Los Alamos County Airport

Los Alamos Airport[1][2][3] (IATA: LAM[4], ICAO: KLAM, FAA LID: LAM), also known as Los Alamos County Airport,[2] is a county-owned, public-use airport in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States.[1] It is located one nautical mile (2 km) east of the central business district of Los Alamos, New Mexico.[1] This airport is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a general aviation facility.[5]

Los Alamos Airport

Los Alamos County Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCounty of Los Alamos
ServesLos Alamos, New Mexico
Elevation AMSL7,171 ft / 2,186 m
Coordinates35°52′47″N 106°16′07″W
Websitewww.LAM.aero
Map
LAM
Location of airport in New Mexico / United States
LAM
LAM (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
9/27 6,000 1,829 Asphalt
Statistics (2008)
Aircraft operations13,000
Based aircraft57
Source: FAA[1] and airport website[2]

History

The airport was built in 1947 by the Atomic Energy Commission as part of Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, but the federal government transferred the facility to county ownership in 2008.[3]

Facilities

Los Alamos Airport covers an area of 89 acres (36 ha) at an elevation of 7,171 feet (2,186 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 9/27 with an asphalt surface measuring 6,000 by 120 feet (1,829 x 37 m).[1]

Because of the restricted airspace immediately to the south of the runway, and the noise-sensitive residential area just west of the runway, Los Alamos Airport employs a non-standard traffic pattern. All takeoffs, regardless of wind conditions, are to the east on runway 9. All landings, regardless of wind, are to the west on runway 27. Unlike many airports, the orientation of the runway at Los Alamos was chosen due to geographic necessity rather than preferential wind alignment. Pilots will frequently encounter a gusty crosswind at this airfield, particularly in spring. This fact, combined with the rugged terrain off the east end of the runway, has given LAM a reputation for being a challenging airport at which to land.

Airlines and destinations

Boutique Air

Due to low passenger count, Boutique Air terminated all flights flying from Los Alamos County Airport to Albuquerque Sunport on April 30, 2016. No airlines currently serve Los Alamos. On November 20, 2017, the Los Alamos County Council approved funding to promote the use of Santa Fe Regional Airport instead of seeking replacement service.[6]

New Mexico Airlines Altercations

As of January 23, 2015 Los Alamos County has terminated its contract with Pacific Wings subsidiary New Mexico Airlines, which offered service to Albuquerque International Sunport.[7] The county has issued a request for qualifications to seek a replacement carrier.

Former Airline Service

Los Alamos has seen airline service to Albuquerque since the airport opened in 1947. Carco Airlines was the first, operating primarily Beechcraft Bonanzas through 1969 under contract with Los Alamos National Labs. Ross Aviation was then awarded the contract and flew DeHavilland Twin Otters through 1995. Occasionally Ross would operate larger 50-seat Dash-7s when passenger loads warranted. Peacock Air briefly provided flights to Albuquerque in late 1995 using Swearingen Metroliners followed briefly by Mesa Airlines in 1997 with Beechcraft 1900D airliners. Rio Grande Air served the route in 1999 and New Mexico Airlines from 2013 until the beginning of 2015, each carrier using Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft.[8] Boutique Air was the most recent carrier serving Los Alamos from November 1, 2015 through April 30, 2016 using Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.[9]

Operations

For the 12-month period ending June 30, 2008, the airport had 13,000 aircraft operations, an average of 35 per day: 99% general aviation, <1% air taxi, and <1% military. At that time there were 57 aircraft based at this airport: 96% single-engine, 2% multi-engine, and 2% ultralight.[1]

Services

Los Alamos Airport has numerous services available for local and visiting pilots: a flight planning room, open 24 hours a day to pilots, includes an internet-connected computer, printer, fax machine, and free WiFi connectivity; bathroom open 24 hours a day to pilots; self-serve 100LL fuel available 24 hours a day; on-field major airframe and powerplant repair; courtesy car; aircraft rentals; car rentals; nearby bus stop.

References
  1. FAA Airport Form 5010 for LAM PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective May 31, 2012.
  2. Los Alamos County Airport
  3. "Los Alamos Airport". Los Alamos County website. October 30, 2008. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  4. "Airline and Airport Code Search". International Air Transport Association (IATA). Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  5. "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on September 27, 2012.
  6. "LA County to support SF airport as regional hub". Los Alamos County. November 20, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  7. "County Seeks New Contractor for Airline Service". Los Alamos County Monitor. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  8. Timetables from the various airlines that have served Los Alamos, NM
  9. Boutique Air website
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