Bisbee Douglas International Airport


Bisbee Douglas International Airport is a county-owned airport northwest of Douglas and east of Bisbee, both in Cochise County, Arizona. The FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009–2013 categorizes it as a general aviation facility.

History

World War II

Bisbee Douglas International Airport was originally constructed during World War II as a U.S. Army Air Forces installation known as Douglas Army Airfield. Douglas AAF conducted advanced training in the AT-9 Jeep, AT-17 BobcT, and C-45 Expeditor training aircraft and the B-25 Mitchell bomber.
In addition to Douglas Army Airfield, five auxiliary airfields were constructed in the area for emergency and overflow use:
With the end of World War II, Douglas AAF was considered surplus to military needs and was transferred to local government authorities of the City of Douglas for conversion to a civilian airport. American Airlines served the airport before being replaced by Apache Airlines, a commuter air carrier, in 1965. Bisbee/Douglas was part of a transcontinental multi-stop route operated by American in 1959 with Douglas DC-6 propliners with daily flights in each direction between the east coast and the west coast. The westbound routing was New York Newark - Philadelphia - Washington D.C. - Memphis - Fort Worth - El Paso - Bisbee/Douglas - Tucson - Phoenix - San Diego - Los Angeles. By 1963, American was still serving the airport with two daily flights operated with the DC-6. The westbound routing was Dallas - Midland/Odessa - El Paso - Bisbee/Douglas - Tucson - Phoenix - San Diego - Los Angeles. Scheduled passenger flights ended in 1975.

Facilities

The airport covers at an elevation of 4,154 feet. It has two asphalt runways: 17/35 is 7,311 by 100 feet and 8/26 is 5,000 by 75 feet.
In the year ending March 31, 2009 the airport had 19,650 aircraft operations, average 53 per day: 71% general aviation and 29% military. 19 aircraft were then based at the airport: 95% single-engine and 5% multi-engine.