Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport


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IATA = SPA
ICAO = KSPA
FAA = SPA
type = Public
owner-oper = City of Spartanburg
location = Spartanburg, South Carolina
elevation-f = 801
elevation-m = 244.1
coordinates = coord|34.9157|81.9565|display=inline,title
website = [http://www.cityofspartanburg.org/City_Government/City_Departments/Memorial_Airport.htm Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport]
r1-number = 5/23
r1-length-f = 5202
r1-length-m = 1586
r1-surface = asphalt
h1-number =
h1-length-f =
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The Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport (IATA: SPA, ICAO: KSPA, FAA LID: SPA) is a general aviation airport located in the city of Spartanburg, South Carolina. The airport is 3 miles from downtown Spartanburg which makes it popular for private and corporate aircraft.

History

South Carolina's first commercial airport was opened in 1927. Famed aviator Charles Lindbergh participated in the grand opening of the airport only months following his historic flight across the Atlantic. Passenger air service commenced that same year but ended in 1962 with the opening of the Greenville-Spartanburg Jetport, later renamed Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.

During World War II, the airport served as a training facility for the United States Army Air Corp and a refueling stop for naval aviators.

An FAA operated air traffic control tower was operational at the airport but closed in 1981 during the PATCO controllers strike.

Runways and other facilities

The airport once had three intersecting runways with a parallel taxiway system that connected them to the aircraft parking apron. Runway 4/22 was 5,203 feet long by 150 feet wide, Runway 17/35 was 4,226 feet long by 150 feet wide, and runway 11/29 was 4,403 feet long by 150 feet wide. Today only runway 4/22 remains but was redesignated as runway 5/23 several years ago. Prevailing winds in the area generally favor the use of this runway. Only remnants of the other runways are visible today.

An instrument landing system (ILS) is available for use on runway 5. This runway also has high intensity runway edge lighting (HIRL), visual approach slope indicator lights (VASI), and a medium intensity approach lighting system (MALSR). Other navigational aids nearby are the Spartanburg Vortac (VOR) (7.2 miles northeast) and the Fairmont Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) (1.6 miles west).

The airport's terminal building houses a fixed base operator (FBO) and a flight school. Adjacent to the terminal building are several aircraft hangars.

The airport is also home to the Spartanburg Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.

Expansion plans

As part of the airport's master plan runway 5/23 will be lengthened to 5,500 feet and a new terminal building and aircraft parking apron will be constructed adjacent to the runway. A new access road to the airport will connect Southport Road (SC-295) to the new terminal.

References

External links

* [http://www.cityofspartanburg.org/City_Government/City_Departments/Memorial_Airport.htm Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport]