Chennault International Airport

For the former U.S. Air Force use of this facility, see Chennault Air Force Base.

Chennault International Airport
USGS aerial photo as of 23 January 1994
IATA: CWF – ICAO: KCWF – FAA LID: CWF
Summary
Airport type		Public
Owner		Chennault International Airport Authority
Serves		Lake Charles, Louisiana
Elevation AMSL		17 ft / 5 m
Coordinates		30°12′38″N 093°08′35″W / 30.21056°N 93.14306°W / 30.21056; -93.14306
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
15/33	10,701	3,262	Concrete
Statistics (2006)
Aircraft operations			52,976
Based aircraft			42
Sources: airport website[1] and FAA[2]

Chennault International Airport (IATA: CWF, ICAO: KCWF, FAA LID: CWF) is a public use airport located four nautical miles (7 km) east of the central business district of Lake Charles, a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is owned by the Chennault International Airport Authority.^[2]

It was previously Chennault Air Force Base and before that, Lake Charles Air Force Base, and as such, was home to the now deactivated 44th Bomb Wing in the 1950s and 1960s.

While a fully operational airport, it is an industrial center and provides no commercial air services. It is named for Major General Claire Chennault, USAAF, the aviator famous for commanding the Flying Tigers fighter group during World War II^[1].

Its mission statement reads as follows: "The Authority created pursuant hereto shall be established for the primary object and purpose of stimulating and encouraging the development of an industrial park for economic development through commerce, industry and research and for the utilization and development of natural and human resources of the area and provide job opportunities."^[2]

Northrop Grumman Corporation is Chennault's major aircraft manufacturing and modification tenant. Aeroframe Services, LLC (formerly EADS Aeroframe Services, Inc.) specializes in maintenance and overhaul services for Airbus. The Chennault Jet Center, the focus of Chennault's Fixed Base Operations for business and general aviation, as well as charter operations, is also located nearby. Airborne Express air freight operations serve Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas with daily DC-9 jet service from its on-airport truck hub, providing tenants with immediate access to express air shipping.

Other features

Sowela Technical Community College, located on the former Chennault Air Force Base, offers a variety of academic and technical programs with terminating certificates, diplomas, and/or associate degrees. The College's Workforce Development unit tailors training programs to meet local business, industry and community training needs.

The site is also officially designated by NASA as an alternative landing site for the Space Shuttle.

The Mallard Cove Golf Course, an 18-hole championship golf course, is located near the airport.

Facilities and aircraft

Chennault International Airport covers an area of 1,310 acres (530 ha) at an elevation of 17 feet (5 m) above mean sea level. It has one concrete paved runway designated 15/33 which measures 10,701 by 200 feet (3,262 by 61 m).^[2]

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2006, the airport had 52,976 aircraft operations, an average of 145 per day: 58% general aviation, 38% military, 3% air taxi and 1% scheduled commercial. At that time there were 42 aircraft based at this airport: 38% single-engine, 10% multi-engine, 29% jet, 12% helicopter and 12% military.^[2]

References

1. ^ Chennault International Airport Authority
2. ^ ^{a b c d} FAA Airport Master Record for CWF (Form 5010 PDF), effective 2008-06-05

External links

• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective 20 October 2011
• FAA Terminal Procedures for CWF, effective 20 October 2011
• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNav airport information for KCWF
  • ASN accident history for CWF
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart, Terminal Procedures for KCWF