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Walla Walla Regional Airport

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Walla Walla Regional Airport
Walla Walla Army Air Base
2006 USGS Orthophoto
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerPort of Walla Walla
ServesWalla Walla, Washington
LocationWalla Walla County, near Walla Walla, Washington
Elevation AMSL1,194 ft / 364 m
Coordinates46°05′41″N 118°17′20″W / 46.09472°N 118.28889°W / 46.09472; -118.28889
Map
KALW is located in Washington (state)
KALW
KALW
Location of Walla Walla Regional Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
2/20 6,527 1,989 Asphalt
7/25 4,486 1,367 Asphalt/Concrete
16/34 5,948 1,813 Asphalt/Concrete
Statistics (2006)
Aircraft operations28,516
Based aircraft134
FAA airport diagram for Walla Walla Regional Airport (ALW) in Walla Walla, Washington, United States.

Walla Walla Regional Airport (IATA: ALW, ICAO: KALW, FAA LID: ALW) is a public airport located three miles (5 km) northeast of the central business district of Walla Walla, a city in Walla Walla County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is owned by the Port of Walla Walla.[1]

History

The airport was the location of the U.S. Army Air Forces' Walla Walla Army Air Base in World War II.[2]

The War Department announced they would be spending over 7.5 million dollars to construct an Army Air Corps Training Airfield adjacent to the existing Walla Walla Airfield. With the old 200-acre (0.81 km2) municipal airport as a nucleus, they commenced development of the Walla Walla Army Air Base, which ultimately comprised 2,164 acres (8.76 km2) of land. Over 300 buildings were constructed and equipped to house, feed and train approximately 6,000 men at one time.

The 91st Bomb Group lays claim to being the first Army Air Forces outfit to utilize the Walla Walla Base. They had initially trained in Florida before arriving in Walla Walla. Upon arrival, they trained and learned to fly B-17 airplanes. The 91st Bomb Group went on to distinguish itself in combat over Europe. Several of these crews made outstanding records during their tour of duty and were well publicized upon their return to the states with names such as “Jack the Ripper”, “Memphis Belle” and “Delta Rebel”. The “Memphis Belle” became the first B-17 to complete 25 missions in Europe.

Late in 1943, Walla Walla Army Airfield lay idle when the Second Air Force withdrew its B-17 Flying Fortress training operation. However, in April of the following year, the Fourth Air Force took charge of the airstrip and established a training base for B-24 Liberator crews.

During the war years, it is estimated that more than 8,000 officers and men were trained at this base producing 594 heavy bomber crews who compiled about 114,514 hours in the air while in training.

In 1947 the United States Air Force declared the Walla Walla Airfield surplus and on December 1, 1947 the City and County took over operations. An Airport Board was formed to manage the airport and the complexities of the facilities transfer. After considerably less than the standard two year probationary period, the Airport Board received an approved Civil Aviation Authority’s full and complete title to the $13 million airport on April 10, 1949. This was the first joint ownership (City/County) permitted in the entire nation.[3]

In 1989, the "Port of Walla Walla" took over ownership and operational responsibility of the airport from the city and county of Walla Walla. The airport is mostly used for general aviation but is also served by one commercial airline.

The former office and supply buildings surrounding the airport proper have become a haven for smaller industrial/manufacturing businesses, including, as of June 2007, fifteen full-line wineries that source their fruit from the Walla Walla and Columbia Valley appellations. The Port of Walla Walla, in fact, recently completed a "wine incubator" project; three specially-constructed buildings that are leased on non-renewable six-year contracts to fledgling wineries. Among the 20 plus wineries with primary operations at the Walla Walla Regional Airport are Dunham Cellars, Tamarack Cellars, Buty Wines, Syzygy Winery, Revelry Vintners, Five Star Cellars, and Stephenson Cellars.

Facilities and aircraft

Walla Walla Regional Airport covers an area of 2,319 acres (938 ha) which contains three paved runways: 2/20 measuring 6,527 x 150 ft (1,989 x 46 m), 7/25 measuring 4,486 x 150 ft (1,367 x 46 m) and 16/34 measuring 5,948 x 150 ft (1,813 x 46 m).[1] There is a VOR on the field that operates on 116.4 MHz.

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2006, the airport had 28,516 aircraft operations, an average of 78 per day: 87% general aviation, 13% air taxi, <1% military and <1% scheduled commercial. At that time there were 134 aircraft based at this airport: 82% single-engine, 13% multi-engine, 2% jet, 1% ultralight and 1% glider.[1]

Walla Walla University and Skyrunners Corporation operate flight schools on the field, from primary training through multi-engine, commercial, and other training.

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Alaska Airlines operated by Horizon Air Seattle/Tacoma

Historically, Walla Walla had scheduled passenger jet service in the past provided by West Coast Airlines which operated Douglas DC-9-14 jetliners and also by Cascade Airways which flew British Aircraft Corp. BAC One-Eleven twinjets. Both airlines also operated turboprop aircraft into the airport as well. West Coast flew Fairchild F-27 propjets while Cascade operated Hawker Siddeley HS 748, Beechcraft 1900C and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprops. In addition, Cascade had its major maintenance base located at the airport for all of the aircraft types it operated including the BAC One-Eleven jets.

West Coast then merged with Bonanza Air Lines and Pacific Air Lines to form Air West which was subsequently renamed Hughes Airwest. Both Air West and Hughes Airwest continued to serve Walla Walla with Fairchild F-27 propjet flights, although by 1975 Hughes Airwest had turned over all of its service to Cascade Airways.

Currently, Horizon Air operates Bombardier Q400 propjets into Walla Walla on behalf of Alaska Airlines. The Q400 is the latest, largest and fastest member of the Dash 8 family of turboprop aircraft.

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for ALW PDF, effective 2007-12-20
  2. ^ History of the Walla Walla District, Corps of Engineers
  3. ^ Walla Walla Regional Airport & Industrial Park


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