger terminal with four gates (1, 1A, 2 & 2A).
* Prior to security check-point
** Locally-owned restaurant
** Coffee, smoothie and muffin stand adjacent to restaurant
** Complimentary WiFi Internet Access (provided by the City of Brownsville)
** Television monitors throughout the terminal broadcast the latest news
** Information booth for tourists
* After security check-point
** Complimentary WiFi Internet Access
** Television monitors broadcasting the latest news
** Four gates - All gates are referred to as "Gate 1" during boarding and in boarding passes
*** Gates 1 & 2 (Jetway Gates)
*** Gates 1A & 2A (Hardstand Gates) (Used mainly for overflow)Transportation
Several transportation options are available for arriving passengers.
*Car rental agencies housed within the airport, just prior to baggage claim
** Rental Cars on-site
** Rental Cars available to be driven into Mexico (3 miles south)
* Taxi cabs on-demand
* Hotel shuttles (usually available by calling the appropriate hotel)
*Brownsville Urban System - Brownsville'sMass Transit bus system
* Shuttle service to/fromPort Isabel , TX andSouth Padre Island , TXAmenities
* Complimentary Wi-Fi Internet Access throughout the passenger terminal
* Free parking with no posted maximum stay limit, as well as free 2-hour parking
* Television monitors displaying the latest news
* Home/Hotel delivery of late/lost luggage (through Continental)
* Very fast turnaround time for passenger aircraft (as low as 10-15 minutes)Cargo
* The airport is the largest air cargo handling airport in the Rio Grande Valley.
Website
The Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport is the first airport in Texas to offer flight status notification via text-messaging through its website. When the system was launched, it was one of only three airports in the nation, between Michigan and Alabama, to offer such a service.
In addition to flight status text-messaging notification, the site also features current fares to popular routes, including Houston, Atlanta,
Toronto , Minneapolis/St. Paul &Querétaro .See also
*
Texas World War II Army Airfields References
Other sources
* Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Publisher: Pictorial Histories Pub, ISBN 1575100517
* Chilton, Carl S. Jr. (2000), 70 Years of Airport History in Brownsville 1929-1999
* [http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/ts_comments.php?id=68791_0_10_0_C Airport adds text messaging service for customers]
* [http://www.ernietheattorney.net/ernie_the_attorney/2006/05/brownsville_air.html Brownsville Airport has free Wi-Fi]External links
* [http://www.flybrownsville.com/ Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport] , official web site
* [http://www.rgvwingcaf.com/ Rio Grande Valley Wing of the Commemorative Air Force]
*FAA-diagram|00061
*US-airport|BRO
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