Pocatello Regional Airport (IATA: PIH[2], ICAO: KPIH[3], FAA LID: PIH) is a city-owned, public-use airport in the western United States, located in Power County, Idaho, seven nautical miles (13 km) northwest of central Pocatello.[1]

Pocatello Regional Airport

(formerly Pocatello Army Airfield)
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Pocatello
ServesPocatello, Idaho
LocationPower County, Idaho
Elevation AMSL4,452 ft / 1,357 m
Coordinates42°54′35″N 112°35′45″W / 42.90972°N 112.59583°W / 42.90972; -112.59583
Websitewww.iflypocatello.com
Map
PIH is located in Idaho
PIH
PIH
Location in Idaho
PIH is located in the United States
PIH
PIH
Location in the United States
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
3/21 9,059 2,761 Asphalt
17/35 7,150 2,179 Asphalt
Statistics (2018)
Aircraft operations27,317
Based aircraft48

The airport is built on the site of the Pocatello Army Airfield, a World War II training base. Many of the base facilities have been razed, although four large hangars remain; it is also home to the Pocatello office of the National Weather Service. Bounded on the south by Interstate 86, the airport is several miles southeast of American Falls Reservoir.

As per the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), this airport had 25,756 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008, 21,039 in 2009, and 20,825 in 2010. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a primary commercial service airport.

The airport is home to the Kizuna Garden, built to commemorate the bond between Pocatello and its sister city Iwamizawa, Japan.[4]

Facilities and aircraft

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Pocatello Regional Airport covers an area of 3,374 acres (5.3 sq mi; 13.7 km2) at an elevation of 4,452 feet (1,357 m) above sea level. It has two runways with asphalt surfaces: 3/21 is 9,059 by 150 feet (2,761 by 46 m) and 17/35 is 7,150 by 100 feet (2,179 by 30 m).[1]

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2018, the airport had 27,317 aircraft operations, an average of 75 per day: 70% general aviation, 25% air taxi, 4% scheduled commercial, and 1% military. At that time there were 48 aircraft based at this airport: 35 single-engine, 7 multi-engine, 5 jet, and 1 helicopter.[1]

History

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  • In 1943, the Pocatello Army Airfield was built as a Second Air Force heavy bomber (B-17, B-24) training base. By 1949, the new airfield had become a surplus property and was obtained by the city of Pocatello to build a commercial airport.
  • while the starting date is unknown, Western Air Lines served Pocatello for a number of years, but discontinued all service by 1980.[5] According to the airline's August 1, 1968 system timetable, Western operated Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprops into Pocatello. In September of 1973, this service was replaced with the new and more efficient Boeing 737-200, which offered nonstop flights to Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. After discontinuing mainline flights, the airline subsequently served the airport as Western Express which was operated as code share service by SkyWest with commuter turboprop aircraft.[6] Western merged with Delta Air Lines in 1987, and SkyWest continues to operate the code share service as Delta Connection.
  • Horizon Air served Pocatello until January 7, 2006, originally with service to Salt Lake City in 1983. The airline canceled that service in favor of flights to Boise starting in 1984 operated with de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8 turboprops.[7]
  • In 2014, a World War II-era mortar was found on the airport grounds while doing routine maintenance work. The mortar was safely removed by law enforcement.[11][12]

Airline and destination

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AirlinesDestinations
Delta Connection Salt Lake City

Statistics

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Carrier shares: (November 2021 - October 2022)[13]
Carrier   Passengers (arriving and departing)
SkyWest
22,070(100%)
Top domestic destinations: (November 2021 - October 2022)[13]
Rank Airport Passengers Airline
1 Salt Lake City International (SLC) 11,000 Delta Connection

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for PIH PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective February 4, 2017.
  2. ^ "IATA Airport Code Search (PIH: Pocatello)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  3. ^ "Airport information for PIH (KPIH)". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  4. ^ "Kizuna Japanese Garden at the Pocatello Regional Airport - Pocatello.net". Pocatello.net. 2017-06-02. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  5. ^ Western Airlines: Historic Route Maps and Timetables
  6. ^ 1987 Western Airlines: Route Map
  7. ^ "Horizon to Add Flight Tying Boise, Pocatello". Eugene Register-Guard. March 25, 1984.
  8. ^ "Pocatello hoping to keep Big Sky Airlines at airport". Deseret News. The Associated Press. January 22, 2007. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012.
  9. ^ "OST-2005-23101 - Horizon Air - Intent to Discontinue Service Between Pocatello-Boise, Idaho". Airline Information Research. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012.
  10. ^ "Pocatello loses airport manager, airline". Idaho Business Review. March 26, 2007.
  11. ^ "Airport workers find WWII device". Local News 8. April 15, 2014.
  12. ^ "WWII explosive device found at Pocatello Regional Airport". Idaho State Journal. April 15, 2014.
  13. ^ a b "Pocatello, ID: Pocatello Regional (PIH)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), U.S. Department of Transportation. December 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
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