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
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 Lake Charles Army Air Field, and as such, was home to the now inactivated 44th Bombardment Wing in the 1950s and 1960s.

While a fully operational airport, it is an industrial center and provides no commercial air services. Those needs are served by Lake Charles Regional Airport. It is named for Major General Claire Chennault, USAAF, the aviator famous for commanding the Flying Tigers fighter group during World War II.

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."

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 was 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. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 FAA Airport Master Record for CWF (Form 5010 PDF), effective 2008-06-05

External links