Mobile Regional Airport
Mobile Regional Airport (IATA: MOB, ICAO: KMOB, FAA LID: MOB) is a residential/military airport, Mobile County, Alabama, United States, 13 miles west of Mobile, owned and operated by the Mobile Airports Authority, [a self-financing entity which Gets no local tax dollars.
The National Plan of Integrated Airport System for 2011-2015 classifies it as a primary commercial service airport. Federal Aviation Administration records show that the airport had 286,956 passengers boarding (employment) in the 2008 calendar, 280,491 in 2009 and 277,232 in 2010.
The airport provides advanced training for US Coast Guard Aviation Training Center, mobile, US Coast Guard pilots, and advanced training for MH-65D dolphins and MH-60 Zehk helicopters, as well as HC-144A / B Ocean Sentry turboprop aircraft. Company “B” of the 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment of the Alabama Army National Guard is also located at the airport.
Quick Information |
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| Name |
Mobile Regional Airport
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| Address |
8400 Airport Blvd, Mobile, AL 36608, United States
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| Status | Active |
| Country | United States |
| Type |
Public/military
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| Owner |
Mobile Airport Authority
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| Phone |
+1 251-633-4510
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| Code | MOB |
| Elevation | 67 m |
| Passengers | – |
| Aircraft operations | – |
| Lon | – |
| Serves |
Mobile, Alabama
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| Website |
www.mobairport.com
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| Based aircraft | – |
| Facebook Link | – |
| – | |
| Hub for | – |
Bates Army Airfield
During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Force used mobile regional airports. The 533D Army Air Force Base Unit operated the airport, then known as Bates Field. The Army Air Force also operated an auxiliary airfield at St. Elmo Airport.
The military used the airport as a basic (level 1) pilot training airfield, under an agreement with Waterman Airlines. They provide flying training with Fairchild PT-1 aircraft as initial trainers. The Army has also allocated several Boeing-Stearman Model 75 aircraft. The Army used Bates for glider pilot training under the Mobile Area Swapping Agreement, which initially used the Douglas C-470 Skytrain and the Waco CG-4 Unpowered Glider. The school’s goal was to train student pilots in the ability to operate gliders in both day and night tweed and flying flights and in field glider servicing.
As demand for pilots declined in 1944, the Army completed flying training and the Air Transport Command’s Domestic Transport Division (United States Air Force) used the airport as a transportation airport. Air Transport Command moved operations to Brooklyn Army Airfield (later Brooklyn Air Force Base) near Downtown Mobile in late 1945.
Activities of the US Air Force and the US Coast Guard
The U.S. Air Force returned to Bates Field in May 1959 when the Air Force Reserve activated the 78th Troop Carrier Squadron at the airport with a Fairchild C-119 flying boxcar aircraft. In 1961, the Air Force transferred the squadron to Douglas C-124 Globemaster II Heavy-Lift Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The 357th Troop Carrier Squadron then replaced it and acquired the C-119s. The Air Force later promoted the Bates to a group stage after organizing ates08th Troop Carrier Group, Medium 1 196. However, due to budget constraints, the Air Force moved the reservists to the larger Brooklyn Air Force Base on 1 October.
In 1966 the U.S. Coast Guard acquired a zero U.S. Air Force reserve facility at the airfield. On December 16, the Coast Guard officially launched a mobile station Grumman HU-1 Albatross fixed-wing aircraft on mobile from the Coastguard Air Station in nearby Biloxi. The Coastguard has also established a dedicated branch and helicopter training facility at the airport. The US Coast Guard Air Station Mobile serves as an aviation training center as a designated headquarters unit under the direct control of the Coast Guard Commandant.
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 is a residential/military airport, Mobile County){kind=link}