San Antonio's Airport Options: A Comprehensive Guide

San Antonio, Texas, is home to a number of airports, both public and private. The San Antonio Aviation Department is responsible for two of the city's airports: San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF). San Antonio International Airport is the closest major airport to the city, located just 10 miles from the city centre, and is the 44th busiest airport in the United States by passenger traffic. Stinson Municipal Airport, founded in 1915, is the second oldest continuously operating general aviation airport. Aside from these two airports, there are also smaller private airports in the city, such as Bulverde Air Park and Boerne Stage Airfield.

San Antonio International Airport

The airport covers 2,305 acres (933 ha) and has three runways. It averages 260 daily departures and arrivals, serving 14 airlines and 45 destinations in the United States and Mexico. San Antonio International Airport is the 44th busiest airport in the United States by passenger traffic and has boarded over 3.5 million passengers annually since 1999.

The airport offers a variety of amenities, including concession spaces, club lounges, and ground transportation options. VIA Metropolitan Transit provides weekday express bus service from the airport to Downtown San Antonio and a park-and-ride facility in Stone Oak. Additionally, a 1.8 million square foot consolidated rental car facility is located near Terminal B, providing convenient access to rental car services.

Stinson Municipal Airport

San Antonio, Texas, is served by two airports: San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF). Both are owned and operated by the City of San Antonio.

History of Stinson Municipal Airport

During World War I, civilian flights were banned, and the airport became San Antonio's civil airport in 1918. The name was changed to Windburn Field in 1927, but then changed back to Stinson Field in 1936. The Works Progress Administration built the terminal building between 1935 and 1936. During World War II, the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a training base. At the end of the war, the airfield was returned to the City of San Antonio for civil use.

As a reliever airport for San Antonio International, Stinson Municipal Airport has an FBO, three flight schools, police and state aviation units, a part 135 operator, two aerial photography outfits, a helicopter tour company and helicopter flight school, and numerous general aviation aircraft. It is also home to the Texas Air Museum. The airport covers 360 acres at an elevation of 577 feet. It has two asphalt runways: 9/27 is 5,000 by 100 feet, and 14/32 is 4,128 by 100 feet.

In the year ending December 31, 2022, the airport had 81,865 aircraft operations, averaging 224 per day: 92% general aviation, 6% military, and 2% air taxi. 90 aircraft were then based at the airport: 73 single-engine, 11 multi-engine, and 6 helicopters.

The historic terminal was renovated between 2006 and 2008, and runway 9-27 was re-opened on March 11, 2010, after being re-surfaced and extended to 5,000 feet, allowing more private and business jet traffic. In 2019, a new control tower began operations, with the aim of making the airport more attractive to corporate travelers and bringing attention to the historic sites surrounding the airport.

Bulverde Air Park

San Antonio, Texas, is served by two airports: San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF). Both are owned and operated by the City of San Antonio. However, there are 30 airports in total in San Antonio, both public and private. One of these smaller airports is Bulverde Air Park.

Fuel is available at the airport 24 hours a day via a self-service pump. The airport has a non-standard, good condition displaced threshold of 36 ft pline, 200.0 ft from the runway, and 125 ft right of the centreline. There is also a non-standard, good condition ROTG beacon after 2200. The airport has a traffic pattern altitude of 1080 ft.

Martindale AHP Heliport

San Antonio, Texas, is home to 30 airports, both public and private. One of these is the Martindale AHP Heliport, which is located 5-7 miles east of San Antonio. The heliport is owned by the US ARMY AERONAUTICAL SVCS AGENCY and is situated at FT BELVOIR, VA 22060. It is estimated to be 674-675 feet above MSL (mean sea level).

The Martindale AHP Heliport is a relatively small facility, with a runway size of 3000 x 700 feet, or 914.4 x 213.4 meters. The heliport is used by the US Army and Army National Guard, and is home to several companies and detachments of the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment, as well as the 449th Aviation Support Battalion. These units are likely responsible for operating and supporting helicopter operations at the heliport.

There are several important operational notes for pilots using the Martindale AHP Heliport. Firstly, the heliport is closed to fixed-wing aircraft. Additionally, there is an 8-foot fence installed around the aircraft parked area on closed runway 13/31 and along the west edge of runway 17/35. The pad on the northwest corner of runway 31 is a designated trans refuel site. Pilots are also cautioned not to overfly the town of Kirby, which is located 1 nautical mile north of the airfield.

The Martindale AHP Heliport is just one of many aviation facilities in the San Antonio area, serving both civilian and military purposes. The city's international airport, for example, is a major hub with two terminals and 27 jet bridge gates, accommodating millions of passengers each year.

Lackland Air Force Base

San Antonio, Texas, is home to 30 airports, both public and private. The city's Aviation Department only operates two airports: San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF). The former is the 44th busiest airport in the United States by passenger traffic, averaging 260 daily departures and arrivals at its 27 gates.

Lackland AFB is the only site for USAF and United States Space Force enlisted Basic Military Training (BMT). It is also the sole location for USAF enlisted BMT for the active-duty Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command (AETC).

Lackland AFB is home to the 37th Training Wing (37 TRW), which operates a variety of training squadrons. The 37th Training Group (37 TRG) oversees five technical training schools on the base, while the 737 TRG oversees the Basic Military Training squadrons. The base also offers numerous joint-service training courses for USAF, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps personnel, including the military working dog program and security and law enforcement.

The base is named after Brigadier General Frank Lackland, who was commissioned into the regular Army after serving in the District of Columbia National Guard. Construction on Lackland AFB began on June 15, 1941, and it was originally part of Kelly Field. The following year, it became an independent organization known as the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center (SAAC). During World War II, a large portion of the northeast section of the San Antonio International Airport was pressed into federal government service and used by the United States Army Air Forces as a training base.

Lackland AFB has a rich history, playing a significant role in military training and aircraft operations. It gained a flying mission in 2001 when the adjacent Kelly AFB closed, and it now operates a joint-use facility with Port San Antonio. The base also hosts a collection of vintage military aircraft on static display as part of the USAF Airman Heritage Museum.

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