Monday, November 04, 2024

Kalaeloa Airport (JRF)

Kalaeloa Airport is a joint civil-military general airport located close to the town of Kalaeloa. The airfield is close to Ewa Beach, Kapolei, and Campbell Industrial Park in West Oahu. The airport is primarily used for interisland commuter traffic and by locally based military aircraft. Earlier, the U.S. Navy named the airfield as John Rodgers Field in memory who Commander John Rodgers who was the first to attempt to fly from San Francisco to Hawaii in 1925. Although the Hawaii Department of Transportation named the facility as Kalaeloa Airport it continued the tradition with the JRF designator.

Airport facilities

Kalaeloa Airport is owned and operated by the Oahu District of the State Airports System. It is equipped with a single runway, hangars for fixed wing aircraft and helicopters, control tower, emergency power systems, and a fire station with full fire fighting capabilities. Civilian operations are restricted to daytime. The airport is used as a general aviation reliever airport for Honolulu International Airport. Apart from civilian use for light aircraft, Kalaeloa Airport is used by the U.S. Coast Guard and Hawaii National Guard. Over 100,000 air operations are conducted over the year at the airfield.

Training base for flying schools

Over the years, Kalaeloa Airport has played a major role as a base for Coast Guard Search and Rescue operations. In addition, it is used as a training base by flying schools. Some of the buildings, which includes the air traffic control tower and maintenance facility are recognized for the distinctive architecture and qualify for a listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Kalaeloa Airport is close to many attractive sites, and continues to serve as a base for visitors to the island.