Clinton National Airport

Clinton National Airport (IATA: LIT, ICAO: KLIT, FAA LID: LIT), 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.[3][4] It is operated by the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission.[5]

Clinton National Airport
Adams Field
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Little Rock
OperatorLittle Rock Municipal Airport Commission
ServesLittle Rock
OpenedJune 19, 1931 (1931-06-19)[1]
Elevation AMSL266 ft / 81 m
Coordinates34°43′48″N 92°13′12″W
Websiteclintonairport.com
Map
LIT
Location within Arkansas
LIT
LIT (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
4L/22R 8,273 2,522 Concrete
4R/22L 8,251 2,515 Concrete
18/36 6,224 1,897 Concrete
Helipads
Number Length Surface
ft m
H1 50 15 Concrete
Statistics (2019)
Total passengers2,241,716
Aircraft operations95,959
Sources: Clinton National Airport[2]

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.[6] 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.[7] The airport is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2019–2023, in which it is categorized as a small-hub primary commercial service facility.[8]

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.[4] 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.[1]

During World War II the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces Third Air Force for antisubmarine patrols and training.

In 1972 the airport opened its current 12-gate terminal.[4]

In August 2008, the airport approved a plan to renovate the terminal over a 15-year period. This would expand the terminal from 12 to 16 gates.[9]

On March 20, 2012, the municipal airport commission voted to rename the airport the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, after former United States President Bill Clinton and his wife, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.[10] 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.[11] A survey commissioned by the airport contradicted Travel + Leisure's claim, finding that more than 90% of passengers were satisfied with their experience.[12]

Facilities and aircraft
The airport, from an approach road

Clinton National Airport covers 2,000 acres (809 ha) at an elevation of 266 feet (81 m) above mean sea level. It has three concrete runways: 4L/22R is 8,273 by 150 feet (2,522 x 46 m); 4R/22L is 8,251 by 150 feet (2,515 x 46 m); 18/36 is 6,224 by 150 feet (1,897 x 46 m). It has one concrete helipad 50 by 50 feet (15 x 15 m).[3]

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.[3]

Dassault Aircraft Services (DAS), 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 (DAS) – Little Rock provides inspection, maintenance, modification, completion and repair needs for the Falcon product line. The Dassault Aircraft Services (DAS) – Little Rock Service Center and Completion Center combined occupy total nearly 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m2), 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 (three on either side) and a rotunda at the end has six more.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
AirlinesDestinations
Allegiant Air Orlando/Sanford
Seasonal: Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Los Angeles
American Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth
American Eagle Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Washington–National
Delta Air Lines Atlanta
Delta Connection Seasonal: Atlanta, Detroit
Frontier Airlines Denver
Seasonal: Orlando
Southwest Airlines Dallas–Love, Denver (begins December 17, 2020), Houston–Hobby, Las Vegas, St. Louis
Seasonal: Phoenix–Sky Harbor
United Express Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental

Cargo
Airline Destinations
UPS Airlines Louisville, Lubbock, Oklahoma City, Ontario, Shreveport, Dallas/Fort Worth

Statistics

Top destinations
Busiest domestic routes from LIT (April 2019 – March 2020)[6]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Atlanta, Georgia 248,510 Delta
2 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 186,150 American
3 Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 93,060 American, United
4 Dallas–Love, Texas 88,510 Southwest
5 Houston–Intercontinental, Texas 82,990 United
6 Charlotte, North Carolina 74,620 American
7 Denver, Colorado 71,130 Frontier, United
8 St. Louis, Missouri 56,580 Southwest
9 Las Vegas, Nevada 42,920 Southwest
10 Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona 27,890 Southwest

Accidents and incidents
  • On January 19, 1990, an Eastman Kodak Grumman Gulfstream II crashed during final approach to Little Rock National Airport; all seven on board were killed. Unfavorable weather conditions and pilot error contributed to the accident.[13]
  • On June 1, 1999, American Airlines Flight 1420, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 with 145 passengers and crew, attempting to land in a severe thunderstorm, overran the end of runway 4R, crashed through a fence and down a rock embankment into a flood plain; one crewmember and 10 passengers were killed.[14]

Notes

References
  1. Dougan, Michael B. (2016). "Aviation". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  2. "Enplanements & Deplanements" (PDF). Little Rock National Airport. December 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2012.
  3. FAA Airport Master Record for LIT (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. effective September 14, 2017.
  4. "History". Clinton National Airport. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  6. "RITA BTS Transtats – LIT". www.transtats.bts.gov. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  7. "Non-Stop Jet Service". Clinton National Airport. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013.
  8. "NPIAS Report 2019-2023 Appendix A" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. October 3, 2018. p. 17. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  9. "LR airport terminal OK'd for redesign". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. August 20, 2008.
  12. "Passenger Satisfaction Flying High at Clinton National Airport". KLRT-TV. May 5, 2015. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  13. Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Gulfstream American G-1159 Gulfstream II N46TE Little Rock National Airport, AR (LIT)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  14. Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) N215AA Little Rock National Airport, AR (LIT)". aviation-safety.net.
Government
General information
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