Sherman Municipal Airport

Sherman Municipal Airport (ICAO: KSWI, FAA LID: SWI) is a city-owned public airport located 1 mile (1.6 km) mile southeast of the central business district of Sherman, in Grayson County, Texas.[1]

"Sherman Airport" redirects here. For joint military-civil airport at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, see Sherman Army Airfield.
Sherman Municipal Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Sherman
ServesSherman, Texas
Elevation AMSL746 ft / 227 m
Coordinates33°37′27″N 096°35′10″W
Map
SWI
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
16/34 4,006 1,221 Asphalt
Statistics (2019)
Aircraft operations8,250
Based aircraft23

Many U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, but this airport is SWI to the FAA and has no IATA code.[2]

History

The first step to establish Sherman Municipal Airport was taken on 27 November 1928 when the Sherman City Council voted to lease a 100 acres (40 ha) field southeast of downtown that pilots had been using as a landing area.[3] The airfield was operational by June of the following year.[4] In September 1936, construction began on the first paved runways—a 2,500 feet (760 m) north-south runway and a 1,500 feet (460 m) northwest-southeast runway—funded by a $35,312.30 federal grant and $13,165 in city funds.[5]

On 31 December 1949, the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA) granted Central Airlines permission to serve Sherman Municipal with commercial mail and passenger service, to start on 15 January 1950.[6] However, service was suspended in 1951 when the airline upgraded to twin-engine aircraft that could not use the short runways.[7] On 6 August 1952, the Sherman City Council approved a $75,000 bond issue to extend the runways, with the expectation of an additional CAA grant to help fund the project.[8] The grant funds did not materialize, but in May 1953, the city contributed additional funding to complete the project so that Central could resume service.[7]

On 14 December 1971, high winds from a squall line destroyed one hangar at the airport and severely damaged another.[9]

On 18 July 1997, a Cessna 172 allegedly stolen from the airport was illegally flown at very low altitude across Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Fort Worth Alliance Airport, and the landing area at a Bell Helicopter facility, causing significant air traffic disruptions. The unknown pilot then flew the aircraft back to Sherman Municipal and parked it. The Cessna's owner denied flying it that day, and stated that he could not positively identify the incident pilot because several people had access to the aircraft.[10]

In 2002, there were discussions of closing the airport permanently, and the municipal airport advisory board was dissolved. However, by late 2019, interest in expanding the airport had increased: a private developer proposed an adjacent airpark-style residential development with runway access and private hangars, and in response to a long waiting list for hangar space, the city applied for a $50,000 matching grant from the Texas Department of Transportation to build a new 7-unit hangar. On 16 October 2019, the advisory board was reinstated.[11] On July 6, 2020 the Sherman City Council unanimously approved updates to its airport rules and regulations that will allow through-the-fence operations at the airport pending Texas DOT approval.[12]

Facilities

The airport covers 144 acres (58 ha) at an elevation of 746 feet (227 m). Its one runway, 16/34, is 4,006 by 75 feet (1,221 x 23 m).[1]

In the year ending April 8, 2019, the airport had 8,250 general aviation aircraft operations, an average of 23 per day. 23 aircraft were then based at this airport: 100% single-engine.[1]

Accidents and incidents
  • 9 May 1931: A student pilot and a flight instructor in an unidentified aircraft were killed in a crash after taking off and performing a series of aerobatic maneuvers over and near the airport. Observers stated that the center section wing fuel tank broke loose and damaged the empennage as it subsequently fell away.[13]
  • July 25, 2000: An Schweizer 269C helicopter, registration number N298SH, abruptly yawed left and experienced a sudden increase in engine RPM on final approach. The aircraft bounced on impact and rolled over on its left side, suffering substantial damage; the pilot was uninjured while the single passenger suffered minor injuries. The accident was attributed to "the total failure of the clutch cable during landing, which resulted from fatigue cracking of the cable's individual wires."[14]
  • June 9, 2002: An Cessna 177, registration number N2282Y, bounced during landing and departed the left side of the runway. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the pilot suffered serious injuries; the single passenger was not injured. The accident was attributed to "The hard landing as result of the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. A contributing factor was the gusty crosswinds."[15]
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References
  1. FAA Airport Master Record for SWI (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective October 10, 2019.
  2. "Sherman, Texas - Sherman Municipal (ICAO: KSWI, FAA: SWI)". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  3. "Sherman Airport Site Chosen by Council". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. 28 November 1928.
  4. "Planes From Love Field Visit Sherman Airport". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. 1 July 1929.
  5. "Runways to Be Built For Sherman Airport". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. 10 September 1936.
  6. "Sherman Airport Given Approval". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. 1 January 1950.
  7. "Sherman C of C Favors Planning Improved Airport". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. 28 May 1953.
  8. "Sherman Airport Job Is Contracted". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. 7 August 1952.
  9. Finklea, Robert; Williams, Tom (15 December 1971). "Sherman Airport Job Is Contracted". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas.
  10. Lunsford, J. Lynn (19 July 1997). "Unknown pilot wreaks havoc at area airports, returns plane". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas.
  11. Hutchins, Michael (October 16, 2019). "Sherman Municpal Airport advisory board reestablished". The Herald Democrat. Sherman, Texas. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  12. "Sherman amends airport rules for proposed residential development". Herald Democrat. July 7, 2020.
  13. "Thousand-Foot Fall in Plane Fatal to Two Dallas Aviators at Sherman". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. 10 May 1931.
  14. "NTSB Aviation Accident Final Report FTW00LA216". National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  15. "NTSB Aviation Accident Final Report FTW02LA175". National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
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