Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport

Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport (ICAO: KPIL, FAA LID: PIL) is a public airport in Cameron County, Texas, United States, serving the city of Port Isabel, Texas.[2][3] Most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, but Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport is assigned PIL by the FAA and has no IATA designation.[4] IATA assigned PIL to Carlos Miguel Jiménez Airport in Pilar, Paraguay.[5]

Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCameron County
ServesPort Isabel, Texas
Location27617 Buena Vista Blvd, Los Fresnos, TX 78566[1]
Elevation AMSL18.6 ft / 5.7 m
Coordinates26°09′58″N 097°20′45″W
Map
PIL
Location of airport in Texas
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
03/21 5,000 1,524 Asphalt/Concrete
08/26 5,317 1,621 Concrete
13/31 8,001 2,439 Asphalt/Concrete
17/35 4,200 1,280 Asphalt/Concrete
Statistics (2017)
Aircraft operations29,420
Based aircraft13
Sources: Federal Aviation Administration[2] unless noted otherwise

The Port Isabel Detention Center, operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is located adjacent to the airport.[6]

The airport previously used the FAA LID of T31 until at least July 1992.[N 1] This designation was subsequently reassigned to Aero Country Airport in McKinney, Texas.[8]

History

The airfield was built by the U.S. military in the 1940s and used by the United States Army Air Forces and United States Navy for gunnery training. The base was closed in the early 1960s and most base facilities were turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 1961-1963 for renovation and reuse as a detention facility. The hangars and runways were turned over to the Cameron County Commissioners in 1963 to be used as a civil airport.[6]

Facilities

Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport covers 826 acres (334 ha) at an elevation of 18.6 feet (5.7 m) above mean sea level. It has four runways:

  • Runway 03/21: 5,000 x 150 ft. (1,524 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt/Concrete
  • Runway 08/26: 5,317 x 150 ft. (1,621 x 46 m), Surface: Concrete
  • Runway 13/31: 8,001 x 200 ft. (2,439 x 61 m), Surface: Asphalt/Concrete
  • Runway 17/35: 4,200 x 75 ft. (1,280 x 23 m), Surface: Asphalt/Concrete[2]

For the 12-month period ending 11 January 2017, the airport had 29,420 aircraft operations, an average of 81 per day: 54% military, 46% general aviation, and less than 1% air taxi. At that time there were 13 aircraft based at this airport: 46% single-engine, 46% multi-engine, and 8% gliders, with no jets nor helicopters.[2]

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References
Notes
  1. It is unclear exactly when the designation changes took place. A National Transportation Safety Board report for an accident at Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport on 3 July 1992 uses the T31 designation.[7]
Citations
  1. Google (5 May 2018). "Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  2. FAA Airport Master Record for PIL (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration, Effective 26 April 2018.
  3. "Texas Airport Directory - Port Isabel, Port Isabel-Cameron County (PIL)" (PDF). Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  4. "KPIL Port Isabel [Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport], TX, US - Airport". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  5. "PIL - Pilar [Carlos Miguel Jiménez Airport], 12, PY - Airport". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  6. "ACA Audit - Port Isabel Detention Center - July 30 - August 1, 2007" (PDF). U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  7. "NTSB Aviation Accident Final Report FTW92LA178". National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  8. "T31 McKinney [Aero Country Airport], TX, US - Airport". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
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