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Information About

Piedmont Triad International Airport




  IATA GSO
  ICAO KGSO
  Type public
  Run By Piedmont Triad Airport Authority
  Opened 1982
  Closest Town Greensboro, North Carolina
  Distance From Town 6 Mile s (9 Kilometer s)
  Elevation Ft 926
  Elevation M 282


  Runway Angle 5/23
  Runway Length F 10,000
  Runway Length M 3,048
  Runway Surface Paved


  Runway Angle 14/32
  Runway Length F 6,380
  Runway Length M 1,945
  Runway Surface Paved


Piedmont Triad International Airport (commonly referred to as PTIA) is an airport just west of Greensboro , serving High Point and Winston-Salem in North Carolina . The airport has 2 runways.

The Metropolitan Combined Statistical Area of Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point ( Piedmont Triad ) has a July 1, 2004 population of 1,335,217
''Source: US Bureau of the Census
Released April 2005''


HISTORY


One of the first commercial airports in the South, Maynard Field (the first name of PTI Airport) was dedicated on December 6, 1919. With its two intersecting runways measuring 1890 feet and 1249 feet, hangar space, and even an early day equivalent of a Fixed Base Operator that made sure the torches were lit at dusk, Maynard Field was named to honor a young North Carolinian pilot named Lt. Belvin Maynard. It was located east of Winston-Salem near the Oak Ridge area, but by 1922 it had competition to the west with Miller Field in Winston-Salem, and Charles Field, a single airstrip that was used mainly for Barnstorming , and to drill take-offs and landings for the Charles' family.

Just seven years after its opening, Maynard Field was a scheduled stop on Charles Lindbergh's cross-country tour celebrating the advances of aviation. All was ready on October 14, 1927 for the "Spirit of St. Louis" to land at the new airport.

Greensboro Regional Airport opened its new terminal in 1958, replacing a temporary facility that had served the airport since World War II. The new terminal was a modern glass paneled structure with a single enclosed pier, along which aircraft parked. At the time of the terminal's opening, Greensboro was served by Eastern, Piedmont, Delta and Capital (which merged with United in 1961.)

By 1975, airport officials began to plan for construction of a new terminal. Piedmont Airlines, which for years had served both GSO and Smith Reynolds Airport in nearby Winston-Salem, announced its intention to consolidate its operations at Greensboro Regional Airport. It became apparent that a larger facility would be needed.

The airport was renamed Greensboro-High Point Airport. The name was later changed to Greensboro/Winston-Salem-High Point Airport.

Work on the new (and current) facility began in 1978. The new airport terminal and concourse complex was completed in 1982 and the facility was renamed Piedmont Triad International in 1987.

In the mid- 1990s , Continental Airlines developed a hub operation at the airport (its fifth largest), largely to support its new Continental Lite low-fare product. By 1995 , then incoming CEO Gordon Bethune cancelled the Continental Lite program, and closed the airline's Greensboro hub.


AIRLINES AND NONSTOP DESTINATIONS

Current as of January 6th, 2006

Gates 40-51

Gates 20-34

Airline lounges

Airport Terminal Information

Completed in 1985, the terminal currently has 25 passenger Gates ; 11 on the south concourse, and 14 on the north concourse. It has undergone many renovations and expansions. The north concourse has just undergone an expansion; it is now technically the same size as the south concourse, despite the different gate numbers. In addition, TSA screeners used to screen checked bags in front of the airline ticket counters, because there was limited space available. Now, they're located at each ends of the main terminal. Also, a new bag belt system will carry luggage from the upper to the lower level. The renovations added another 40,000 square feet to the terminal; at a cost of $5 million. Delta Air Lines , the airport's largest carrier, is now operating from the new concourse area. In addition, it is believed that the airport is trying to bring in low-fare airlies, such as Southwest Airlines , and JetBlue .



CARGO OPERATORS AND DESTINATIONS



FEDEX FUTURE HUB


FedEx Express ("FedEx") chose Piedmont Triad International Airport for its new Mid-Atlantic hub in 1998 over competing proposals from airports in Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Columbia, Greenville-Spartanburg and Kinston, NC. This will be the 5th major FedEx hub.

A third runway will be constructed to accommodate the hub operation. It will parallel the current 5/23. The hub is expected to open in 2009. This date has been pushed back considerably, amid complaints of noise from homeowners in the area, since most of the FedEx flights are expected to take place at night.


FIXED BASE OPERATORS (FBOS)


Landmark Aviation (formerly Piedmont Hawthorne)

Atlantic Aero

Cessna Citation Service Center

Greensboro Aviation (Aircraft Rental and Flight Instruction)

Also see:

Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Raleigh-Durham International Airport


EXTERNAL LINKS