Norfolk International Airport

Norfolk International Airport
USGS 1990 orthophoto
IATA: ORF – ICAO: KORF – FAA LID: ORF
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	City of Norfolk
Operator	Norfolk Airport Authority
Serves	Norfolk-Virginia Beach
Location	Norfolk, Virginia
Elevation AMSL	27 ft / 8 m
Coordinates	36°53′41″N 076°12′04″W / 36.89472°N 76.20111°W / 36.89472; -76.20111Coordinates: 36°53′41″N 076°12′04″W / 36.89472°N 76.20111°W / 36.89472; -76.20111
Website	NorfolkAirport.com
Map
ORF Location of airport in Virginia
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 5/23 9,001 2,744 Asphalt/Concrete 14/32 4,875 1,486 Asphalt
Statistics (2011)
Aircraft operations 91,906 Based aircraft 95 Passenger boardings 1,606,695
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Norfolk International Airport (IATA: ORF^[2], ICAO: KORF, FAA LID: ORF) is a public use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) northeast of the central business district of Norfolk, an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia.^[1] It is owned by the city of Norfolk and operated by the Norfolk Airport Authority: a bureau under the municipal government. The airport serves the entire Hampton Roads metropolitan area of southeast Virginia (along with Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport in Newport News) as well as northeast North Carolina.

This airport is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a primary commercial service airport since it has over 10,000 passenger boardings (enplanements) per year.^[3] As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 1,606,695 enplanements in calendar year 2011, a decrease of 3.4 percent from 1,663,294 in 2010.^[4]

In 2012, Norfolk Airport served 3,299,728 total passengers (arriving and departing), a 3.33 percent increase compared to the previous year, which saw a total passenger count of 3,193,388.^[5] Earlier annual passenger numbers included 3,332,466 (2010) 3,409,456 (2009); 3,549,204 (2008); and 3,714,323 (2007).^[6] As of 2010, Norfolk International offered nearly 80 departures daily to major cities throughout the United States,^[7] making it the third-busiest airport in Virginia and is ranked as the country's 66th largest airport in terms of passengers served annually.^[7] Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines are the predominant users of the airport.

History

Commercial aviation began in the Norfolk area about 1926, when Norfolk citizens flew commercially for the first time on the Mitten Line, operated by Philadelphia Rapid Transit Air Service, Inc. Norfolk International Airport was established in 1938 when the city-owned Truxton Manor Golf Course was converted to Norfolk Municipal Airport, complete with a 3,500-foot (1,100 m) runway. The first permanent terminal was complete by 1940.

With World War II, Norfolk Municipal Airport became a vital resource to the war effort. The United States Army Air Corps assumed control of airport operations between 1942–1947, extending the runway and adding two more to handle the vastly increased number of flights with larger and larger aircraft. The Norfolk Fighter Wing was established by the AAF in August 1942, providing an air defense umbrella for the Norfolk area's numerous defense facilities. The 52d Fighter Group was stationed at the airport however immediately after the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941. Various squadrons were assigned to Norfolk Airport during the early years of the war for the air defense mission, the last being the 373d Fighter Group. The air defense mission ended at the end of July 1944.

As the troops returned from the war, the Army Air Corps returned the airport to the city's domain at the end of 1945, and commercial travel took off with two new airlines providing regular flights. In 1948, Piedmont Airlines initiated flights. That same year, ground was broken for a larger, more modern terminal building.

In 1950, responsibility for the airport was turned over to the newly established Norfolk Port and Industrial Authority (NPIA) which could proudly call Norfolk Municipal Airport one of the finest in the nation and one of the busiest. In 1951, the new terminal was officially dedicated.

In the 1960s, the transition from propeller driven aircraft to jets gathered full steam. Norfolk Municipal Airport took on the new demands for longer and stronger runway and taxiway facilities easily, and jetliners here became the rule, not the exception. As a result, in 1968, the airport was officially recognized as the air transportation center for the entire Hampton Roads region, and became known as Norfolk Regional Airport. To prepare for exponential growth over the next three decades, NPIA developed a comprehensive master plan that would move the airport into the 21st century in full stride.

In 1974, the airport dedicated its new, state-of-the-art terminal and additional land was secured for further expansion. In 1976, the airport's name was changed to Norfolk International Airport with the addition of federal customs facilities. New outbuildings housing the fire station, maintenance depot, ATC tower and more were also planned and came on line as needed. However, one of the challenges in expanding was capitalizing on the location of the airport's neighboring Botanical Garden, creating a beautiful buffer zone between the airport and the outside world. Norfolk International Airport, surrounded by year-round beauty, has become a national role model for reconciling expanding air facilities and a delicate ecological sanctuary.

In the 1980s, many changes were taking place. A new general aviation facility opened and a new air cargo terminal was completed for all operations. Parking facilities were also expanded. Even the name of the supervising body changed in 1988 – from Norfolk Port and Industrial Authority to Norfolk Airport Authority.

Changes continued throughout the 1990s as Norfolk International prepared for growth. The air cargo terminal and parking facilities expanded and public areas of the passenger terminal were renovated. In 1991, Norfolk International completed a new concourse extension providing 10 additional gates, for a total of 24 gates. A new state-of-the-art fire station and new FAA air traffic control tower facility also began operation.

The airport's largest capital improvement project, Arrival 2002, was completed in June 2002. The $133 million project included a new 243,000-square-foot (22,600 m²) arrivals building with an automated baggage handling system; a 2,850-space covered parking garage; runway and taxiway rehabilitation and upgrades; main terminal lobby refurbishment; and a new food/beverage and retail concession program.

The terminal building, the 1991 concourse expansion, and the Arrival 2002 project were all designed by Shriver & Holland Associates^[8]

In 2013, Norfolk International Airport will recognize and celebrate its 75th anniversary of offering air travel services to passengers.

Facilities and aircraft

Norfolk International Airport covers an area of 1,300 acres (526 ha) at an elevation of 27 feet (8 m) above mean sea level. Airfield facilities consist of a main runway designated 5–23 which is 9,001 by 150 feet (2,744 x 46 m) and a crosswind runway designated 14–32 which is 4,875 by 150 feet (1,486 x 46 m).^[1] These facilities allow operations to nearly all commercial aircraft types.

The crosswind runway's (14–32) was closed for renovations on December 19, 2009 and reopened in Spring 2011. Eventually however, the airport's long-term plan calls for this runway to be destroyed to make way for a new parallel runway (5R-23L) east of existing runway 5–23.

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2011, the airport had 91,906 aircraft operations, an average of 251 per day: 36% air taxi, 35% scheduled commercial, 28% general aviation, and 1% military. At that time there were 95 aircraft based at this airport: 54% single-engine, 28% multi-engine, 16% jet, and 2% helicopter.^[1]

General aviation services, or fixed based operations, are provided by Landmark Aviation with full-service facilities for maintaining and housing private and corporate aircraft. The modern 54,000-square-foot (5,000 m²) terminal facility offers everything from aircraft rental to sightseeing flights and aircraft repair.

Daily scheduled aircraft include ERJ135/140/145 (Delta, United, American), CRJ200/700/900 (Delta, US Airways, United), E-170/175 (Delta, US Airways, United), Q200/300/400 (US Airways, United), MD80/90 (Delta, American), A319 (US Airways, United, Delta [resumes November 3, 2013]), B737-300/-500/-700/-800 (Southwest, Delta), B757 (Delta, FedEx Cargo, UPS), and A310 (FedEx Cargo).

FAA control tower

Built in 1995, the FAA Norfolk Air Traffic Control Tower stands 134 feet (41 m) high. Operated and managed by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Norfolk Tower handles approximately 1,100 aircraft per day, 24 hours per day and 365 days per year. Radar coverage is provided by ASR-9 terminal system with a six-level weather detection capability. Also available for use is an Enhanced Target Generator (ETG) lab with two radar scopes to accomplish training objectives, as well as the IDS4 system, a specialized microcomputer network system designed to distribute and display both static and real-time data regarding weather and other rapidly changing critical information to air traffic controllers.

Cargo

Approximately 70 million pounds of air cargo are presently shipped in and out of Norfolk International Airport (NIA) each year.^[6] NIA houses one of the most modern and efficient air cargo facilities in the state of Virginia. Its two modern air cargo terminals provide users with 88,000 square feet (8,200 m²) of space. An adjacent aircraft ramp provides direct access from plane to warehouse. Specific dimensions and additional amenities include:

• Bays 2,000 square feet (190 m²) or larger
• Bay depths of 85 to 100 feet (30 m)
• 16-foot (4.9 m) minimum clear height
• A 48-inch-high truck dock with 8-by-10 overhead doors
• Ground level loading with 10-by-10 drive-in doors

Concourses

Gates

Norfolk International Airport consists of two passenger concourses: Concourse A (gates A1-A15), and Concourse B (gates B16-B30). Southwest Airlines and American Airlines occupy Concourse A; all others use Concourse B. The Sky King charter flights are ground-handled by Landmark Aviation. International flights are handled at gate A1. Specific gate locations are the following: American A2, A4, A6-A11, Delta B21-B25, Southwest A3 and A5, United B27-B30.

Concessions

Food, beverage and retail concessions are located throughout the main departures terminal lobby and both airline concourses. New Jersey-based Hudson News manages all airport retail operations; food and beverage operations are managed by HMS Host Corporation. There are several retail shops, restaurants and lounges throughout airport.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Cargo

Statistics

Airline market share

Top destinations

Annual traffic

Ground transportation

There are no bus or shuttle services to and from Norfolk International Airport. The nearest bus (HRT Route 15) connection is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away at the intersection of Military Highway (Route 165) and Norview Avenue (Route 247).^[14]

All ground transportation services are located in the arrivals terminal. There are several on-site rental car companies, an authorized shuttle service providing door-to-door service to the entire Hampton Roads area, and taxis available through several companies.

Parking

A nine-level parking garage adjacent to the new arrivals terminal opened in July 2002. It provided 2,800 covered spaces for short term, long term and rental parking. Overall, NIA parking facilities can accommodate 7,200 vehicles.^[15]

See also

• Virginia World War II Army Airfields
• List of airports in Virginia

References

•  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

External links

USAAF First Air Force in World War II Airfields First Air Force Group Training Stations First Air Force Replacement Training Stations First Air Force Tactical Airfields Freeman Army Airfield Godman Army Airfield Selfridge Field Units Commands I Bomber Command (1941-42) I Bomber Command (1943-1946) I Fighter Command I Ground Air Support Command Wings 25th Antisubmarine 50th Troop Carrier 52d Troop Carrier 53d Troop Carrier 60th Troop Carrier 61st Troop Carrier Boston Fighter New York Fighter Norfolk Fighter Philadelphia Fighter Groups Bombardment 2d Bombardment 13th Bombardment 22d Bombardment 34th Bombardment 43d Bombardment 45th Bombardment 301st Bombardment 302d Bombardment 400th Bombardment 402d Bombardment 455th Bombardment 459th Bombardment 460th Bombardment 471st Bombardment Combat Cargo 1st Combat Cargo 2d Combat Cargo 4th Combat Cargo Fighter 8th Fighter 31st Fighter 33d Fighter 52d Fighter 56th Fighter 57th Fighter 58th Fighter 59th Fighter 79th Fighter 80th Fighter 83d Fighter 87th Fighter 324th Fighter 325th Fighter 326th Fighter 327th Fighter 332d Fighter 348th Fighter 352d Fighter 353d Fighter 355th Fighter 356th Fighter 358th Fighter 359th Fighter 361st Fighter 362d Fighter 365th Fighter 366th Fighter 368th Fighter 370th Fighter 371st Fighter 373d Fighter 402d Fighter 413th Fighter 476th Fighter Reconnaissance 26th Reconnaissance 73d Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 10th Troop Carrier 60th Troop Carrier 61st Troop Carrier 62d Troop Carrier 63d Troop Carrier 89th Troop Carrier 313th Troop Carrier 314th Troop Carrier 315th Troop Carrier 316th Troop Carrier 317th Troop Carrier 349th Troop Carrier 375th Troop Carrier 403d Troop Carrier 433d Troop Carrier 434th Troop Carrier 435th Troop Carrier 436th Troop Carrier 437th Troop Carrier 438th Troop Carrier 439th Troop Carrier 440th Troop Carrier 441st Troop Carrier 442d Troop Carrier Other 1st Search Attack 477th Composite Incidents Freeman Field Mutiny United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth