Clinton National Airport, also known as Adams Field, Little Rock Municipal Airport, or, more put, Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, is a national airport on the east side of Little Rock, Arkansas. It is operated by the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission. The largest commercial airport in Arkansas, it served more than 2.1 million passengers in the year spanning from March 2009 through to February 2010. While Clinton National Airport does not have direct international passenger flights, more than 50 flights arrive or depart at Little Rock each day, with nonstop service to 14 cities. The airport is included in the Federal Aviation AdministrationNational Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2019–2023, in which it is categorized as a small-hub primary commercial service facility. Per FAA records, the airport had 1,181,846 passenger boardings in CY 2008, 1,108,603 in 2009 and 1,097,403 in 2010.
History
The airport was originally named "Adams Field" after Captain George Geyer Adams, 154th Observation Squadron, Arkansas National Guard, who was killed in the line of duty on September 4, 1937. He was a strong advocate for the airport, and also a Little Rock city councilor. American Airlines was the first airline to serve Little Rock when it first landed at Adams Field in June 19, 1931. During World War II the airfield was used by the United States Army Air ForcesThird Air Force for antisubmarine patrols and training. In 1972 the airport opened its current 12-gate terminal. In August 2008, the airport approved a plan to renovate the terminal over a 15-year period. The plan would expand the terminal from 12 to 16 gates. On March 20, 2012, the municipal airport commission voted to rename the airport the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, after former United States PresidentBill Clinton and his wife, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The name Adams Field will continue to be used when referring to the airport's runways and air traffic and will be the airport's official designator. In October 2013, Travel + Leisure released a survey of travelers that ranked Clinton National Airport as the worst of the 67 domestic airports considered in the survey. The survey report cited long lines and few food and shopping choices, among other criticisms. A survey commissioned by the airport contradicted Travel + Leisure's claim finding that more than 90% of passengers were satisfied with their experience.
Facilities and aircraft
Clinton National Airport covers 2,000 acres at an elevation of 266 feet above mean sea level. It has three concrete runways: 4L/22R is 8,273 by 150 feet ; 4R/22L is 8,251 by 150 feet ; 18/36 is 6,224 by 150 feet. It has one concrete helipad 50 by 50 feet. In the year ending February 28, 2019, the airport had 95,959 aircraft operations, an average of 263 per day: 38% general aviation, 25% scheduled commercial, 23% military, and 14% air taxi. The military operations are mostly C-130 transports from nearby Little Rock Air Force Base practicing touch-and-go landings. At the time, 145 aircraft were based at this airport: 54 single-engine, 35 multi-engine, 51 jet, and 5 helicopter. Dassault Aircraft Services, a subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, operates a large facility at the airport. It is the site of two Falcon aircraft operations: the main Completion Center for all Falcon jets worldwide, and the company-owned Service Center. Current production model Falcons are manufactured in France, then flown in "green" condition to the Completion Center where optional avionics and custom interiors are installed, and exteriors are painted. Dassault Aircraft Services – Little Rock provides inspection, maintenance, modification, completion and repair needs for the Falcon product line. The Dassault Aircraft Services – Little Rock Service Center and Completion Center combined occupy total nearly, making Little Rock the largest Dassault facility in the world.
Terminal
The single terminal has 12 gates. Six gates are along the length of the terminal and a rotunda at the end has six more.
