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STOLport

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ASTOLportorSTOLPORTwas an airport designed withSTOL(Short Take-Off and Landing) operations in mind, usually for an aircraft class of a certain weight and size. The term "STOLport" did not appear to be in common usage as of 2008, although was commonly used by pilots flying intoBiggin Hillduring 1986/87 when theLondon City Airportwas opened restricting approaches and ceilings to the north of Biggin. A STOLport usually has a short single runway, generally shorter than 1,500 m (5,000 ft).[1]STOLports are only practicable by certain types of aircraft, especially smaller propeller aircraft, with performances that are compatible with the shorter runway length, steeper approach/departure paths, etc. at individual STOLports. In the United States, short runway facilities are simply known as airports, and the term "STOLport" has not been commonly used since the early 1970s.

Definition[edit]

TheInternational Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO) defines STOLports as "unique airports designed to serve airplanes that have exceptional short-field performance capabilities."[2]ICAO Document 9150: Stolport Manual states that "for the purposes of this manual, the stolport design aeroplane is assumed to be an aeroplane that has a reference field length of 800 m or less".[1]

North America[edit]

In the United States, a STOLport is one of several types of facilities. STOLports are identified with an S at the end of the site ID.[3]For example,Calvert Peak STOLportis listed asFederal Aviation Administration(FAA) site number 19448.1*S.[4]As of January 2009, around 80 facilities were coded as STOLports by the FAA in the United States.[5]According to the FAA in 1968, twenty-five potential STOLport sites were identified in theNortheast megalopolis.In the early 1970s, a study was conducted to help the FAA determine if it was necessary to create an elevated STOLport test facility.[6]At one point in 1968, a 730 m (2,400 ft) STOLport was under consideration for a rooftop in Manhattan.[7]Toronto City Airport,with the longest runway of 1,216 m (3,988 ft), went into a period of decline in the 1980s and 1990s, but has since been revitalized as a city centre airport byPorter Airlines,flying the400seriesDe Havilland Canada Dash 8.However, it is not officially designated as a STOLport.

Scotland[edit]

In the islands ofScotlandthere are some airports with very short runways, but still having scheduled flights. Examples includeColonsay Airport(501 m [1,644 ft]),Foula Airfield(382 m [1,252 ft]) andWestray Airport(527 m [1,729 ft]). They are usually serviced byBritten-Norman Islanderaircraft.

Norway and Greenland[edit]

Main article:STOLports in Norway

Between 1965 and 1987, approximately30 STOLportswere built inNorway,typically equipped with a 2,600 ft (800 m) runway. They were intended to improve transportation systems and shorten travel times to areas that were considered difficult to reach by other means.[8]In Norwegian, they are called "kortbaneflyplass" (literally "short runway airport" ). As they were built in areas with relatively low population density and terrain that often wouldn't permit a standard length runway, it became essential to build shorter runways and use smaller airplanes. Today, the airports are frequented by airliners that have been awarded subsidies from the Norwegian government. They typically fly feeder routes to larger hub airports that have direct routes toOsloand other major cities in Norway. Though most of the routes are flown byWiderøe,other airliners occasionally win bids on some of the routes.

950 m (3,120 ft) runway at Nuuk, Greenland

Based on the Norwegian example, severalshort runway airports(800–900 m [2,600–3,000 ft]) were built in Greenland, replacingheliports.The country at that time only had a few airports, built by United States forces in hidden locations far from Greenlandic settlements. Still the short runway airports (including at the capitalNuuk) can't accept flights from distant places like Denmark or the United Kingdom. Some of the airports ofIcelandare STOLports, although most are longer. The availability of STOL aircraft has enabledIcelandairto extend its network to Greenland.

Avinor,the Norwegian airport authority, worries about the future availability of aircraft for 800 m (2,600 ft) runways in future when older aircraft currently used retire. Currently,Dash 8-100aircraft, manufactured in the early 1990s, are used. Avinor has found that after 2010, no new aircraft can be bought which have more than 20 seats and are able to use such short runways. For this reason there are plans to extend runways to 1,200 m (3,900 ft) or in some cases to build new airports, and to close some combined with road improvements.[9]The least used will not be extended, but will have to be flown with very small aircraft. Also in Greenland this is discussed for the same reason. Greenland has decided to extend Nuuk andIlulissatairports to jet aircraft size, 2,200 m (7,200 ft). Rising fuel prices makes low drag a desirable feature, so STOL aircraft might be less desirable or numerous in future. Also aircraft might be able to use short runways only with limited payload, making tickets expensive.

Historical STOLports[edit]

Several attempts were undertaken at the late 1960s and early 1970s to create STOLports in the United States for theNew York CityandLos Angeles,California areas; however, most are not operational or no longer in existence at the present time. There was alsoVictoria STOLportinMontreal,Quebec, Canada.

The first United States STOLport for commercial operation was commissioned August 5, 1968, atLa Guardia Airportand was available forvisual flight rules(VFR) use only.[10]This 334 m (1,095 ft) STOL runway was dubbed the LaGuardia STOLPORT.[11]

The first officially designated STOLport in the United States opened on October 17, 1971, at theWalt Disney World Resortin Florida.Shawnee Airlinesoperated scheduled passenger service between theWalt Disney World Airport(also known as the Lake Buena Vista STOLport) andOrlando McCoy Jetport(now the Orlando International Airport) as well as theTampa International Airportwithde Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin OtterSTOLturbopropaircraft.[12]Information concerning the Shawnee Airlines STOL service appeared in theEastern Air Linessystem timetable dated September 6, 1972 with regard to connecting service between the two airlines at either Orlando or Tampa.[13]The 610 m (2,000 ft) STOL runway at this former airport is no longer in use. Prior to that date, only portions of facilities were designated STOLports. Plans at the time called for an interstate STOL transportation system. On July 26, 1972; the FAA V/STOL office was renamed to the Quiet Short-Haul Air Transportation System Office refocusing it and reflecting public concerns about noise created by smaller more numerous STOLports as opposed to larger airports. The Quiet Short-Haul Air Transportation System Office was eliminated June 11, 1974.[10]Logan International Airportopened an 550 m (1,800 ft) STOL runway September 20, 1968 for testing Eastern Air Lines STOL capableBréguet 941turboprop shuttle on east coast routes.[14]

Some STOLports were never open to public aviation and were privately owned, such as the Avon STOLPort,[15]a 1,200 m (4,000 ft) runway located adjacent to the town ofAvon, Coloradothat was constructed specifically to handle tourist flights for nearby ski resorts in the Vail area. The Avon STOLPort was owned and operated byRocky Mountain Airwayswhich operatedde Havilland Canada Dash 7STOL turboprops from this mountain airfield from 1978 through 1989. The Avon STOLport is no longer in existence.

Another privately owned STOL airfield was theClear Lake City STOLportlocated in the Houston, Texas area, near theJohnson Space Center.This small airport which included a 760 m (2,500 ft) runway, an aircraft hangar, and a passenger terminal was constructed in 1969 and owned byHouston Metro Airlineswhich later changed its name to Metro Airlines. The airline operated Twin Otters from this suburban airfield with shuttle service toHouston Intercontinental Airport.According to the February 1, 1976Official Airline Guide(OAG), Houston Metro was operating 22 round trip flights on weekdays between Clear Lake City and Houston Intercontinental.[16]After Metro Airlines decided to pursue other avenues of business in the airline industry, the Clear Lake City STOLport was abandoned and then demolished to make way for new suburban development. There is no trace remaining of this pioneering airfield.[17]

STOLport airlines[edit]

Rocky Mountain Airways was the worldwide launch customer of the de Havilland Canada Dash 7 four engine turboprop STOL aircraft. Rocky Mountain selected the 50-passenger Dash 7 specifically for the purpose of transporting passengers into high mountain airports with short runways such as the Avon STOLport located nearVail, Coloradofrom its hub located atStapleton International AirportinDenverfrom 1978 through 1989.[18][19]The airline also utilized the Dash 7 for scheduled flights into the smallSteamboat Springs Airportin Colorado. Rocky Mountain first began airline operations with de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft before subsequently commencing Dash 7 service and only operated STOL capable aircraft during its existence.[citation needed]

NorwegianWiderøeare one of the biggest STOLport operators in Europe as they have a fleet of over 40 Bombardier aircraft they mostly use on short runways in Northern and Western Norway.

Houston Metro Airlines operated Twin Otters in scheduled "cross-town" air service between the Clear Lake City STOLport inClear Lake City, Texasand Houston Intercontinental Airport which had a dedicated STOL runway at the time. According to the February 1976 edition of the OAG, the airline was operating 22 round trip flights every weekday between Clear Lake City and Houston Intercontinental in a passenger shuttle service.[20]

SKS AirwaysfromMalaysialaunched its commercial operation in January 2022 by focusing on STOLports situated on domestic holiday islands. Its initial operation will be traveling back and forth using a Twin Otter type aircraft from eitherSubangorSenaiairport to the islands ofPangkor,RedangandTioman.It will also operate cargo and charter services between these locations. In the long run, they are planning to expand their network to major cities in Malaysia and other locations inSoutheast AsiaandSouthern China.[citation needed]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abMallela, J.; Wheeler, P.; Le Bris, G.; Nguyen, L.-G. (2023). ACRP Research Report 243: Urban Air Mobility: An Airport Perspective. Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC:https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26899/urban-air-mobility-an-airport-perspective
  2. ^Stolport ManualArchived2006-10-13 at theWayback Machine(Doc 9150)International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO)
  3. ^FAA.Advisory Circular 150/5200-35Archived2011-06-07 at theWayback Machine.Page 6. (PDF page 8) FAA SITE NR S = Stolport
  4. ^OR73.
  5. ^FAA.Airport Data (5010) & Contact Information.The January 15, 2009 NFDC facility database listed 82 facilities as TYPE=STOLPORT. The NFDC runway database listed 2 runways as having "STOL" markings and 6 runways designated with an "S" meaning "STOL runway"
  6. ^Elevated STOLport Test Facility Conceptual Development and Cost Study.April 1973.
  7. ^DECISION HELD UP ON SHIP TERMINAL; Council Unit Asks Agencies for Additional DataThe New York Times. December 13, 1968
  8. ^Excerpt from history of Avinor (Norwegian)Archived2012-03-21 at theWayback Machine.Accessed May 21, 2010.
  9. ^Avinor vil legge ned fire flyplasser(in Norwegian)
  10. ^abFAA ChronologyArchived2008-06-24 at theWayback Machine.Accessed August 26, 2008.
  11. ^Starting STOLTime. Aug. 16, 1968.
  12. ^The short, short life of Disney World's STOLport.(Blog)
  13. ^departedflights.com, Eastern Airlines Sept. 6, 1972 system timetable, page 68
  14. ^Eastern's STOL Shuttle Trials.John Bentley.Flight International.October 17, 1968.
  15. ^"Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Colorado: Northeastern Denver area".
  16. ^February 1, 1976 Official Airline Guide, North American Edition, Clear Lake City – Houston Intercontinental flight schedule
  17. ^"Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Texas, Southeastern Houston area".
  18. ^The History and Impact of Rocky Mountain Airways[1][permanent dead link]AirInsight Interview with former Rocky Mountain Airways CEO. January 6, 2011.
  19. ^[2]Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields– Avon STOLPort (WHR), Avon, CO
  20. ^Feb. 1, 1976 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Houston (IAH)-Clear Lake City (CLC) flight schedules

Further reading[edit]

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