Zaragoza Airport
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Zaragoza Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| IATA: ZAZ - ICAO: LEZG | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Operator | Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegacion Aerea | ||
| Serves | Zaragoza | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 863 ft (263 m) | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 12R/30L | 12,200 | 3,718 | Asphalt |
| 12L/30R | 9,921 | 3,000 | Asphalt |
Zaragoza Airport (IATA: ZAZ, ICAO: LEZG) is a commerical airport near Zaragoza, Spain. It is located 10 mi (16 km) west of Zaragoza, 168 mi (270 km) west of Barcelona, and 163 mi (260 km) northeast of Madrid.
Along with being a commercial airport, it also is the home of the Spanish Air Force 15th Group. Zaragoza is utilized by NASA as a contingency landing site for the Space Shuttle in the case of a Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL).
Contents |
[edit] Airlines and destinations
- Air Europa (Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife-South)
- Iberia (Frankfurt, Lisbon [starts Spring 2007] Madrid, Paris, Seville [starts Spring 2007])
- Plaza Servicios Aereos (Málaga, Santiago de Compostela, Toulouse)
- Ryanair (London-Stansted, Milan-Orio al Serio, Rome-Ciampino [starts March 27, 2007])
[edit] History
During the Cold War, the United States Air Force used the facility as Zaragoza Air Base.
The construction work Zaragoza Airport began in September 1954 with the enlargement and improvement of the existing Spanish Air Force Base located there. United States Navy engineers upgraded the facility for temporary or intermediate use as a war standby base. The first U.S. construction project included strengthening the existing 9,921-ft runway and adding 1,000-ft overruns at each end. Work on a new concrete runway, 200 ft by 12,200 ft, with 1,000-ft overruns at each end began in 1956 and was completed in 1958.
[edit] 3794th Air Base Group
The facility, known as Zaragoza Air Base was transferred from the control of the Joint United States Military Group, Air Administration (Spain), Sixteenth Air Force, to the United States Air Force] Strategic Air Command on 1 July 1957, with the facility providing operational support for SAC B-47 alert force dispersal.
With the arrival of the 531st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron from Wheelus Air Base on 5 September 1958, Zaragoza hosted not only SAC B-47 bomber forces but also F-100 fighter-interceptor units. This support continued until 1 July 1964, when Zaragoza AB was placed on standby status with the withdrawal of the B-47 from active service.
Zaragoza AB was further reduced to modified caretaker status on 1 January 1966 when Sixteenth Air Force was reassigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. USAFE assigned the 7472d Air Base Group as a caretaker organization to the facility.
[edit] 406th Tactical Fighter Training Wing
In February 1970 Project CREEK STEP called for the buildup of Zaragoza AB as a USAFE weapons training site, with actual use of the Bardenas Reales Air-to-Ground Bombing and Gunnery Range (about 45mi/70km northwest of the base) began in March.
With the closure of Wheelus Air Base in Libya, Zaragoza returned to active status on 19 February 1970 with the activation of the 406th Tactical Fighter Training Group. The 406th was elevated to Wing status on 21 July 1972.
Although the 406th had no permanently assigned aircraft, the Wing provided support to all USAFE tactical aircraft which used the Zaragoza range, as well as deployed SAC and TAC units, as well as allied NATO units.
Beginning in September 1972 the 406th also operated the USAFE Tactical Forces Employment School, and in May 1976 began operating the USAFE Instructor Pilot School. Weapons training detachments were principally F-4 aircraft, although F-llls used the wing's ranges for a short period in 1974 and U.S. Navy A-7s also used range facilities in June 1974.
The 406th TFTW began full maintenance support of a SAC KC-135 detachment on a permanent basis in November 1976.
The 406th Tactical Fighter Training Wing was deactivated on 1 April 1994 when USAFE ended its presence and returned contol to the Spanish government.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984
- Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History
