Austin Bergstrom International Airport: Difference between revisions

 
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[[Category:Texas]]
{{categorybox|North America|United States|Texas}}
{{categorywithregion|North America|United States|Texas}}


{{infobox|fullname=Austin Bergstrom International Airport|
{{infobox|fullname=Austin Bergstrom International Airport|
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atcunicom=122.95}}
atcunicom=122.95}}


The airport began operations in 1999, after it was converted from the old Bergstrom AFB, ending an infamous era in Austin aviation. There has been jokes that the approach at the old airport, Robert Mueller, was so close over Interstate 35 that pilots had to quickly retract the landing gear prior to touchdown. The old facilities also left much to be desired as they were small and inadequate for a growing city. Currently, ABIA is also almost growing to be too small for its needs, but citizens have often protested that such a new airport should not have to encounter such problems yet. Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, and Delta Air Lines are the airport's dominant carriers.
The airport began operations in 1999, after it was converted from the old Bergstrom AFB, ending an infamous era in Austin aviation. There has been jokes that the approach at the old airport, Robert Mueller, was so close over Interstate 35 that pilots had to quickly retract the landing gear prior to touchdown. The old facilities also left much to be desired as they were small and inadequate for a growing city. Currently, ABIA is also almost growing to be too small for its needs, but citizens have often protested that such a new airport should not have to encounter such problems yet.




==Official Spotting Locations==
==Official Spotting Locations==
===Family Viewing Area===
===Family Viewing Area===
The official spotting location is the Family Viewing Area, located near the State Aircraft Pooling Board (fancy talk for where aircraft belonging to the State of Texas gets maintained and stored.) To get to the viewing area from I-35, exit Ben White/290/71 East and follow it past the airport, turn right at Golf Course Rd. and follow it until the end. From 183, take the 71 East exit, turn right at Golf Course Rd. and follow it until the end.
The official spotting location is the Family Viewing Area, located near the State Aircraft Pooling Board (fancy talk for where aircraft belonging to the State of Texas gets maintained and stored.) To get to the viewing area from I-35, exit Ben White/290/71 East and follow it past the airport, turn right at Golf Course Rd. (first road after Presidential Blvd) and follow it until the end. From 183, take the 71 East exit, turn right at Golf Course Rd. and follow it until the end.


The viewing area faces west to runway 17L/35R, so it is only good for photography during the morning hours. Probably only about 30% of all commercial traffic uses this runway, for landings it's even less. Most traffic on this runway is GA.
The viewing area faces west to runway 17L/35R, so it is only good for photography during the morning hours. Probably only about 30% of all commercial traffic uses this runway, for landings it's even less. Most traffic on this runway is GA.
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==Other Spotting Locations==
==Other Spotting Locations==


===Live Oak Brewing===


Live Oak Brewing offers views of aircraft approaching from the north.


==Locations to Avoid==
==Locations to Avoid==
There is a nice place right on the 17R approach path at a cemetery at the end of Riverside Dr.  Anyone there who is not visiting one of the deceased will be asked to leave.


There is a large pile of dirt located next to the GA hangars. Although it will give you a great vantage point for landings on 35R and aircraft taxiing back to the terminal after landing on 17L, it will get you in trouble.  
There is a large pile of dirt located next to the GA hangars. Although it will give you a great vantage point for landings on 35R and aircraft taxiing back to the terminal after landing on 17L, it will get you in trouble.  
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==Regular Traffic==
==Regular Traffic==
Airborne Express (767-200)<br>
*Aeromar (CRJ-200)
America West (737-300)<br>
*Air Canada (CRJ-700)
America West Express (CRJ-900)<br>
*Airborne Express (767-200)
American (MD-80)<br>
*Alaska (737-800, 737-900, A319, A320, E175)
American Connection (ERJ-145)<br>
*Allegiant (A319)
American Eagle (ERJ-135/145)<br>
*American (737-800, A319, A321, E190)
Continental (737-300/500/700/800/900, 757-200)<br>
**American Eagle (ERJ-135/145, E170, CRJ-900)
Continental Express (ERJ-135/145)<br>
*British Airways (787-9, 777-200)
Delta (737-200, MD-88)<br>
*Condor (767-300)
Delta Connection (CRJ-200/700, ERJ-145/170)<br>
*Delta (717, 737-800, 757-200, A319, A320, MD-90)
FedEx (DC-10, MD-10)<br>
**Delta Connection (CRJ-700/900, E175)
Frontier (A319)<br>
*FedEx (DC-10, MD-10, Cessna 208B)
Frontier JetExpress (CRJ-700)<br>
*Frontier (A319, A320)
JetBlue (A320, E190)<br>
*JetBlue (A320, E190)
Northwest (DC-9)<br>
*Southwest (737-700/800)
Northwest Jet Airlink (CRJ-200)<br>
*United (A319, A320, 737-700/800/900)
Southwest (737-300/500/700)<br>
**United Express (CRJ-700, ERJ-145, E170/175)
United (A319, A320, 737-300/500)<br>
*UPS (A300)
United Express (CRJ-200/700)<br>
UPS (A300)


==Other Traffic==
==Other Traffic==
TransMeridian Airlines (TMA) (757-200, MD-83; they don't always fly to KAUS but they have been seen parked at gate 1)


Airborne Express also fly in an A300 and a DC-8 on Sundays.
Airborne Express also fly in an A300 and a DC-8 on Sundays.