Pittsburgh International Airport

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Pittsburgh International Airport
IATA: PIT - ICAO: KPIT
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Allegheny County Airport Authority
Elevation AMSL 1,204 ft (367 m)
Coordinates 40°29′29″N, 80°13′58″W
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
10R/28L 11,500 3,505 Concrete
10L/28R 10,502 3,201 Asphalt/Concrete
10C/28C 9,708 2,959 Asphalt/Concrete
14/32 8,101 2,469 Concrete
Helipads
Number Size Surface
ft m
H1 60 18 Concrete

Pittsburgh International Airport (IATA: PIT, ICAO: KPIT) is situated in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township at the future intersection of I-376 and I-576, with portions of the airport located in Moon Township. It has been a focus city for US Airways, and until 2004 was the airline's largest hub. The airport now retains the title of being US Airways's largest secondary hub.

Contents

[edit] Scope

Pittsburgh International Airport occupies more than 12,900 acres (45 km²), making it the fourth largest airport in the nation[1]. It is so large that both Chicago's O'Hare and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson could comfortably fit within the airport's land area, with room to spare. Pittsburgh International is within three hours' flying time of all locations east of the Mississippi River and within one hour of any location in the northeast or eastern Midwest. 65% of Americans are within just a two and a half hour flight of the facility. It is served by over 20 commercial carriers with 119 non-stop destinations averaging 580 commercial carrier flights per day. In the average year, the airport serves 20 million passengers; however, with US Airways' de-hubbing of the airport, it remains to be seen whether or not this figure will stand.

The airport's nine cargo carries account for over 200 million lbs (90 million kg) of freight per year[2]. Three cargo buildings provide more than 183,000 sq ft (17,000 m²) of warehouse capacity and over 450,000 sq ft (42,000 m²) of apron space. The complex also serves as the headquarters for two Air Force units and the home base for the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. Pittsburgh International hosts an average of 20 military flight operations per day in its role as host to the region's defense center.

[edit] Innovations

Pittsburgh International has also been the first in the world in several key innovations. It was the first airport to offer free Wi-Fi throughout its passenger terminal[3], one of the first to deploy dozens of portable defibrillators[4], is slated to be the first "Joint Readiness Center"[5], and has the first volunteer ambassador program. Unfortunately, the open access Wi-Fi network has led to the airport being used for a number of hacking attempts, as it is generally impossible to locate the originator in the sizable airport network[citation needed]. The airmall at the airport is often cited as one of the first featuring fair "street prices", as well as the first airport to have two Xpress Spas in its retail area. Pittsburgh International Airport also has electronic parking[6]. Pittsburgh also was the first airport to offer fare alert emails [citation needed].

[edit] Passenger complex

The commercial side of the complex has three main terminal buildings housing five terminals (all connected by subway or peoplemover), 75 commercial gates[citation needed] with over 100 retail shops in the "Airmall"[citation needed] and a Hyatt Regency hotel. Both the landside and midfield terminals have been used as a model to other airports in efficiency; it is possible for a traveler to only take only a few steps to travel more than half a mile from parking to airplane[7] and for airlines the revolutionary airside design of the complex makes Pittsburgh one of the nation's "best gateways". The airport uses one large passenger screening area which connects to an automated underground tram system which ferries passengers to the intersection of terminals A, B, C, and D. The original design of the air-side terminals included a large amount of retail and restaurant space. The name "Airmall" conveyed the intent to blend the airport with a shopping mall.

FAA diagram for Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Enlarge
FAA diagram for Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)

[edit] Air Force

Since its inception in the 1940's Pittsburgh International has served a second purpose as an important regional center for the U.S. Air Force. It currently hosts the Air Force Reserve Base that is headquarters to both the 911th Airlift Wing and the 171st Air Refueling Wing on its southeastern side. In its military role it has long been the headquarters for the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, as well as its largest base of operations. Although the Air Reserve and Air National Guard maintain a great presence on that corner of the complex, the shuttering of some of the Air Force facilities in recent decades has led to the growth of a new tenant for that equipment at Pittsburgh. The FAA has taken over much of the excess infrastructure that the Air Guard and Reserve does not need, making Pittsburgh recently an important regional center for the agency. Pittsburgh's military heritage is also rekindled each summer as the complex hosts one of the largest air shows on the east coast, "Wings over Pittsburgh". Roughly 200,000 spectators attended the two-day show in 2005.

[edit] Runways

Pittsburgh's size provides enough land for four massive runways (the shortest is 8,100 feet (2469 m), the longest is just shy of 12,000 feet (3658 m) long) with room for at least two additional runways if needed. The terminal complex has also been built with the idea of easy additions of more than two dozen gates to easily accommodate any expansions in the number of runways for the airport. The Air National Guard and the two Air Force Reserve companies also have the option of several acres as well as a possible runway for any expansion that may be necessary for their role.

[edit] Terminals, Airlines, and Destinations

[edit] Concourse A

  • Southwest Airlines - Gates A1, A3, & A5 (Baltimore/Washington [begins March 11, 2007], Chicago-Midway, Las Vegas, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Tampa)
  • US Airways - Gates A2, A4, A6-A25
    • US Airways Express operated by Air Midwest (Dubois, Franklin, Hagerstown, Lancaster, Lewisburg, Massena, Ogdensburg, Watertown (NY))
    • US Airways Express operated by Air Wisconsin (Albany, Baltimore/Washington, Boston, Chicago-O'Hare, Erie, Hartford, Indianapolis, New York-LaGuardia, Newark, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Providence, Toronto-Pearson, Washington-Reagan)
    • US Airways Express operated by Chautauqua Airlines (Albany, Columbus, Harrisburg, Hartford/Springfield, New York-La Guardia, Philadelphia, Syracuse, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton)
      PIT Terminal A, August 2004
      Enlarge
      PIT Terminal A, August 2004
    • US Airways Express operated by Colgan Air (Allentown, Bradford, Charleston (WV), Columbus, Jamestown, Johnstown, Washington-Dulles)
    • US Airways Express operated by Piedmont Airlines (Albany, Baltimore/Washington, Buffalo, Columbus, Erie, Harrisburg, Indianapolis, Newark, Raleigh/Durham, Rochester (NY), State College, Syracuse, Toronto-Pearson, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton)
    • US Airways Express operated by Trans States Airlines (Baltimore/Washington, Hartford/Springfield, Louisville, Nashville, Newark, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, St. Louis)

[edit] Concourse B

  • US Airways - Gates B26-B50 (Boston, Charlotte, Chicago-O'Hare, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami [resumes Nov. 4, becomes daily Jan. 7], Myrtle Beach, New York-LaGuardia, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego [seasonal], San Francisco, San Juan, Seattle/Tacoma [seasonal], Tampa, Washington-Reagan, West Palm Beach)

[edit] Concourse C

[edit] Concourse D

[edit] Concourse E

Concourse E, formerly used for US Airways Express commuter flights, has been closed due to the reduction of service in these flights, and their subsequent consolidation in Concourse A. It is currently serving as an auxiliary security checkpoint for the main (landside) terminal. There are currently no plans to reopen Concourse E.

The old E was actually part of the structure of the landside check-in terminal for quick access to small bodied commuter planes, and not part of the main airside terminal structure.

[edit] New Airlines

  • Myrtle Beach Direct (Myrtle Beach) (begins March 2007)

[edit] Fictional Portrayals

The Pittsburgh International Airport has hosted major Hollywood productions, including:

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ About.com: Pittsburgh International Airport
  2. ^ Pittsburgh International Airport: Fact Sheet
  3. ^ Wireless computer users rush to take advantage of free access, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (2004-02-26)
  4. ^ Pittsburgh International Airport launches AED program, National Center for Early Defibrillation (2001-06-11)
  5. ^ Joint readiness center, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (2005-08-27)
  6. ^ Pittsburgh International Airport: Press Releases (2004-10-11)
  7. ^ Pittsburgh International Airport: Background

[edit] External links

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