Grand Bahama International Airport

Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA) (IATA: FPO, ICAO: MYGF) is a privately owned international airport in Freeport, Bahamas.

Grand Bahama International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerHutchison Port Holdings and the Grand Bahama Port Authority
OperatorGrand Bahama Airport Company
LocationFreeport, Bahamas
Hub forPassenger
Elevation AMSL8 ft / 2 m
Coordinates26°33′31″N 078°41′44″W
Map
MYGF
Location in the Bahamas
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
06/24 3,360 11,024 Asphalt
Source: DAFIF[1]

The airport is a joint venture between Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) and The Port Group (or the Grand Bahama Port Authority). The facility also includes 741 acres (300 ha) of land that adjoins it to the Freeport Harbour Company Limited as they operate as one entity, known as the Sea Air Business Centre (SABC).[2]

Facilities

The airport has a 3,359 m × 46 m (11,020 ft × 151 ft) runway which is capable of handling the largest aircraft in service and is relatively close to all major cities of the Eastern Seaboard of the United States.

Grand Bahama International Airport is one of two Bahamian airports that has US border preclearance facilities (the other being Lynden Pindling).

Some other features that are available at the Grand Bahama International Airport are:

  1. ILS (Instrument Landing System)
  2. VOR system
  3. PAPI (Precision approach path indicator) system
  4. Distance-remaining markers
  5. Category seven (7) fire fighting facilities
  6. General aviation services
  7. Special cargo/freight handling area
  8. Air conditioned passenger terminal (Set temp: 28 degrees C)

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
AirlinesDestinations
American Eagle Charlotte, Miami
Bahamasair Fort Lauderdale, Nassau
Seasonal: Orlando
Blue Panorama Airlines Seasonal: Milan–Malpensa[3]
Flamingo Air Great Harbour Cay, Marsh Harbour, Moore’s Island, South Bimini, Walker’s Cay
Silver Airways Fort Lauderdale, Orlando
Western Air Marsh Harbour, Nassau, South Bimini

Cargo
AirlinesDestinations
IBC Airways Miami

Accidents and incidents
  • On 12 November 1964, Lockheed Lodestar N171Q stalled after take-off and was destroyed by fire in the subsequent crash, killing all four people on board.[4]
  • On 22 November 1966, de Havilland DH.125 N235KC of Florida Commuter Airlines crashed into the sea 7.3 km (3.9 nmi) off Grand Bahamas during an illegal flight from Miami, Florida.[5]
  • On 24 November 1979, Convair 440-86 N444JM of Mackey International Airlines was on an international non-scheduled passenger flight to Fort Lauderdale International Airport when the starboard engine caught fire just after take-off. On approach to Grand Bahamas International, the engine fell off. On landing, the aircraft departed the runway and ended up in the sea. All 46 people on board escaped from the aircraft.[6]
  • On 12 September 1980, Douglas DC-3A N75KW of Florida Commuter Airlines, operating a scheduled international passenger flight from West Palm Beach International Airport, Palm Beach, Florida, United States to Grand Bahama International Airport crashed into the sea 6.5 kilometres (3.5 nmi) off West End. All 34 on board were killed.[7]
  • On 20 July 2000, Douglas C-47A N54AA of Allied Air Freight suffered an engine failure on take-off from Grand Bahama International Airport on a cargo flight to Nassau International Airport, Bahamas. The aircraft crashed while attempting to return to Grand Bahama International and was destroyed. Both crew were killed.[8]
  • On 9 November 2014, a Lear 36 Executive Jet crashed on approach to the airport. All nine people on board perished, including evangelist Myles Munroe and his wife.[9]
  • On 7 February 2017, a Western Air Saab 340 passenger aircraft landing gear failed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft turned around and crashed landed at the airport. All 30 passengers survived and 2 sustained minor injuries.[10]
  • From September 1–3, 2019, the airport was pelted by Hurricane Dorian, leaving the airport under six feet of water and heavily damaged.[11]
  • On 24 October 2020, An American Eagle ERJ-145LR (N674RJ) operating as Envoy Air Flight 4194 from Miami to Freeport had a runway excursion upon landing. Nobody was injured in the crash. The aircraft had suffered main gear damage, and the left main broke off.

References
  1. Airport information for MYGF at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.Source: DAFIF.
  2. http://www.freeportcontainerport.com/gbair.php Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA) is a privately owned ...•Special Cargo/Freight handling area
  3. Liu, Jim. "Blue Panorama resumes Milan – Freeport sector in S19". Routesonline. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  4. "N171Q Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  5. "N235KC Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  6. "N444JM Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  7. "N75KW Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  8. "N54AA Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  9. "Small plane crashes in Bahamas, killing 9 on board". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  10. "Western Air plane crash-lands at Grand Bahama International Airport | The Tribune". m.tribune242.com. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  11. Andone, Dakin (5 September 2019). "The airport on the island of Grand Bahama is 'a debris field' after Hurricane Dorian". CNN.com. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
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