Billings Logan International Airport (IATA: BIL, ICAO: KBIL, FAA LID: BIL) is two miles northwest of downtown Billings, in Yellowstone County, Montana. It is the second largest airport in Montana, having been surpassed by Bozeman in both number of gates as well as annual enplanements in recent years, and is owned by the city of Billings. The airport is on top of the Rims, a 500-foot (150 m) cliff overlooking the downtown core.
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011-2015 categorized it as a primary commercial service airport (more than 10,000 enplanements per year). Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 387,368 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2013, 388,329 in 2010 and 397,073 in 2009.
Billings Logan International Airport has scheduled non-stop flights to several airline hubs. Billings is a hub for Cape Air which has non-stop flights to Montana cities Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Sidney and Wolf Point.
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History
The first recorded flight in Billings was in 1912 by a local dentist named Dr. Frank Bell. The flight was in his home-made Curtiss 0-X-5.
The "First" flight was made on Memorial Day 1913, with much publicity, Dr. Bell took off from Billings flying to Park City and back, 40 miles (64 km) round trip. This flight was captured by a local artist named J.K. Ralston in his painting entitled "First Flight," displayed in the airport lobby.
In 1927 The City of Billings approved $5,000 and 400 acres (162 ha) on top of the Rims to build a runway. The 1,820-foot (550 m) runway and small administrative building was built by horse-drawn equipment; the airport opened on May 29, 1928. In 1933 Northwest Airlines was the first airline.
Improvements over the years include runway lights in 1935 to the new 120-foot (37 m) air traffic control tower in 2005. Major terminal expansions were made in 1958, 1972, and 1992. In early 2006 the airport added electronic monitors giving info on arrivals and departures.
The name changed from the Billings Municipal Airport to Billings Logan Field in 1957, after Dick Logan, the airport manager, died. In 1971 the airport became Billings Logan International Airport.
For at least part of each year 1977-1981 Billings saw scheduled Northwest DC-10s EWR-DTW-ORD-BIL-GTF-GEG-SEA and back.
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Airport governance
The Aviation and Transit Board governs BIL, with seven members, each appointed for four-year terms. It is required of the position of a board member to possess the qualifications fit for the Mayor's office. With the consent of the Council, the Mayor elects the board members. No board member may be reelected once his or her term expires. The purpose of the Aviation and Transit Board is not only to help govern the operations of the Airport, but also to act as a Citizen's Advisory Board to the City Council. They are to make sure that city policies are implemented and carried out. Shortcomings are to be reported and recommendations are to be made to the City Council.
Facilities
Billings Logan International Airport has three runways. The primary runway is Runway 10L/28R with a length of 10,521 feet and width of 150 feet. ILS/DME on 28R is at 3,738 feet MSL is the lowest approach. The second runway is Runway 07/25 with a length of 5,503 feet and width of 75 feet; this runway serves as the crosswind runway. The final runway is Runway 10R/28L with a length of 3,800 feet and width of 75 feet. This runway serves as the primary runway for single engine and light piston aircraft. All three runways are asphalt.
There are nine taxiways currently in use. Taxiway A runs parallel to Runway 10L/28R, serves as the last exit of Runway 10L and connects to the terminal area. Taxiway B runs through Runway 10L/28R as an access taxiway to the Northern Air Tanker Base. Three Taxiways, C, E F, serve as exit taxiways that vary in width to serve certain size aircraft. Taxiway D intersects Runway 10L/28R and serves as a northern exit point for Runway 25. Two taxiways (G and H) provide all exits for Runway 10R/28L and Runway 7. Finally, Taxiway J is the primary taxiway from the terminal area to the cargo ramps. Two hotspots exist on the airfield side of operations. Hotspot 1 is located at the intersection of Runway 10R/28L and Runway 7/25. Furthermore, Hotspot 2 is located at the intersection of Taxiway C and Runway 10L/28R.
In 2015, the airport had an average of 222 aircraft operations per day: 54% general aviation, 33% air taxi, 12% airline, and 1% military. 170 aircraft were then based at the airport: 56% single-engine, 33% multi-engine, 9% jet, and 3% helicopter.
Airlines and destinations
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Top destinations
Accidents and incidents
- On December 18, 1992, a Cessna 550 arriving from Watertown, SD crashed on approach to runway 28R, killing all 8 occupants. Investigation found the cause to be wake turbulence from a Boeing 757 that arrived just prior to the incident, causing the aircraft to roll inverted.
- On May 23, 2008, Alpine Air Flight 5008, a Beechcraft 1900C registration N195GA acting as a contract mail flight, impacted the terrain about three miles northeast of Billings-Logan International Airport en route to Great Falls International Airport approximately three minutes after takeoff.
- On November 15, 2015, an El Al Boeing 777-200 made an emergency landing at Billings Logan International Airport. The cockpit received an engine fire warning on the right hand engine. The plane was en route from Tel Aviv to Los Angeles carrying 297 passengers and 20 crew members. Inspection after landing indicated no fire was present.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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