Harrisburg International Airport

Harrisburg International Airport
IATA: MDT – ICAO: KMDT – FAA: MDT
Summary
Airport type		Public
Owner		Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority
Serves		Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Elevation AMSL		310 ft / 94 m
Coordinates		40°11′37″N 076°45′48″W / 40.19361°N 76.76333°W / 40.19361; -76.76333
Website		www.FlyHIA.com
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
13/31	10,001	3,048	Asphalt
Statistics (2005)
Aircraft operations			71,190
Based aircraft			29
Sources: airport website[1] and FAA[2]

For the military use of the airport prior to 1969, see Olmsted Air Force Base

Harrisburg International Airport (IATA: MDT, ICAO: KMDT, FAA LID: MDT) is a public use airport located eight nautical miles (15 km) southeast of the central business district of Harrisburg, a city in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is owned by the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority.^[2]

The airport code MDT is a reference to the surrounding community of Middletown, which is a suburb of Harrisburg. Planes landing at MDT from the south are often routed near or over Three Mile Island, only a few miles from the airport. The airport, frequently referred to as HIA, is the primary commercial service airport in South Central Pennsylvania and ranks as the 3rd busiest airport in Pennsylvania for both passenger enplanements and cargo shipments behind Philadelphia International Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport.^[3][4]

Facilities and aircraft

Harrisburg International Airport covers an area of 680 acres (275 ha) at an elevation of 310 feet (94 m) above mean sea level. It has one asphalt paved runway designated 13/31 and measuring 10,001 by 200 feet (3,048 x 61 m).^[2]

Runway 13 is equipped with a CAT III approach allowing operations down to 600 ft RVR (Runway Visual Range). The airport is also equipped with a Surface Movement Guidance Control System (SMGCS) that allows for aircraft and vehicle ground movements during reduced visibility specifically below 1200 ft RVR down to 600 ft RVR.

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2005, the airport had 71,190 aircraft operations, an average of 195 per day: 54% air taxi, 22% general aviation, 13% scheduled commercial and 12% military. At that time there were 29 aircraft based at this airport: 17% single-engine, 28% multi-engine, 31% jet, 3% helicopter and 21% military.^[2]

Ground Transportation

Built in 2004, and attached to the new terminal building via a climate-controlled sky bridge, the Multi-Modal Transportation Facility (MMTF) is a four-story facility that handles all forms of ground transportation. The top three levels provide 2,504 parking places for Short-Term Hourly, Daily, and Long-Term public parking. The first level accommodates all limos, taxis, hotel shuttles, public and charter buses, plus the rental car ready/return lot.

Inside the first floor lobby area, travelers can access six rental car counters, restrooms, flight, and bus information displays, and a seating area. On the second floor of the lobby area, climate-controlled moving sidewalks connect to the aerial walkway which leads directly into the terminal building.

Route 7 of the Capital Area Transit System provides bus transportation to and from downtown Harrisburg and surrounding communities. A new rail terminal is being constructed adjacent to the MMTF and will provide Amtrak service via the high-speed Northeast and Keystone corridors. CorridorOne, a commuter rail system serving the Harrisburg metropolitan area, will also provide service starting in 2009.^{[citation needed]}

Airlines and destinations

Air Cargo

Harrisburg International Airport is well positioned with freight-forwarding capabilities. The airport is located adjacent to I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike), I-83, and I-81, allowing for fast air-to-ground transfer of goods and commodities. Three major air cargo shippers also maintain air service at the east end of the airport, in a dedicated apron area adjacent to the runway. They are^{[citation needed]}

• ABX Air
• FedEx Express
  • FedEx Feeder operated by Wiggins Airways
• UPS Airlines

History

Harrisburg International Airport has been serving south-central Pennsylvania for over 100 years.^[6] Beginning in 1898, the Signal Corps of the U.S. Army was stationed here. This was followed by the first military airplanes landing in 1918 at what had become Olmsted Field of the fledgling U.S. Army Air Service.

The Middletown Air Depot (later Middletown Air Materiel Area) at Olmsted provided logistical and maintenance support of military aircraft until it was closed in 1969. With the turnover from the U.S. Air Force, commercial airline flights, were switched from the Capital City Airport to the new Harrisburg International Airport which was established at the former Air Force Base. Architect William Pereira designed the new terminals which were completed in 1973.

In 1998, the Commonwealth transferred ownership to the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA), the board that oversees ownership of the airport. The Authority board consists of community volunteers appointed to staggered, five-year terms by the elected officials from Cumberland, Dauphin, and York counties, the cities of Harrisburg and York, and Fairview and Lower Swatara townships.

Approximately 1,400 people work within the airport system of Harrisburg International Airport.^{[citation needed]}

Pennsylvania Air National Guard use

Despite the closure of Olmsted AFB in 1969, the US Air Force continues to maintain an Air National Guard presence at Harrisburg International Airport in the form of Harrisburg Air National Guard Station and the Pennsylvania Air National Guard's 193rd Special Operations Wing (193 SOW), an Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)-gained unit flying the EC-130 Commando Solo aircraft. The 193 SOW is the sole operator of this critical aircraft asset for the entire US Air Force and in 2001 transitioned from the EC-130E to the new EC-130J variant. The wing has seen extensive Federal service in recent years in support of Operations Just Cause, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

See also

• List of airports in Pennsylvania

References

1. ^ Harrisburg International Airport, official site
2. ^ ^{a b c d} FAA Airport Master Record for MDT (Form 5010 PDF), effective 2008-06-05
3. ^ "Commercial Service Airports by State and Type of Carrier". Federal Aviation Administration. 2007. http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/media/cy05_commercial_carrier_type.pdf. Retrieved 2007-07-04. 
4. ^ "Airports Reporting All-Cargo Data for Calendar Year 2005". Federal Aviation Administration. 2007. http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/media/cy05_cargo.pdf. Retrieved 2007-07-04. 
5. ^ American Airlines resumes flights to Harrisburg. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
6. ^ Harrisburg International Airport History

External links

• Pennsylvania Bureau of Aviation: Harrisburg International Airport
• FAA Airport Diagram(PDF), effective 19 Nov 2009
• FAA Terminal Procedures for MDT, effective 19 Nov 2009
• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNav airport information for KMDT
  • ASN accident history for MDT
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KMDT
  • FAA current MDT delay information