Bishop International Airport

Bishop International Airport
IATA: FNT ICAO: KFNT FAA LID: FNT
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner/Operator	Bishop International Airport Authority
Serves	Flint, Michigan
Location	3425 W. Bristol Rd. Flint, Michigan 48507
Elevation AMSL	782 ft / 238.4 m
Coordinates	42°57′56″N 83°44′37″W / 42.96556°N 83.74361°W / 42.96556; -83.74361Coordinates: 42°57′56″N 83°44′37″W / 42.96556°N 83.74361°W / 42.96556; -83.74361
Website	www.bishopairport.org
Map
FNT Show map of Michigan FNT Show map of the US Location of the airport in Michigan/United States
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 18/36 7,848 2,392 Asphalt 9/27 7,200 2,195 Asphalt
Statistics
Aircraft operations (2015) 33,367 Based aircraft (2017) 91 Total Passengers Served (12 months ending Jan 2017) 787,000 Cargo handled (12 months ending Jan 2017) 24,000,000 lbs.
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Bishop International Airport (IATA: FNT, ICAO: KFNT, FAA LID: FNT) is a commercial and general aviation airport located in Flint, Michigan. It is named after banker and General Motors board member Arthur Giles Bishop (April 12, 1851 – January 22, 1944), who donated 220 acres of his farmland for the airport in 1928.^[2][3] The third busiest airport in Michigan, it surpassed competitor MBS International Airport in terms of airline operations in 2002. In 2007, 1,071,238 passengers used Bishop International Airport; in 2011, 938,914 passengers used the airport.^[4] It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021, in which it is categorized as a small hub primary commercial service facility.^[5] The airport is currently served by several passenger airlines: Allegiant Air, Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines operate mainline service out of the airport, as well as affiliates of Delta Connection, United Express and American Eagle. Additionally, FedEx Express and a FedEx Feeder affiliate operate cargo services out of the airport. Accompanying the airlines is fixed-base operator Av Flight that handles both general aviation and airline operations^[6] and the flight school American Wings Aviation.^[7] Bishop International Airport is in southwestern Flint, and is surrounded by Flint Township to the north, east and west; and Mundy Township to the south.

Terminal Renovations

In early February 2007, Bishop International Airport unveiled a comprehensive 5-year developmental plan that would be slated for continuation through late 2011. The program called for two phases of "Intermodal Facility Development," including the expansion of the West Cargo Apron, what is now known as the Abex and Emory GVA Freight Ramp,^[8] located on the airport's northwest side.

In May 2009, Bishop International Airport began Phase I of its Terminal Airside & Concourse Improvements program. Projects under this phase were developed in 2008. Included in this phase are upgrades to the terminal ramp, upon which the passenger concourse resides; the permanent closure and deconstruction of Runway 5/23; and the acquisition of new land for an envisioned Runway 9L/27R, which is scheduled to be designed in 2009 and constructed in 2010.

Runway 5/23 was closed permanently on May 4, 2009,^[9] as progress continued in the Capital Improvement Program.

The renovation and expansion of the terminal, originally built in 1993, was designed by Reynolds, Smith & Hills.^[10]

On April 24, 2012, the airport's board of directors approved a $1.348 million project to repair the airport's tarmac. The project is scheduled to take four months to complete.^[11] On September 19, 2012, it was announced that the Federal Aviation Administration approved a grant to fund the project.^[12]

On October 6, 2012, a new Transportation Security Administration checkpoint opened in the terminal.^[13]

The completed terminal was dedicated on November 13, 2012.^[14]

The airport's board allocated an additional $10.9 million for upgrades in 2013 and 2014.^[15]

On August 29, 2013, the airport received a $2.87 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which was used to repair taxiways and lighting and to buy a replacement snow truck.^[16]

Facilities

Bishop International Airport covers 1,550 acres (6 km²) and has two runways.

• Runway 18/36: 7,848 x 150 ft. (2,392 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt/Concrete
• Runway 9/27: 7,200 x 150 ft. (2,195 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

1^ Operated by SkyWest Airlines
2^ Operated by Endeavor Air
3^ Operated by SkyWest Airlines

Cargo

4 ^ Operated by CSA Air

Statistics

Top destinations

Ground transportation

Bishop International Airport is accessible from I-69, I-75/US-23 and I-475 at Bristol Road. The airport is also served by a bus line operated by the Flint MTA, local taxi services, and Uber which operates in the Flint area.

Several car rental agencies are available at the airport.^[20]

Airport Authority Board

The Bishop International Airport Authority (BIAA) is the joint public authority created by Genesee County and the city of Flint to run Bishop International Airport. The Authority Board has nine members appointed to three-year terms.^[21] BIAA operates the airport's public safety and maintenance departments. On January 27, 2014, airport director Jim Rice retired after 24 years of service.^[22] The service drive in front of the airport that leads to the terminal and front parking lot has since been renamed in his honor. The board later named Craig Williams, former Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority board member, as his successor on July 22, 2014.^[23]

Accidents and incidents

• On November 16, 2011, a Piaggio P.180 Avanti operating as Avantair Flight 168 (Detroit Metro to West Bend Municipal, tail number N168SL) crashed upon landing due to an engine failure. The plane was damaged beyond repair, but everyone aboard survived with only minor injuries.^[24][25]
• On December 12, 2011, four people from Saginaw were arrested at Bishop International Airport trying to smuggle 122 pounds (55 kg) of marijuana from Phoenix.^[26]
• On June 21, 2017, airport police Lieutenant Jeff Neville was stabbed in the neck by a man who shouted "Allahu Akbar" while doing so.^[27][28] A Tunisian-born Canadian man, Amor Ftouhi, was arrested at the scene as a suspect. The FBI is investigating the incident as terrorism. Neville is expected to survive. The attack was condemned by the Canadian government.^[29]

Gallery

• 
  Bishop International Airport's air traffic control tower controls the airport and the Class C airspace around it.
• 
  Ticketing area
• 
  Baggage claim area
• 
  Artwork depicting a paper airplane in the terminal

References

External links

• Official website

• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNav airport information for KFNT
  • ASN accident history for FNT
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KFNT
  • FAA current FNT delay information