- Des Moines International Airport
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Des Moines International Airport 
IATA: DSM – ICAO: KDSM – FAA LID: DSM Summary Airport type Public Owner Des Moines Airport Authority Serves Des Moines, Iowa Elevation AMSL 958 ft / 292 m Coordinates 41°32′02″N 093°39′47″W / 41.53389°N 93.66306°W Website Maps FAA airport diagram
Location of airport in Iowa
DSMRunways Direction Length Surface ft m 5/23 9,003 2,744 Asphalt/Concrete 13/31 9,002 2,744 Asphalt Statistics (2010) Aircraft operations 83,744 Based aircraft 125 Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1] Des Moines International Airport (IATA: DSM, ICAO: KDSM, FAA LID: DSM) is a public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of Des Moines, a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The airport serves the Des Moines metropolitan area with 19 connections to major airline hubs.[citation needed] In 2011, it was reported that DSM is now the 85th busiest airport in the United States by passenger traffic.[citation needed]
This airport is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a primary commercial service airport.[2] As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 919,990 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008,[3] 853,596 enplanements in 2009, and 898,840 in 2010.[4]
On November 1, 2011, the City of Des Moines transferred control of the airport from the city to the Des Moines Airport Authority. The city retains ownership of the land but transfers title to all property and equipment to the Authority. In turn, the authority will agree to a 99-year lease on the land.[5]
In addition to commercial operations, the airport is also hosts the 132d Fighter Wing.
Contents
History
The drop off area of the airport
During the 1920s, the Des Moines area had several small private airports that catered to general aviation and airmail. In 1929, the Iowa General Assembly passed a law allowing cities to sell bonds and levy assessments in order to build municipal airports. Over 80 different sites were considered for the Des Moines Airport until a decision was made to build on 160 acres (0.65 km²) of farmland on the south side of the city. Construction of the airport began in 1932 and was completed in 1933. The airport's first passenger terminal was built shortly after the airport was completed. It was replaced by a new terminal in 1950 that has been expanded and renovated several times since then. The airport itself has expanded several times from its original 160-acre (0.65 km2) site and now covers 2,300 acres (9.3 km²) of land.
The airport was originally governed by the City of Des Moines' Parks Department. A separate Aviation Department was established by the city during the 1960s, and in 1982, a separate Aviation Policy Advisory Board was established. The airport was renamed the Des Moines International Airport in 1986 to acknowledge the presence of a United States Customs Service office at the airport.
The airport handled a record 1,990,167 passengers in 2004; that figure dropped to 1,903,573 in 2005 but increased to 1,959,393 in 2006. In 2007 the airport saw 1,982,485 passengers go through the airport, an increase over the past year. In 2008 the airport saw a decrease in passenger traffic due to the economic downturn seeing passenger traffic drop to a 5-year low of 1,896,389.[6]
In August 2007, Des Moines International was chosen by Mesaba Airlines, also called Northwest Airlink, to build a maintenance facility at the airport. This facility serves as the hub of maintenance for the whole airline. The facility opened on February 9, 2009.
Expansion
Interior renovation work began in 2009 on the airport and is scheduled to be completed in 2010. The project includes new carpets, paint, gate counters, seating, a new ceiling, signage, and a fire sprinkler system. Also included in the upgrade is a common-use project allowing any airline to use any gate at the airport. A new restroom is also being added to the C concourse to allow for future concourse expansion. The airport is modernizing baggage handling capabilities with expanded processing facilities as well.
In addition to work inside the passenger terminal, the airport is building a rental car facility and new parking facilities. It is also planning a new 5,000-foot runway (to be extended to 9,000 feet (2,700 m) in a later phase), and a new GA apron. The new GA apron is partially in response to the failure of a reliever proposal in Adel, Iowa and restricted space in the current GA area.
Facilities and aircraft
Des Moines International Airport covers an area of 2,625 acres (1,062 ha) at an elevation of 958 feet (292 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways: 5/23 is 9,003 by 150 feet (2,744 x 46 m) with an asphalt and concrete surface; 13/31 is 9,002 by 150 feet (2,744 x 46 m) with an asphalt surface.[1]
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2010, the airport had 83,744 aircraft operations, an average of 229 per day: 56% scheduled commercial, 39% general aviation, and 5% military. At that time there were 125 aircraft based at this airport: 45% single-engine, 22% multi-engine, 18% jet, 1% helicopter, and 14% military.[1]
Airlines and destinations
A Delta Connection CRJ-900 Parked at the gate
A United Airlines A320 parked at gate A4As of January 2011, United Airlines is the largest operator out of DSM Handling 32% of passengers, followed by Delta Air Lines (29%), American Eagle (17%), Allegiant Airlines (8%), Frontier Airlines (6%), U.S. Airways (5%), and AirTran (3%).[7]
The Des Moines Terminal is divided into 2 concourses; concourse A with gates A1-A5(A-E), and concourse C, with gates C1-C7.
The following airlines offer scheduled passenger service:
Airlines Destinations Concourse AirTran Airways Milwaukee A Allegiant Air Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando-Sanford, St. Petersburg/Clearwater A American Eagle Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth C Continental Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines Newark C Delta Air Lines Atlanta C Delta Connection operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines Atlanta, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul C Delta Connection operated by Comair Seasonal: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky C Delta Connection operated by Compass Airlines Minneapolis/St. Paul C Delta Connection operated by Mesaba Airlines Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Washington-National C Delta Connection operated by Pinnacle Airlines Atlanta, Detroit, Memphis C Frontier Airlines operated by Republic Airlines Denver
Seasonal: Orlando [begins December 17], Tampa [begins December 15]A United Airlines Chicago-O'Hare, Denver A United Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines Chicago-O'Hare A United Express operated by Mesa Airlines Chicago-O'Hare A United Express operated by Shuttle America Chicago-O'Hare, Denver A United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines Chicago-O'Hare, Denver A United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines Houston-Intercontinental C US Airways Express operated by SkyWest Airlines Phoenix C Statistics
Carrier shares for August 2010 - July 2011[8] Carrier Passengers (arriving and departing) American Eagle 314,000(17.43%)Mesaba 227,000(12.59%)United 222,000(12.32%)SkyWest 160,000(8.87%)Allegiant 141,000(7.83%)Other 738,000(40.97%)Top 10 domestic destinations (August 2010 – July 2011)[8] Rank City Airport Passengers 1 Chicago, Illinois ORD 191,000 2 Denver, Colorado DEN 139,000 3 Minneapolis, Minnesota MSP 95,000 4 Dallas, Texas / Fort Worth, Texas DFW 89,000 5 Atlanta, Georgia ATL 60,000 6 Detroit, Michigan DTW 56,000 7 Milwaukee, Wisconsin MKE 52,000 8 Memphis, Tennessee MEM 44,000 9 Phoenix, Arizona PHX 44,000 10 Las Vegas, Nevada LAS 28,000 Cargo
Airlines Destinations Air Net Denver (Centennial Airport), DuPage, Omaha, Rochester MN FedEx Express Cedar Rapids, Memphis, Madison, Peoria, St. Louis Flight Express Waterloo, Cahokia/St. Louis (Downtown Airport), Fort Dodge, Kansas City (Downtown Airport) UPS Airlines Burbank, Cedar Rapids, Newark, Spokane, Sacramento, Portland OR, Philadelphia, Louisville, Hartford/Springfield [seasonal], Rockford IL Accidents and incidents
On 2 December 1978, Douglas C-47A N41447 of SMB Stage Line crashed short of the runway while on a cargo flight from Chicago, Illinois.[9] Airframe icing was a factor in the accident.[10]
On December 1, 2007, a United Express plane carrying 44 passengers slid off a taxiway while taxiing to the runway for takeoff. No one was injured, but the airport was closed for seven hours after the incident because of the winter storm moving through the area.[citation needed]
On March 13, 2008, an Atlanta-bound ASA (Delta 4704) flight was delayed more than five hours when a mouse was discovered shortly before take-off from DSM. Officials delayed the flight to inspect the plane for any damage that the mouse may have caused. Maintenance crews checked wiring and components on the aircraft. The flight took off at 11:39am.[11]
On July 8, 2008, a Des Moines bound, Denver originating United Airlines flight was delayed for more than six hours after a passenger found ticks on the plane from Washington, DC to Denver. The plane was further delayed because of storms in Denver.[12]
On December 18, 2010, a small red Beechcraft Bonanza crashed while performing an emergency landing at DSM. The Airport Director stated that the small craft had engine problems and turned around for the airport. The aircraft eventually lost the engine and pilot was able to glide to the end of the runway. The aircraft clipped the end of the runway fence with its landing gear, making the nose of the craft dip into the snow. Police and emergency reported only minor injuries.[13]
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.- ^ a b c FAA Airport Master Record for DSM (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 25 August 2011.
- ^ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A (PDF, 2.03 MB)". National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. 4 October 2010. http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/media/2011/npias_2011_appA.pdf.
- ^ "Enplanements for CY 2008 (PDF, 1.0 MB)". CY 2008 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. 18 December 2009. http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/media/cy08_all_enplanements.pdf.
- ^ "Enplanements for CY 2010 (PDF, 5.4 MB)". CY 2010 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. 4 October 2011. http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/media/cy10_all_enplanements.pdf.
- ^ Pulliam, Jason. "Airport Authority Approved by City Council". Des Moines Register. http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/10/11/airport-authority-approved-by-des-moines-city-council/. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
- ^ "Historical Passenger Stats". dsmairport.com. http://www.dsmairport.com/PDF/Historical%20Passenger%20Stats.pdf. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ a b "Des Moines, IA: Des Moines International (DSM)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. July 2011. http://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=DSM&End_YearMonth=24139.
- ^ "N41447 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19781202-0. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "NTSB Identification: MKC79FA007". National Transportation Safety Board. https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=38583&key=0. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
- ^ "Mouse can't hold back jet". desmoinesregister.com. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080313/NEWS/80313014/0/NEWS10. Retrieved 2008-03-18.[dead link]
- ^ "Mileage calculator". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=52457108.blog. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
- ^ "Plane Crashes At Des Moines Airport". http://www.kcci.com/news/26184018/detail.html. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
External links
- Des Moines International Airport, official site
- Aerial image as of 5 April 2000 from USGS The National Map
- FAA Terminal Procedures for DSM, effective 20 October 2011
- FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective 20 October 2011
- Resources for this airport:
- AirNav airport information for KDSM
- ASN accident history for DSM
- FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
- NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
- SkyVector aeronautical chart for KDSM
- FAA current DSM delay information
Categories:- Airports in Iowa
- Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Iowa
- Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces Technical Service Command
- Buildings and structures in Des Moines, Iowa
- Facilities of the United States Air National Guard
- Transportation in Des Moines, Iowa
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