Summary
- Richmond International Airport is a joint civil-military airport with the Virginia Army National Guard.
- Charleston International Airport operates under a joint base agreement with the USAF.
- Nashville International Airport serves multiple military units and surpasses the 22.9M passenger mark.
A large number of airports in the United States operate under a joint-base agreement with the US military. Whether it is a National Guard Airlift Wing or a specific Fighter Wing, these airports share aerial operations while serving civilian aircraft and passengers. This article notes the largest airports in terms of civilian aircraft movements and passenger volume.
5
Richmond International Airport (RIC) Richmond, Virginia
Military facility: Sandston Army National Guard Aviation Complex
- Virginia Army National Guard 224th Aviation Regiment Aviation Support Facility
- Civilian aircraft operations in 2023: 105K
- Civilian passengers served in 2023: 4.76M
Richmond International Airport (RIC) is a joint civil-military airport founded in 1975. Located seven miles (11 km) from downtown Richmond, it is the busiest airport in central Virginia and third-busiest in the state after Ronald Reagan (DCA) and Washington Dulles (IAD).
The airport also serves as the Aviation Support Facility for the Virginia Army National Guard 224th Aviation Regiment, using 25 helicopters (18 UH-60’s, 3 HH-60’s, and 4 UH-72’s) and one C-12 Huron (transport) within the facility Up until October 2007 airport served the 192d Fighter Wing (192 FW), having the Air National Guard station operate F-16 Fighting Falcons.
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4
Charleston International Airport (CHS), North Charleston, South Carolina
Military facility: Charleston Air Force Base / Joint Base Charleston
- Jointly controlled between the United States Air Force and the Charleston County Aviation Authority
- Civilian aircraft operations in 2023: 123K
- Civilian passengers served in 2023: 6.15M
Charleston International Airport (CHS) is a joint civil-military airport founded in 1928. Located 12 miles (19 km) northwest of downtown Charleston, it is the busiest airport in South Carolina. The Charleston County Aviation Authority operates the airport under an agreement with Joint Base Charleston.
Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying
The Joint Base military facility is under the jurisdiction of the USAF 628th Air Base Wing, Air Mobility Command (AMC). The airport is home to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner assembly and the focus city for Breeze Airways. In 2023, the airport served over 6.1 million passengers and exceeded 123,000 aircraft movements.
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3
Portland International Airport (PDX), Portland, Oregon
Military facility: Portland Air National Guard Base
- Jointly controlled by the Oregon Air National Guard
- The host unit of the 142nd Fighter Wing
- Civilian aircraft operations in 2023: 190K
- Civilian passengers served in 2023: 16.5M
Portland International Airport (PDX) is a joint civil-military airport founded in 1936. Located just six miles (10 km) northeast of downtown Portland, it is the busiest airport in Oregon. Covering an area of 3,000 acres, the airport accounts for 90% of the state’s air passengers and over 95% of air cargo. The airport is a hub for Alaska Airlines.
Photo: Jonathan Park | Shutterstock
The Oregon National Guard operates a base at the southwest side of the airport. It is also home to the 142nd Fighter Wing (142 FW), which operates F-15 Eagle aircraft. In 2023, the airport served over 16 million passengers and exceeded 190,000 civilian aircraft movements.
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2
Nashville International Airport (BNA), Nashville, Tennessee
Military facility: Joint Base Berry Field
- Formerly known as Berry Field Air National Guard Base
- Home to the 118th Wing
- Home unit of the 1/230 Air Cavalry Squadron Tennessee Army National Guard
- Civilian aircraft operations in 2023: 281K
- Civilian passengers served in 2023: 22.9M
Nashville International Airport (BNA), originally known as Berry Field Airport and hence the IATA code BNA, is a joint civil-military airport that was founded in 1937. Located southeast of Nashville, the airport covers an area of approximately 4,550 acres. BNA is the busiest airport in Tennessee, with more aircraft movements than any other state airport combined.
Photo: Nashville International Airport
The Joint Base Berry Field, formerly known as Berry Field Air National Guard Base, performs its operations at the BNA airport. It is also home to the 118th Wing and the 1/230 Air Cavalry Squadron Tennessee Army National Guard. The Tennessee Military Department administers the operations directly with the US National Guard Bureau.
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1
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Charlotte, North Carolina
Military facility: Charlotte Air National Guard Base
- North Carolina Air National Guard Base located on city-owned land
- The host unit of the 145th Airlift Wing of the North Carolina Air National Guard
- Civilian aircraft operations in 2023: 506K
- Civilian passengers served in 2023: 53.4M
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (BNA) is a joint civil-military airport founded in 1935. Located just six miles (10 km) west of the city’s business district, it is the primary airport for civilian and military operations in the Charlotte metropolitan area. The airport covers a land area of over 5,550 acres and is a hub for one of the US largest carriers, American Airlines.
Photo: Charlotte Douglas International Airport
The facility is home to the North Carolina Air National Guard Base, hosting its 145th Airlift Wing in the region. As an aerial militia of North Carolina, the agency works closely with the state’s Army National Guard, primarily operating its missions from CLT airport.
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