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Scholes International Airport at Galveston: Difference between revisions
Scholes International Airport at Galveston (view source)
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Scholes International Airport is the former Galveston Municipal Airport that dates back to | Scholes International Airport is the former Galveston Municipal Airport that dates back to 1931. It was renamed Corrigan Airport in 1938 for Douglas "Wrong Way" Corrigan, a Galveston native and 1900 Storm survivor, who worked at Ryan Aeronautical Company and helped to build Charles Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis". Later he piloted his own 1929 Curtiss Robin OX-5 monoplane named "Sunshine" from Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York, to Ireland allegedly due to a "compass error" after being denied permission to fly that same trans-Atlantic route by the U.S. Bureau of Air Commerce many times before. This incident earned him his nickname. | ||
During World War II, | During World War II, Galveston Municipal Airport was redesignated a U.S. Army Air Corps base and named "Galveston Army Air Field", U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, using funds from the Civil Aeronautics Authority, constructed three 6,000-foot-long, hard-surface runways at the airport to accommodate army aircraft. <br /> | ||
In January 1943, Galveston AAFld. was officially activated had the 46th Bombardment Group | In January 1943, Galveston AAFld. was officially activated had the 46th Bombardment Group, flying the Douglas A-20 Havoc in the anti-submarine role in the Gulf of Mexico until replaced by the 10th Antisubmarine Squadron, flying RM-37 Lockheed Venturas. <br /> | ||
The Field was primarily used for replacement crew gunnery training by the 407th Fighter-Bomber Group, with targets being towed to the gunnery range at nearby Oyster Bay. The installation cost $7 million and at its peak had some 2,500 personnel assigned. It was officially deactivated on November 15, 1945, with ownership reverting back to the City of Galveston.<br /> | The Field was primarily used for replacement crew gunnery training by the 407th Fighter-Bomber Group, with targets being towed to the gunnery range at nearby Oyster Bay. The installation cost $7 million and at its peak had some 2,500 personnel assigned. It was officially deactivated on November 15, 1945, with ownership reverting back to the City of Galveston.<br /> | ||
As late as 1948, it was an active seaplane base per Sectional Aeronautical chart SA SAC O-5 | As late as 1948, it was an active seaplane base per Sectional Aeronautical chart SA SAC O-5. | ||
Operated and maintained by the City of Galveston, GLS is now a general aviation airport serving diverse aviation segments. It has enjoyed the service of many airlines in its history, including Trans-Texas Airways (forerunner to Texas International Airlines), Braniff Airways, and Houston Metro Airlines. <br /> GLS's Master Plan has considered the potential return of commercial airline service as well as the increasing trend of corporate aircraft and oil industry helicopter activity. In preparation for increased corporate activity, the ultimate plan considers the extension of the primary runway ( 17/35 )from 6001 x 150 ft. to 7,100 feet. Currently, it can accommodate most aircraft, up to a Boeing 767. | GLS was named after its first manager, Robert D. Scholes (1899-1960), who ran Galveston Municipal Airport from 1931 until 1960. Operated and maintained by the City of Galveston, GLS is now a general aviation airport serving diverse aviation segments. It has enjoyed the service of many airlines in its history, including Trans-Texas Airways (forerunner to Texas International Airlines), Braniff Airways, and Houston Metro Airlines. <br /> GLS's Master Plan has considered the potential return of commercial airline service as well as the increasing trend of corporate aircraft and oil industry helicopter activity. In preparation for increased corporate activity, the ultimate plan considers the extension of the primary runway ( 17/35 )from 6001 x 150 ft. to 7,100 feet. Currently, it can accommodate most aircraft, up to a Boeing 767. | ||
GLS is an Airport with 24 hour Air Traffic Control and an "A" ARFF Index. The 1,200-acre airport offers a terminal, 24 hour fixed base operator, 24 hour weather services, a U.S. Customs agent on call, and state-of-the-art navigational aids with precision approaches providing all-weather capabilities. It has been used as a fueling stop for transient military aircraft due to a Military Area of Operations in the Gulf of Mexico. It is also the destination airport for fixed wing ambulances tranfering patients to the Shriner's Burn Center. | GLS is an Airport with 24 hour Air Traffic Control and an "A" ARFF Index. The 1,200-acre airport offers a terminal, 24 hour fixed base operator, 24 hour weather services, a U.S. Customs agent on call, and state-of-the-art navigational aids with precision approaches providing all-weather capabilities. It has been used as a fueling stop for transient military aircraft due to a Military Area of Operations in the Gulf of Mexico. It is also the destination airport for fixed wing ambulances tranfering patients to the Shriner's Burn Center. | ||
Of the 220+ aircraft based at GLS, 50+ are helicopters belonging to Air Logistics, | Of the 220+ aircraft based at GLS, 50+ are helicopters belonging to Air Logistics, Era, Evergreen, PHI, Tex-Air, and other oil industry vendors. | ||
The Lone Star Flight Museum is located on the north side of GLS and boasts a large collection of flying antique warbirds as well as the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. | The Lone Star Flight Museum is located on the north side of GLS and boasts a large collection of flying antique warbirds as well as the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. | ||
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==Official Spotting Locations== | ==Official Spotting Locations== | ||
The Main Terminal Building has an outdoor observation area on the ground floor. To access the area, enter the main terminal doors and walk straight through and exit the ramp side doors. There is a large yard before you get to the gate leading to the flight line. A second floor observation deck complete with tables and chairs, can only be accessed from the outside yard on the ramp side of the terminal. It is best for photographing fixed-wing general aviation up close when they taxi in to the tie-down area. It is also best for photographing all of the oil industry helicopters as all helicopter approaches are made from the north. Evergreen is the only major carrier who will not fly or air-taxi past the terminal as their base is the only one north of the terminal building. | The Main Terminal Building has an outdoor observation area on the ground floor. To access the area, enter the main terminal doors and walk straight through and exit the ramp side doors. There is a large yard before you get to the gate leading to the flight line. A second floor observation deck complete with tables and chairs, can only be accessed from an outdoor stairway in the outside yard on the ramp side of the terminal. It is best for photographing fixed-wing general aviation up close when they taxi in to the tie-down area. It is also best for photographing all of the inbound oil industry helicopters as all helicopter approaches are made from the north. Evergreen is the only major carrier who will not fly or air-taxi past the terminal as their base is the only one north of the terminal building. | ||
==Other Spotting Locations== | ==Other Spotting Locations== | ||