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John Glenn Columbus International Airport

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"CMH" redirects here. For other uses, see CMH (disambiguation).

Coordinates: 39°59′53″N 082°53′31″W / 39.99806°N 82.89194°W / 39.99806; -82.89194

John Glenn Columbus International Airport
PCI CIMG9956.jpg
Entryway into John Glenn Airport
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner/Operator Columbus Regional Airport Authority
Location Columbus, Ohio
Elevation AMSL 815 ft / 248 m
Website

http://flycolumbus.com/

CMH is located in Ohio
CMH
CMH
CMH is located in the US
CMH
CMH
Location of airport in Ohio / United States
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
10R/28L 10,113 3,082 Asphalt
10L/28R 8,000 2,438 Asphalt
Statistics (2015)
Aircraft operations (2008) 163,984
Passenger volume (2016) 7,300,000
Cargo (in lbs) 7,471,160
Source: FAA[1] and CRAA[2][3]

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (IATA: CMHICAO: KCMHFAA LID: CMH), is an international airport located 6 miles (9.7 km) east of downtown Columbus, Ohio. Formerly known as Port Columbus International Airport, it is managed by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which also oversees operations at Rickenbacker International Airport and Bolton Field. The airport code 'CMH' stands for "Columbus Municipal Hangar," the original name for the airport.[4]

John Glenn Columbus International Airport is primarily a passenger airport. It provides 140 non-stop flights to 34 airports via 6 airlines daily.[5] In 2016, traffic reached 7.3 million, which was a 8% increase over 2015. Traffic in 2017 is expected to surpass the record set in 2007. [6]

According to a 2005 market survey, Columbus attracts about 50% of its passengers from outside of its 60-mile (97 km) radius primary service region.[7] In addition, the airport also handles freight and US mail, with 10,411,920 units of freight and 8,537,279 units of mail passing through in 2006.[3]

CMH is the largest passenger airport in central Ohio and second busiest in the state after Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and offers service to most major airline hubs.

Accessing John Glenn Columbus International Airport by road is possible by two interstate highways: I-270 to the northeast and I-670 to the west. The main airport roadway, International Gateway, connects directly to I-670.

On May 25, 2016, the Ohio General Assembly passed a bill to rename the airport from Port Columbus International Airport to its current name, in honor of astronaut and four-term U.S. senator John Glenn.[8] The name change was unanimously approved by the airport's nine-member board on May 24, 2016.[9] Ohio Governor John Kasich signed the bill into law on June 14, 2016 with the name change becoming official 90 days later.[10] On June 28, 2016, a celebration of the renaming was held and new signage bearing the airport's new name was unveiled.[11]

In 2017, after completion of the $80 million terminal renovation, the airport was named by trade organization Airports Council International as the most improved airport in North America in 2016. [12]

History[edit]

A Douglas DC-3 at Port Columbus in 1941
Original Port Columbus Airport Terminal used from 1929–1958[13]

Early history[edit]

The airport opened July 8, 1929, on a site selected by Charles Lindbergh, as the eastern air terminus of the Transcontinental Air Transport air-rail New York to Los Angeles transcontinental route. Passengers traveled overnight on the Pennsylvania Railroad's Airway Limited from New York to Columbus; by air from Columbus to Waynoka, Oklahoma; by rail again on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe from Waynoka to Clovis, New Mexico; and by air from Clovis to Los Angeles.[14] The original terminal building and hangars are still in use; the terminal has been restored and has rental office space and the hangars are still hangars.[15]

During World War II, most of the facility was taken over by the U.S. Navy, which established Naval Air Station Columbus in 1942. NAS Columbus was closed and the facility relinquished back to civilian authorities in 1946.[16][17] Also, during the war, the government established a government-owned aviation factory on the grounds of the airport known as Air Force Factory 85, eventually operated by North American Aviation. The plant produced the F-100 Super Saber, RF-6 Vigilante, T-2 Buckeye, T-28 Trojan, OV-10 Bronco and T-39 Sabreliner.

The diagram on the February 1951 Coast & Geodetic Survey instrument-approach chart shows runways 006/186 3550 ft long, 052/232 4400 ft, 096/276 4500 ft, and 127/307 5030 ft.

A $12 million terminal building opened on September 21, 1958.[15] Jet airline flights (American 707s) started in April 1964.

New control tower

Historical airline service[edit]

The April 1957 Official Airline Guide shows 72 airline departures each weekday: 41 TWA, 16 American, 6 Eastern, 6 Lake Central and 3 Piedmont.[18]

The first major airline to fly into Port Columbus was TWA, and it kept a presence at Columbus over seventy years during the era of airline regulation.[15] TWA offered a club for exclusive passengers up until 2000 when America West took over a gate held by TWA and the club itself due to financial problems.[19]

Port Columbus International Airport was formerly a hub of America West Airlines in the 1990s, but the company closed the hub in 2003 due to financial losses and the post 9/11-decline in air travel.[19]

Skybus had its hub at Port Columbus.

The airport was the home base of short-lived Skybus Airlines, which began operations from Port Columbus on May 22, 2007. The airline touted themselves as the cheapest airline in the United States, offering a minimum of ten seats for $10 each on every flight. It tended to serve major markets from secondary and even tertiary airports. For example, they served Los Angeles via Burbank, San Francisco via Oakland, Seattle and Vancouver via Bellingham, WA and Boston via Portsmouth, NH. Skybus ceased operations April 4, 2008.

Recent improvements[edit]

A $70 million renovation of airport facilities, designed by Brubaker, Brandt Inc., was initiated in 1979 for the airport's 50th anniversary and completed in 1981.[20] This upgraded the airport's capacity to 250 flights per day by adding what is known today as Concourse B and added fully enclosed jetways at every gate.[15] Ten years later in 1989, a second, $15.5 million, seven-gate south concourse (now Concourse A) was dedicated.[15] The concourse was used exclusively by US Airways at the time, and later housed hubs for both America West Airlines until 2003, and Skybus Airlines until they shut it down in 2008 due to their bankruptcy. A north concourse was completed in 1996, which is now Concourse C, and was expanded in 2002.[15]

President Barack Obama with U.S. Representative Mary Jo Kilroy (right) and Senator Sherrod Brown (left, behind secret service agent) arriving at Port Columbus in 2009

Between 1998 and 2000, numerous airport expansion and renovation projects were completed, including a $25 million terminal renovation in 1998 that included additional retail shops, new flight information displays, enhanced lighting, upgraded flooring, and a new food court. Also, new hangars and office spaces were completed for NetJets in 1999, as well as a $92 million parking garage including an underground terminal entrance, new rental car facilities, dedicated ground transportation area, improved eight-lane terminal access on two levels, and a new atrium and entrances in 2000, which were designed by URS Corporation.[15][21]

On April 25, 2004, a new 195-foot (59 m) control tower directed its first aircraft. This began several major facility enhancements to be constructed through 2025.[15] On October 21, 2010, a new arrivals/departures board replaced the old one in the main entrance area

Port Columbus began its Terminal Modernization Program in late 2012, which included new terrazzo flooring throughout the airport, new ceilings, new restrooms, more TSA security lanes, and new LED lighting. Construction started on Concourse A in late 2012 and was completed throughout the terminal in early-2016.[22]

In 2013, the airport completed a $140 million runway improvement that moved the south runway farther from the north runway. This created a buffer distance that enables simultaneous takeoffs and landings on the north and south runways, increasing air traffic volume. Columbus mayor Michael B. Coleman commented, "As the city grows, the airport needs to grow with it."[23]

Infrastructure[edit]

Main flight information board at the entrance to Concourse B
Port Columbus diagram, as of 2013
Aerial photograph of Port Columbus International Airport, in 2014

On-site facilities[edit]

In 2001, Executive Jet Aviation (now known as NetJets), opened up a 200,000-square-foot (19,000 m2) operational headquarters at Port Columbus International Airport.[24]

In November 2006, Skybus Airlines began leasing 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) of office and hangar facilities at the Columbus International AirCenter adjacent to Port Columbus.[25]

Envoy Air operates a maintenance base at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, along with Republic Airways who operate their flagship base at John Glenn Columbus International Airport.

The airport has its own police and fire departments (ARFF-C).

Airfield[edit]

The original 1929 layout for the airport covered 524 acres (212 ha), with two runways 2,500 and 3,500 feet (760 and 1,070 m) long.[26] In 1952 the current south runway was lengthened to 8,000 feet (2,400 m), making it the longest runway in the midwest at the time.[15] The north runway was extended to 8,000 feet (2,400 m) in 1997[15] and the south runway has since been extended to 10,113 ft (3,082 m).

John Glenn Columbus International Airport covers 1,164 acres (471 ha) and has two runways:[1]

  • Runway 10R/28L: 10,113 ft × 150 ft (3,082 m × 46 m), air carrier runway, ILS equipped.
  • Runway 10L/28R: 8,000 ft × 150 ft (2,438 m × 46 m), air carrier runway, ILS equipped.

Runway 10L/28R is just north of the 40th parallel north.

An expansion in 2008-2009 moved the primary access road to the main terminal, over which a new aircraft bridge was built. The Port Columbus Airport Crossover Taxiway Bridge was intended to ease congestion of aircraft traffic and allow aircraft to move from the main terminal to outer runways.[27]

Aircraft[edit]

For the 12-month period ending January 1, 2009, the airport had 163,984 aircraft operations, an average of 449 per day: 44% air taxi, 18% general aviation, 37% scheduled commercial, and 1% military. There are 92 aircraft based at this airport: 46% single engine, 16% multi-engine, 37% jet aircraft, and 1% helicopters.[1]

Delta Airlines Boeing 737 at John Glenn Columbus International Airport

Terminals[edit]

Ticketing counters flanking Concourse B

John Glenn Columbus International Airport has 3 airport concourses. Concourse A (gates A1 – A7) is home to Southwest Airlines, which uses all the gates with the exception of A1 (no jet bridge) and A7 (ground-level boarding gate). Concourse B (gates B19 – B36) is home to Air Canada, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Frontier Airlines. The Vacation Express charters also depart from Concourse B. Gates B15 through B18 and B33 are no longer accessible due to concession and restroom construction. Gate B36 and B33 have had their jet bridges removed. Concourse C (gates C46 – C56) is home to Delta Air Lines, which uses gates C51-C56. Gates C47-C50 are not currently in use, while gate C46 is used for international arrivals and connects directly to customs and immigration. Currently, the only international arrivals are the seasonal flights from Freeport, Cancun and Punta Cana, as well as the daily flights to Toronto.

Airlines and destinations[edit]

For 2016, Southwest Airlines had the greatest number of flights at the airport, with 36% of total passenger volume. American Airlines/American Eagle is second with 25%, Delta Air Lines/Delta Connection had the third greatest, with 22%, followed by United Airlines/United Express at 13%. [28]

Airlines Destinations Refs
Air Canada Express Toronto–Pearson [29]
American Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor [30]
American Eagle Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Miami, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Washington–National [30]
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St Paul
Seasonal: Cancún, Detroit, Orlando
[31]
Delta Connection Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Raleigh/Durham
Seasonal: Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando
[31]
Frontier Airlines Denver, Las Vegas, Orlando
Seasonal: Fort Myers[32]
[33]
Southwest Airlines Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago–Midway, Dallas–Love, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Las Vegas, Nashville, New Orleans (begins April 30, 2017), Oakland, Orlando, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, St. Louis, Tampa, Washington–National [34]
United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare
Seasonal: Denver
[35]
United Express Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark, Washington–Dulles [35]
Vacation Express Seasonal charter: Cancún, Punta Cana [36]

Statistics[edit]

Top destinations[edit]

Busiest domestic routes from CMH (Nov 2015 – Oct 2016)[37]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Atlanta, Georgia 455,000 Delta, Southwest
2 Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 297,000 American, United
3 Chicago–Midway, Illinois 197,000 Southwest
4 Charlotte, North Carolina 174,000 American
5 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 173,000 American
6 New York–LaGuardia, New York 153,000 American, Delta
7 Orlando, Florida 147,000 Delta, Frontier, Southwest
8 Washington, D.C. 133,000 American, Southwest
9 Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona 129,000 American, Southwest
10 Denver, Colorado 125,000 Frontier, Southwest, United

Annual traffic[edit]

Annual passengers (enplaned + deplaned) for John Glenn Columbus International Airport[38][39]
Year Passengers Change Year Passengers Change
2009 6,233,485 Decrease 9.79%
2008 6,910,045 Decrease 10.48%
2007 7,719,340 Increase 14.63%
2016 7,324,180 Increase 7.78% 2006 6,733,990 Increase 1.85%
2015 6,758,334 Increase 6.96% 2005 6,611,575 Increase 6.09%
2014 6,355,974 Increase 1.92% 2004 6,232,332 Decrease 0.32%
2013 6,236,528 Decrease 1.79% 2003 6,252,233 Decrease 7.25%
2012 6,350,446 Decrease 0.44% 2002 6,740,935 Increase 0.90%
2011 6,378,722 Increase 0.20% 2001 6,680,897 Decrease 2.81%
2010 6,366,191 Increase 2.13% 2000 6,873,998 Steady

Ground transportation[edit]

Car[edit]

The airport is accessible directly by taking exit number nine on Interstate 670 to International Gateway. Alternatively, drivers can also get to the airport via Hamilton Road, just south of Interstate 270, and enter at Sawyer Road.

In addition to housing the rental car facilities, a six-story parking garage (which is attached to the terminal) provides long-term and short-term parking. Lower cost satellite parking options, with continuous free shuttle service, can be found in the Blue, Red and Green parking lots along International Gateway. The Blue lot is the closest to the terminal and also offers some covered parking. The Green lot is the furthest away from the terminal. Additionally, there is a small free "cell phone lot" accessed from the outbound side of International Gateway.[40][41]

Bus[edit]

Beginning in May 2016, the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) began expanded bus service between John Glenn Columbus International Airport and downtown Columbus. The service, named AirConnect, stops at the airport's arrival and departure levels every 30 minutes, 7 days a week, before heading downtown. Once downtown, stops are made at the Greater Columbus Convention Center and many of the downtown hotels. Tickets are available for purchase at a kiosk in the airport with credit cards (only) and on board the bus with cash (only).[42]

Other, existing routes available from COTA are Route 92, which serves the east side of Columbus throughout the day, and route 52 which serves Ohio State University during school breaks.[43] The GoBus operates a twice daily schedule to Athens, Ohio and back.

Taxi[edit]

Inbound taxi services operate through numerous taxi businesses in the Columbus area. A number of taxi services provide outbound transportation in the taxi lane.[44]

Accidents and incidents[edit]

On June 27, 1954 an American Airlines Convair CV-240 (N94263) from Dayton International Airport was on approach to Runway 27 at 300 feet (91 m) when the left side of the plane collided with a US Navy Beechcraft SNB-2C Navigator (BuA23773), also on approach. The Convair recovered and landed, though the nose gear collapsed on landing. The Beechcraft crashed short of the runway, killing two on board.[45] The probable cause was attributed to "A traffic control situation created by the tower local controller which he allowed to continue without taking the necessary corrective action. A contributing factor was the failure of both crews to detect this situation by visual and/or aural vigilance."[45]

On January 7, 1994, United Express Flight 6291 was a BAe Jetstream 41 being operated by Atlantic Coast Airlines; it was on approach to runway 28L when it entered into a stall at 430 feet (130 m) above runway level. The aircraft collided with a stand of trees and came to rest inside a commercial building 1.2 miles (1.9 km) short of the runway and burst into flames. The accident killed two of three crewmembers and five of nine passengers.[46] The probable cause was attributed to "(1) An aerodynamic stall that occurred when the flight crew allowed the airspeed to decay to stall speed following a very poorly planned and executed approach characterized by an absence of procedural discipline; (2) Improper pilot response to the stall warning, including failure to advance the power levers to maximum, and inappropriately raising the flaps; (3) Flight crew experience in 'glass cockpit' automated aircraft, aircraft type and in seat position, a situation exacerbated by a side letter of agreement between the company and its pilots; and (4) the company's failure to provide adequate stabilized approach criteria, and the FAA's failure to require such criteria. Member Vogt concluded that the last factor was contributory but not causal to the accident. Additionally, for the following two factors, Chairman Hall and Member Lauber concluded that they were causal to the accident, while Members Vogt and Hammerschmidt concluded they were contributory to the accident: (5) The company's failure to provide adequate crew resource management training, and the FAA's failure to require such training; and (6) the unavailability of suitable training simulators that precluded fully effective flight crew training."[46]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c FAA Airport Master Record for CMH (Form 5010 PDF), effective November 18, 2010
  2. ^ "Columbus Regional Airport Authority" (PDF). 
  3. ^ a b "Port Columbus Sets New Passenger Record in 2007". Columbus Regional Airport Authority. January 25, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2008. 
  4. ^ "Airport ABCs: An Explanation of Airport Identifier Codes". skygod.com. Retrieved July 22, 2007. 
  5. ^ "John Glenn Columbus Non-stop Destinations". Columbus Regional Airport Authority. 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016. 
  6. ^ Rose, Mary. John Glenn reported second-busiest year in 2016. Columbus Dispatch, January 24, 2017. http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170124/john-glenn-airport-recorded-second-busiest-year-in-16 Accessed March 19, 2017
  7. ^ "REGIONAL AIRPORTS ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, WILBUR SMITH ASSOCIATES, INC., January 2005, Chap 1 pp2-4" (PDF). Retrieved April 7, 2010. 
  8. ^ "Bill naming John Glenn airport passes in Ohio". Associated Press. 
  9. ^ Julie Carr Smyth (May 25, 2016). "Ohio Airport to Be Named in Honor of Astronaut John Glenn". Associated Press. Retrieved June 16, 2016. 
  10. ^ Johnson, Alan (June 14, 2016). "Law signed naming John Glenn International Airport". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2016-06-16. 
  11. ^ "Ohio's Columbus airport renamed for astronaut John Glenn". Retrieved 2016-07-01. 
  12. ^ Rose, Marla. John Glenn Airport Most 'Improved' in North America. Columbus Dispatch March 8, 2017 http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170308/john-glenn-airport-most-improved-in-north-america. Accessed March 26, 2017
  13. ^ "http://www.remarkableohio.org/HistoricalMarker.aspx?historicalMarkerId=11881". Marker #94-25 Original Port Columbus Airport Terminal, 1929–1958 / Original Port Columbus Airport Terminal, 1929–1958. http://www.remarkableohio.org. Retrieved November 12, 2013.  External link in |publisher=, |title= (help)
  14. ^ Fred J. Bunyan (January 1959). "Columbus Prepared for Progress". Flying Magazine. 
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Port Columbus Milestones". Columbus Regional Airport Authority. 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012. 
  16. ^ http://epa.ohio.gov/portals/30/FFS/docs/fuds/COLUMBUS_NAVAL_AIR_STATION.pdf
  17. ^ http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=p2v_truculentturtle
  18. ^ Official Airline Guide, Washington DC: American Aviation Publications, 1957 
  19. ^ a b "America West in Columbus". PSA History Page. 2003–2007. Retrieved July 22, 2007. 
  20. ^ "Engineering News-Record". Engineering News-Record. 202 (1–13): 271. 1979. Retrieved June 28, 2012. 
  21. ^ "AECOM". AECOM. 
  22. ^ "Terminal Modernization Program - At Port Columbus - FlyColumbus". 
  23. ^ Weese, Evan (August 22, 2013). "Port Columbus 'Staying Ahead of Demand Curve' With New South Runway". Columbus Business First. 
  24. ^ "Executive Jet, Inc. Inaugurates New Operations Center". Netjets Inc. June 14, 2000. Retrieved August 16, 2007. 
  25. ^ "Skybus will establish headquarters at Columbus International AirCenter". Skybus Airlines Inc. November 10, 2006. Retrieved August 16, 2007. 
  26. ^ "75 Years of Flight in Columbus". Columbus Regional Airport Authority. 2004. Retrieved August 16, 2007. 
  27. ^ Kevin M. Gorak and Troy D. Jessop (Winter 2009). "A New Welcome at the Port Columbus International Airport" (PDF). Aspire: 34–37. Retrieved September 13, 2016.  (with 4 pages of additional photos published in the web version)
  28. ^ Rose, Mary. John Glenn reported second-busiest year in 2016. Columbus Dispatch, January 24, 2017. http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170124/john-glenn-airport-recorded-second-busiest-year-in-16 Accessed March 19, 2017
  29. ^ "Flight Schedules". Retrieved 7 January 2017. 
  30. ^ a b "Flight schedules and notifications". Retrieved 7 January 2017. 
  31. ^ a b "FLIGHT SCHEDULES". Retrieved 7 January 2017. 
  32. ^ "Frontier Route Map". Retrieved 23 January 2017. 
  33. ^ "Frontier". Retrieved 7 January 2017. 
  34. ^ "Check Flight Schedules". Retrieved 7 January 2017. 
  35. ^ a b "Timetable". Retrieved 7 January 2017. 
  36. ^ "Vacation Express". Retrieved 7 January 2017. 
  37. ^ "RITA - BTS - Transtats". 
  38. ^ "Port Columbus Air Service Reports". flycolumbus.com. Retrieved July 10, 2014. 
  39. ^ Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (pg 61). Retrieved Mar 29, 2015
  40. ^ "Parking Maps". Columbus Regional Airport Authority. 2007. Retrieved August 16, 2007. 
  41. ^ "Shuttle Lots and Airport Property". Columbus Regional Airport Authority. 2009. Retrieved December 5, 2009. 
  42. ^ "COTA plans bus line between airport and Downtown". Retrieved 2016-02-20. 
  43. ^ "COTA Map" (PDF). Central Ohio Transit Authority. 2010. Retrieved January 28, 2010. 
  44. ^ "Taxi Services". Columbus Regional Airport Authority. 2007. Retrieved July 22, 2007. 
  45. ^ a b "ASN Aircraft accident description Convair CV-240-0 N94263". Aviation Safety Network. 1954. Retrieved November 13, 2007. 
  46. ^ a b "ASN Aircraft accident description British Aerospace BAe 4101 Jetstream 41 N304UE". Aviation Safety Network. 1994. Retrieved November 13, 2007. 

External links[edit]