Yeager Airport Code: Honoring A Pioneer Aviator

Yeager Airport (IATA: CRW, ICAO: KCRW, FAA LID: CRW) is named after U.S. Army Brigadier General Chuck Yeager. However, its airport code, CRW, is derived from its location in Charleston, West Virginia, rather than its namesake. The airport is located 3-6 km east of downtown Charleston, in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States.

Explore related products

Chuck Yeager Goes Supersonic: An Action-Packed, True Flying Adventure

$3.54 $10.8

Press On!: Further Adventures in the Good Life

$14.98 $17.95

America's Amazing Airports: Connecting Communities to the World

$12.99 $12.99

The Ultimate Book of Airplanes and Airports

$22.22 $24.99

Flight (100 Things You Should Know About...)

$19.44

Code 3

$6.99

Yeager Airport is named after Chuck Yeager, but its airport code, CRW, is derived from Charleston, West Virginia

Yeager Airport, officially known as West Virginia International Yeager Airport, is named after U.S. Army Brigadier General Chuck Yeager. The airport is a public facility located approximately 3 to 6 kilometres east of downtown Charleston, in unincorporated Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. It is owned by the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority and covers an area of 767 acres, sitting at an elevation of 947 feet above sea level.

Despite bearing Yeager's name, the airport's code, CRW, is not directly derived from him. Instead, the code CRW is an abbreviation of "Cha(r)leston, West Virginia," honouring the airport's location. This is a common practice for airport codes, which often use city or region names or abbreviations to designate specific airports.

The airport has a single asphalt runway, 5/23, measuring 6,715 feet by 150 feet, with a heading of 235 degrees. It also has a secondary runway, formerly runway 15/33, now designated as taxiway C, which is 4,750 feet long and was primarily used by general aviation. In 2022, the airport handled 38,083 aircraft operations, with an average of 104 flights per day, including general aviation, air taxi, military, and airline services.

Yeager Airport has seen several notable incidents and milestones over the years. In 2009, a Southwest Airlines flight was forced to divert to the airport due to a hole in the fuselage. In 2010, two separate incidents occurred involving runway issues, with one aircraft overrunning the runway and another rejecting takeoff. The airport has also experienced fluctuations in passenger numbers, with a decrease in enplanements between 2014 and 2015, and changes in airline services, with Spirit Airlines ending its service in 2023 while Breeze Airways announced new routes.

While the airport is named after Chuck Yeager, its code, CRW, reflects its geographical location in Charleston, West Virginia. This airport code system aids in quick identification and efficient air traffic management, ensuring safe and orderly operations for both the airport and the aviation industry.

Explore related products

CODA 4K UHD

$31.81

The Code

$8.49

Code is Law

$4.99

The Angels & Demons / Da Vinci Code / Inferno - Set [Blu-ray]

$18.22

Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software

$23.81 $39.99

Spy X Family: Code White

$20.99 $34.98

The airport is located 3-6km east of downtown Charleston

The West Virginia International Yeager Airport (IATA: CRW, ICAO: KCRW, FAA LID: CRW) is located 3 to 6 km east of downtown Charleston, in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. The airport is named after U.S. Army Brigadier General Chuck Yeager, but its airport code, CRW, honours its location in Charleston, West Virginia. The airport covers 767 acres of land at an elevation of 947 feet above mean sea level. It is owned by the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority and hosts the McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, home to eight C-130 Hercules aircraft of the West Virginia Air National Guard's 130th Airlift Wing.

Yeager Airport is easily accessible and just a short drive from downtown Charleston, near the junction of three major interstates. The airport offers competitive airfares to global destinations and nonstop flights to major airports, providing a hassle-free and enjoyable travel experience. It is also known for its friendly and helpful staff.

The airport has one asphalt runway, 5/23, which is 6,715 feet long and 150 feet wide, with a heading of 235 degrees. An Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) was built at the end of Runway 5 to act as an equivalent to a 1,000-foot runway safety area, as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Yeager's secondary runway, now taxiway C, was previously used mostly by general aviation.

As of 2022, the airport handled an average of 104 aircraft operations per day, including general aviation, air taxi, military, and airline flights. Federal Aviation Administration records from 2015 indicated a total of 225,150 passenger enplanements for that year, showcasing a decrease from the previous year.

Explore related products

Code Name: The Cleaner

$2.89

Source Code - DVD

$5.43

Coda (2020)

$3.99

The Da Vinci Code [DVD]

$6.39 $9.99

It is a non-hub primary commercial service facility with one asphalt runway

Yeager Airport (IATA: CRW, ICAO: KCRW, FAA LID: CRW) is named after U.S. Army Brigadier General Chuck Yeager. The airport is located 3-6 km east of downtown Charleston, in unincorporated Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. It is owned by the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) categorises airports based on the level of commercial passenger traffic through each facility. Yeager Airport falls under the non-hub primary commercial service facility category. This means that it handles over 10,000 passengers but fewer than 0.05% of the country's annual passenger boardings.

The airport covers 767 acres at an elevation of 947 feet above mean sea level. It features one asphalt runway, 5/23, which measures 6,715 by 150 feet. The runway's heading is 235 degrees, and it is equipped with an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) to ensure safety.

Yeager Airport accommodates a mix of general aviation, air taxi, military, and airline operations. In the year ending November 30, 2022, the airport recorded 38,083 aircraft operations, averaging 104 flights per day.

Yeager Airport is home to the McLaughlin Air National Guard Base

Yeager Airport, formerly known as Kanawha Airport, is located 3 to 6 kilometres east of downtown Charleston, in unincorporated Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. It is a public airport owned by the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority. The airport is named after U.S. Army Brigadier General Chuck Yeager, a native of nearby Lincoln County, who piloted the world's first supersonic flight in the Bell X-1.

The airport covers 767 acres (310 hectares) at an elevation of 947 feet (289 metres) above mean sea level. It has one asphalt runway, 5/23, which is 6,715 feet (2,047 metres) long and 150 feet (46 metres) wide. The runway's heading is 235 degrees. An Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) was constructed at the end of Runway 5 to serve as an equivalent to a 1,000-foot runway safety area, complying with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements.

Yeager Airport's secondary runway, 15/33, has been converted into taxiway C. This runway was previously 4,750 feet (1,450 metres) long and headed 335 degrees. The closure of Runway 15/33 allowed for the construction of two new hangars and additional ramp space for C-130 aircraft at the Air National Guard facility. As a result, the airport can now accommodate more aircraft and provide expanded hangar space for general aviation.

The airport has been categorised as a non-hub primary commercial service facility by the FAA National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021. In the year ending November 30, 2022, Yeager Airport recorded 38,083 aircraft operations, averaging 104 flights per day. Of these operations, 63% were general aviation, 13% were air taxi, 15% were military, and 9% were airline flights.

The airport has been the site of several emergency landings and incidents

Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia, is named after U.S. Army Brigadier General Chuck Yeager. Its airport code, CRW, however, honours its location in Charleston, West Virginia. The airport has been the site of several emergency landings and incidents over the years.

On May 12, 1959, Capital Airlines Flight 983, a Lockheed L-049 Constellation, touched down and the captain groundlooped the aircraft due to ineffective braking. The aircraft skidded down a steep embankment and caught fire, resulting in the deaths of one crew member and one passenger out of 44 on board. On July 13, 2009, a Southwest Airlines Flight from Nashville International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International Airport was forced to divert to Yeager Airport after a hole formed in the top of the plane's fuselage, resulting in cabin depressurization. The plane, carrying 133 passengers and crew, landed safely.

On January 19, 2010, a PSA Airlines Canadair CRJ-200 on a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina, overran the runway following a rejected takeoff. The aircraft was stopped by the EMAS at the end of the runway, sustaining substantial damage to its undercarriage. On February 8, 2010, a Freedom Airlines Embraer ERJ-145, operating a flight to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport, rejected takeoff from Charleston. On September 5, 2019, a single-engine plane went off the runway and into the EMAS, which is an emergency stopping area for planes that overshoot the runway. The EMAS was credited with saving the pilot's life, as it prevented the plane from crashing into the side of a mountain.

The airport sits on a hilltop over 300 feet (about 100 m) above the valleys of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers, and the hill drops off sharply on all sides. This unique topography, while providing arriving passengers with beautiful views of downtown Charleston or the rolling hills to the north and east, also presents challenges for aircraft landings and takeoffs.

Frequently asked questions