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Coordinates: 32°41′15″N 103°13′01″W / 32.68750°N 103.21694°W / 32.68750; -103.21694
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== History ==
== History ==
Lea County Regional Airport was built in the 1940s on the west side of Me-Tex Airport that had opened on July 23, 1937.<ref>Photograph at [http://www.hobbshistory.com/amelia.html HobbsHistory.com]</ref> In 1937 the Me-Tex Supply Company leased the land from the state. Oiled runways and a hangar were built.<ref>"Fact, Fantasy & Fiction" by Max Clampitt, published in Hobbs News-Sun newspaper.</ref>
Lea County Regional Airport was built in the 1940s next to the west edge of Me-Tex Airport that had opened on July 23, 1937.<ref>Photograph at [http://www.hobbshistory.com/amelia.html HobbsHistory.com]</ref> In 1937 the Me-Tex Supply Company leased the land from the state. Oiled runways and a hangar were built.<ref>"Fact, Fantasy & Fiction" by Max Clampitt, published in Hobbs News-Sun newspaper.</ref>


In 1940 the city of Hobbs passed a bond issue to purchase the airport and some adjoining acreage, with the intent of bringing airline service. Federal grants helped pay for paved runways and taxiways and a terminal building for Hobbs Municipal Airport.<ref>Max Clampitt</ref>
In 1940 the city of Hobbs passed a bond issue to purchase the airport and some adjoining acreage, with the intent of bringing airline service. Federal grants helped pay for paved runways and taxiways and a terminal building for Hobbs Municipal Airport.<ref>Max Clampitt</ref>


[[Continental Airlines]] began flights to Me-Tex Field in May 1940<ref>[http://www.hobbshistory.com/amelia.html HobbsHistory.com]</ref> from Albuquerque, El Paso, San Antonio, and Tulsa, each making several stops en route. Service started using Lockheed Electras and Lodestars, then later [[Douglas DC-3]]'s.<ref>Max Clampitt</ref>
[[Continental Airlines]] began flights to Me-Tex Field in May 1940<ref>[http://www.hobbshistory.com/amelia.html HobbsHistory.com]</ref> from Albuquerque, El Paso, San Antonio, and Tulsa, making several stops en route. Service started using Lockheed Electras and Lodestars, then later [[Douglas DC-3]]'s.<ref>Max Clampitt</ref>


Ownership of the airport was transferred from the city of Hobbs to Lea County on November 19, 1945<ref>"Lea, New Mexico's Last Frontier", Gil Hinshaw, published 1976</ref>
Ownership of the airport was transferred from the city of Hobbs to Lea County on November 19, 1945<ref>"Lea, New Mexico's Last Frontier", Gil Hinshaw, published 1976</ref>

Revision as of 17:27, 22 January 2016

Lea County Regional Airport
2006 USGS photo
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorLea County
LocationHobbs, New Mexico
Elevation AMSL3,661 ft / 1,115.9 m
Coordinates32°41′15″N 103°13′01″W / 32.68750°N 103.21694°W / 32.68750; -103.21694
Map
KHOB is located in New Mexico
KHOB
KHOB
Location
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
3/21 7,398 2,255 Asphalt
12/30 6,002 1,829 Asphalt
17/35 4,998 1,523 Asphalt

Lea County Regional Airport (IATA: HOB, ICAO: KHOB) (Lea County-Hobbs Airport) is four miles (6.4 km) west of Hobbs, in Lea County, New Mexico. The airport covers 898 acres (363 ha) and has three runways. It is an FAA certified commercial airport served by United Airlines' affiliate with daily regional flights.

Lea County Regional Airport is the largest of the three airports owned and operated by Lea County. Lea County also owns and operated two general aviation airports in Lovington and Jal, New Mexico.

Facilities

The airport covers 603 acres (244 ha) and has three asphalt runways:[1]

  • 3/21 – 7,398 × 150 ft
  • 12/30 – 6,002 × 150 ft
  • 17/35 – 4,998 × 100 ft

In the year ending April 7, 2010 the airport had 11,506 aircraft operations, average 32 per day: 81% general aviation, 18% air taxi and 1% military. 40 aircraft are based at the airport: 83% single-engine, 8% multi-engine, 8% jet, and 3% helicopter.[1] The airport has one terminal for all arrivals and departures, and two FBO's, Tailwind Aviation and Christian Aero.

Below are annual total aircraft operations from 2009–2013 from the FAA's air traffic activity system. The percent changes average −13.93% in operations per year over the last 5 years.[2]

Aircraft Operations: HOB 2009–2013[2]
Calendar year Aircraft operations %
2009 19,908
2010 16,637 −16.43%
2011 10,752 −35.37%
2012 9,270 −13.78%
2013 8,893 −4.07%

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
United Express Houston-Intercontinental

History

Lea County Regional Airport was built in the 1940s next to the west edge of Me-Tex Airport that had opened on July 23, 1937.[3] In 1937 the Me-Tex Supply Company leased the land from the state. Oiled runways and a hangar were built.[4]

In 1940 the city of Hobbs passed a bond issue to purchase the airport and some adjoining acreage, with the intent of bringing airline service. Federal grants helped pay for paved runways and taxiways and a terminal building for Hobbs Municipal Airport.[5]

Continental Airlines began flights to Me-Tex Field in May 1940[6] from Albuquerque, El Paso, San Antonio, and Tulsa, making several stops en route. Service started using Lockheed Electras and Lodestars, then later Douglas DC-3's.[7]

Ownership of the airport was transferred from the city of Hobbs to Lea County on November 19, 1945[8]

Service by Continental Airlines continued until 1963 when Trans-Texas Airways replaced them. Other flights were provided by Bison Airlines in 1963–64.[9] TT started with DC-3's; Convair 600s took over a few years later. TT's name was changed to Texas International Airlines (TI) in 1969 and nonstop flights to Dallas TX were occasionally operated. In 1977/78 the airline introduced DC-9s to Hobbs but soon reverted to Convair 600's. TI's service ended in early 1979, replaced by Crown Airlines with nonstops to Albuquerque and Air Midwest to Albuquerque and Lubbock. Crown Airlines ceased operating about a year later and Air Midwest switched the Lubbock flights to Midland/Odessa, TX. Mesa Airlines came to Hobbs in early 1984 with Beechcraft 99 flights to Albuquerque and Lubbock while Air Midwest left the city late that year. Mesa upgraded to Beechcraft 1900 airliners and was the mainstay air carrier at Hobbs for over 22 years until they were replaced by New Mexico Airlines in 2007 operating 9-seat Cessna 208 Caravans to Albuquerque, El Paso, and Midland/Odessa. The city was also briefly served by Big Sky Airlines in 2000/2001 first with nonstop flights to Dallas/Ft. Worth but later a stop in Brownwood, TX was added. New Mexico Airlines left Hobbs in early 2011 and new nonstop service to Houston Bush Airport by Continental Express was introduced on July 1, 2011 using 50-seat Embraer 145 regional jets. Continental Airlines merged into United Airlines in early 2012 changing the Hobbs flights to United Express.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c FAA Airport Form 5010 for HOB PDF, effective 2007-10-25
  2. ^ a b "Air Traffic Activity System". Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  3. ^ Photograph at HobbsHistory.com
  4. ^ "Fact, Fantasy & Fiction" by Max Clampitt, published in Hobbs News-Sun newspaper.
  5. ^ Max Clampitt
  6. ^ HobbsHistory.com
  7. ^ Max Clampitt
  8. ^ "Lea, New Mexico's Last Frontier", Gil Hinshaw, published 1976
  9. ^ Max Clampitt
  10. ^ various timetables by all the carriers serving Hobbs
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