Las Cruces International Airport

Las Cruces International Airport
IATA: LRU – ICAO: KLRU – FAA LID: LRU
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner City of Las Cruces
Serves Las Cruces, New Mexico
Elevation AMSL 4,457 ft / 1,358 m
Coordinates 32°17′22″N 106°55′19″W / 32.28944°N 106.92194°W / 32.28944; -106.92194Coordinates: 32°17′22″N 106°55′19″W / 32.28944°N 106.92194°W / 32.28944; -106.92194
Website www.las-cruces.org/...
Map
LRU

Location of airport in New Mexico

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
4/22 7,501 2,286 Asphalt
8/26 6,069 1,850 Asphalt
12/30 7,506 2,288 Concrete
Statistics (2010)
Aircraft operations 68,772
Based aircraft 131

Las Cruces International Airport (IATA: LRU, ICAO: KLRU, FAA LID: LRU) is a city owned, public airport nine miles west of Las Cruces, in Doña Ana County, New Mexico.[1] It is in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 which categorized it as a general aviation facility.[2]

This landing rights[3] airport is on a Mesa overlooking the Mesilla Valley. The airport was the base for Zia Airlines in the 1970s and early 1980s.[4] There have been no scheduled passenger flights to this airport since Westward Airways ceased operations on July 25, 2005.[5]

The airport is used by general aviation, the United States government, New Mexico State University, private charters and the local CAP squadron. The field retains a terminal in case scheduled flights reappear. Las Crucens wanting to travel by air must now drive or take shuttle buses to El Paso International Airport or Albuquerque International Sunport.

Historical Airline Service

Las Cruces has been served by several airlines since the late 1940s. Pioneer Airlines first served the airport in 1948 through 1950 with Douglas DC-3 flights to El Paso and continuing on to Roswell, Clovis, and Amarillo. Continental Airlines came from about 1950 through 1955 with DC-3's and served the airport as a stop on its first mainline route between El Paso and Denver. Other stops included Truth or Consequences, Socorro, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, and Raton, NM as well as Trinidad, Pueblo, and Colorado Springs, CO. Bison Airlines served Las Cruces in 1963-64 and Zia Airlines, based in Las Cruces, began service in 1974 with flights to Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and El Paso using Cessna 402 aircraft. Zia ceased operating in early 1980 and Stahmann Farms created an airline flying to Albuquerque and Santa Fe for a short time. Airways of New Mexico came for a few years in the early 1980s and JetAire briefly flew in 1985, both carriers with flights to Albuquerque as well. Mesa Airlines began serving Las Cruces in early 1986 with Beechcraft 99 and Beechcraft 1900 airliners to Albuquerque. Mesa's service lasted for 15 years until early 2001. Westward Airlines operated for a brief time in 2005 with Pilatus PC-12 flights to both Albuquerque and Phoenix. Las Cruces has not seen airline service since 2005.[6]

Facilities and aircraft

Las Cruces International Airport covers 2,193 acres (887 ha) at an elevation of 4,457 feet (1,358 m) above mean sea level. It has three runways: 4/22 is 7,501 by 106 feet (2,286 x 32 m) asphalt; 8/26 is 6,069 by 100 feet (1,850 x 30 m) asphalt; 12/30 is 7,506 by 100 feet (2,288 x 30 m) concrete.[1]

In the year ending March 30, 2010 the airport had 68,772 aircraft operations, an average of 188 per day: 66% military, 28% general aviation, and 6% air taxi. 131 aircraft were then based at this airport: 73% single-engine, 6% multi-engine, 2% jet, 4% helicopter, 3% glider, 8% ultralight, and 3% military.[1]

The airport has two fixed base operators (FBOs), Southwest Aviation and Las Cruces Aero Services. Southwest Aviation provides flight instruction services, aircraft fuel, and facilities to handle corporate aircraft and private charters. Las Cruces Aero Services provides maintenance and repair services for all categories of general aviation aircraft.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 FAA Airport Master Record for LRU (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective May 31, 2012.
  2. ↑ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF, 2.03 MB). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. External link in |work= (help)
  3. ↑ CFR 122.14 - Landing rights airport
  4. ↑ "Zia Airlines". Airline Timetable Images.
  5. ↑ "Cessation of Westward Airways Operations" (DOC). U.S. Department of Transportation.
  6. ↑ Timetables from the various airlines that have served Las Cruces, NM

External links

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