| Billings Logan International Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: BIL – ICAO: KBIL – FAA LID: BIL
BIL
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| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Owner | City of Billings | ||
| Serves | Billings, Montana | ||
| Hub for | Gulfstream Airlines | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 3,652 ft / 1,113 m | ||
| Website | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 7/25 | 5,501 | 1,677 | Asphalt |
| 10L/28R | 10,518 | 3,206 | Asphalt |
| 10R/28L | 3,801 | 1,159 | Asphalt |
| Statistics (2009) | |||
| Aircraft operations | 83,500 | ||
| Based aircraft | 167 | ||
| Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1] | |||
Billings Logan International Airport (IATA: BIL, ICAO: KBIL, FAA LID: BIL) is a public-use airport located two nautical miles (3.7 km) northwest of the central business district. It sets on top of the (Rims) a 500 foot cliff overlooking the downtown core of Billings, in Yellowstone County, Montana, United States. Billings Logan International Airport is the largest and busiest airport within a four state region (Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota) both in passenger boardings and air cargo.[2] The airport is owned by the City of Billings.[1] It serves residents of the greater Billings Metro area as well as residents throughout South Central Montana, eastern Montana and northern Wyoming.[2]
The airport offers regularly scheduled, non-stop flights from Billings traveling to Chicago, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Seattle, Denver, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Los Angeles on United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines and Horizon Air.[3]
Billings is a hub for Gulfstream International Airlines which offers non-stop service to the following Montana cities and towns Glendive, Glasgow, Havre, Lewistown, Miles City, Sidney, and Wolf Point.
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The history of flight in Billings began late into the year of 1912 with local dentist, Dr. Frank Bell, and his Curtiss 0-X-5. The first flight took place the following Memorial Day weekend in 1913. With much publicity and fanfare, Dr. Bell took off from Billings flying to Park City and back, a round trip distance of 40 miles. This historic flight was captured by local artist J.K. Ralston in his painting titled "First Flight," which is displayed in the lobby of the Billings Logan International Airport. These flying machines used a number of open fields and pastures in the Yellowstone Valley near Billings to land and take off.[4]
By 1927, people began to realize that the community needed some place for these airplanes to land on a regular basis. $5,000 dollars was raised by the Billings City Council to establish an airport on top of the Rimrocks overlooking the Yellowstone Valley and the Billings area. Using horse drawn equipment, 1,820 feet of unpaved runway was constructed and a small administrative building (192 square feet) was erected.[4]
On May 29, 1928, the Billings Municipal Airport was officially opened. Dick Logan was named the first Airport Manager and served in that capacity until 1957. After Dick Logan's death in 1957, the Airport was renamed to Billings Logan Field, to honor his years of service and dedication to the early Airport. The Airport was renamed again in 1971 to its present name, Billings Logan International Airport.[4]
With an airport established, air service entered the Billings market shortly thereafter. Northwest Airlines brought air service to Billings in 1933. Inland Airlines began passenger service in 1934. All this activity prompted a new terminal building to be opened and a new road (North 27th St.) to downtown Billings to be blasted across the face of the Rimrocks.[4]
In 1958, 1972, and 1992, major Terminal expansions were made to accommodate the growing demands of the flying public.The growth at Billings Logan Field during the last seven decades has mirrored the growth of the community it serves. From the installation of the first field lights in 1935 to the 2005 FAA Tower Construction, many millions of dollars have been expended to ensure that Billings Logan International Airport keeps pace with industry changes and is able to provide for the current and future air service needs of the region.[4]
Billings Logan International Airport covers an area of 2,300 acres (930 ha) at an elevation of 3,652 feet (1,113 m) above mean sea level. It has three asphalt paved runways: 10L/28R is 10,518 by 150 feet (3,206 x 46 m), 10R/28L is 3,801 by 75 feet (1,159 x 23 m), and 7/25 is 5,501 by 75 feet (1,677 x 23 m).[1]
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2009, the airport had 83,500 aircraft operations, an average of 228 per day: 55% general aviation, 31% air taxi, 14% scheduled commercial, and <1% military. At that time there were 167 aircraft based at this airport: 55% single-engine, 35% multi-engine, 7% jet, and 4% helicopter.[1]
| Airlines | Destinations | Concourse |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines operated by Horizon Air | Seattle/Tacoma Seasonal: Portland (OR) |
B |
| Allegiant Air | Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix/Mesa | B |
| Delta Air Lines | Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul | A |
| Delta Connection operated by Compass Airlines | Minneapolis/St. Paul | A |
| Delta Connection operated by Mesaba Airlines | Minneapolis/St. Paul | A |
| Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines | Salt Lake City | B |
| Frontier Airlines operated by Republic Airlines | Denver | B |
| Gulfstream International Airlines | Glasgow, Lewistown, Miles City, Sidney, Wolf Point | B |
| United Airlines | Denver Seasonal: Chicago-O’Hare |
A |
| United Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines | Denver | A |
| United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines | Denver Seasonal: Chicago-O’Hare |
A |
| Rank | City | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver, CO | 153,000 | Frontier, United |
| 2 | Salt Lake City, UT | 69,000 | Delta |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | 62,000 | Delta |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | 45,000 | Alaska |
| 5 | Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | 18,000 | Allegiant |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | 17,000 | Allegiant |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | 14,000 | Allegiant |
| 8 | Chicago O’Hare, IL | 6,000 | United |
| 9 | Portland, OR | 2,000 | Alaska |
| 10 | Sidney, MT | 1,000 | Gulfstream |
The entity that governs BIL today is the Aviation and Transit Board. It is composed of seven members, each appointed for four-year terms. It is required of the position of a Board Member to possess the qualifications fit for the Mayor’s office. With the consent of the Council, the Mayor elects the Board Members. No Board Member may be reelected once his or her term expires. The purpose of the Aviation and Transit Board is not only to help govern the operations of the Airport, but also to act as a Citizen’s Advisory Board to the City Council. They are to make sure that City Policies are implemented and carried out. Shortcomings are to be reported and recommendations are to be made to the City Council.