Puneet Varma (Editor)

Safford Regional Airport

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Airport type
  
Public

12/30
  
6,006

1,831
  
Asphalt

Code
  
SAD

Phone
  
+1 928-428-7670

Serves
  
Safford

Elevation AMSL
  
3,179 ft / 969 m

6,006
  
1,831

8/26
  
4,800

Elevation
  
968 m

Owner
  
City of Safford

Address
  
4550 E Aviation Way, Safford, AZ 85546, USA

Similar
  
City of Safford, Eastern Arizona Courier, City Hall, Safford Attorney, Safford Planning & Community

Safford Regional Airport (IATA: SAD, ICAO: KSAD, FAA LID: SAD) is in Graham County, Arizona three miles east of Safford, which owns it. The FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009–2013 categorizes it as a general aviation facility. It is the only paved airport in Graham County.

Contents

History

The Civilian Pilot Training Airport or Wickersham Airport was 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Safford, where the fairgrounds are today. Safford Regional Airport as we know it was built as a military auxiliary field during World War II. On November 11, 1941, a 20-year lease for the airport site was given to the City of Safford by the U.S. Government. By March 8, 1946 the airport site was transferred to the City of Safford permanently.

  • 1949: Land acquisition, construction of access road and cattle guard, fencing.
  • 1950: Installation of medium intensity runway lighting (MIRL) on NE/SW runway, modification of lighting service and control segmented circle and lighted wind cone, construction of curbs for auto parking, fencing. Installation of 10-inch (250 mm) clear- green rotating beacon.
  • 1952: Construction of water supply and distribution system, convert single phase electrical system to 3 phase.
  • 1974: Overlay and marking of Runway 12/30 (approximately 4,800 feet (1,500 m) by 75 feet) and taxiway (approximately 2,800 feet (850 m) by 40 feet); pave aircraft parking apron (approximately 22,000 sq yd).
  • 1981: Installation of MIRL; 12/30. Construction of parking Apron.
  • 1983: Construction of medium intensity taxiway lighting (MITL), place guidance signs and mark parallel taxiway (approximately 370 feet (110 m) by 35 feet), install Visual Approach Slope Indicators (VASI-2) and runway edge identifier lights (REIL), runway ends 12/30. Grading, drainage and surfacing of taxiway 12/30.
  • 1986: Slurry sealing of runway 12/30.
  • 1987: Reconstruction and marking of runway 8/26 (approximately 75 feet (23 m) by 4,800 feet), mark taxiway hold lines and grade 200 by 125 feet (38 m) at both ends of the runway.
  • 1992: Extension of taxiway B to runway 12/30 eastern end, crack seal and overlay existing taxiway A and B, install MITL along Taxiway C and extend taxiway B.
  • 1994: Reconstruction of runway 12/30 excluding recent extension and construction of terminal parking lot.
  • 1995: Paving of auto parking lot.
  • 1996: Reconstruction and expansion of existing terminal apron.
  • 1997: ASOS Weather Station installed.
  • 1998: Construction of heliport, providing of runway 8/26 pavement and airport fencing.

    • Airline service history

    In the 1950s, the original Frontier Airlines' DC-3s stopped at Safford; they left in 1964.

    Facilities

    The airport covers 630 acres (250 ha) at an elevation of 3,179 feet (969 m). It has two asphalt runways: 12/30 is 6,006 by 100 feet (1,831 x 30 m) and 8/26 is 4,800 by 75 feet (1,463 x 23 m). It has one concrete helipad, H1, 72 by 72 ft (22 x 22 m).

    In the year ending March 31, 2009 the airport had 8,690 aircraft operations, average 23 per day: 93% general aviation, 7% military and <1% air taxi. 32 aircraft were then based at this airport: 56% single-engine, 41% multi-engine and 3% helicopter.

    References

    Safford Regional Airport Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA