Roberta Aguirre
Midland International Airport in Texas is the first commercial spaceport in the world to be co-located with a major commercial airport. It was granted its Commercial Space Launch Site license by the FAA in 2014 and is now a hub for the aerospace and defense industries, with companies taking advantage of its unique airspace and world-class facilities to produce, test, and launch innovative technologies. Midland, Texas, has a rich history in oil and gas, and its central location, workforce, and community make it ideal for aerospace and defense companies. The Midland Spaceport Business Park offers prime locations and state-of-the-art facilities for these companies to grow and innovate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Midland, Texas, United States |
| Owner | City of Midland |
| Area | 1,600 acres (650 ha) |
| Elevation | 2,871 feet (875 m) |
| Number of runways | 4 |
| Number of aircraft operations (as of July 31, 2021) | 58,010 (average 159 per day) |
| Number of aircraft based at the airport (as of July 31, 2021) | 106 |
| Aircraft based at the airport (as of July 31, 2021) | 36 single-engine propeller, 37 multi-engine propeller, 30 jet, 3 helicopter |
| Airlines | American Eagle, Southwest Airlines, United Express, Delta Air Lines |
| Number of daily flight departures | 20+ |
| Commercial Space Launch Site license granted by | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) |
| Date of license | September 17, 2021 |
| FAA classification | Commercial primary small-hub airport |
| Ideal for | Aerospace and defense companies, satellite manufacturing, testing, and launching |
| Unique features | Midland Altitude Chamber Complex, world-class high-altitude test facility with three hypobaric chambers |
| Other features | Ample space for growth, state-of-the-art infrastructure, unique airspace |
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What You'll Learn
Midland Airport is an FAA-approved commercial space launch site
Midland International Air and Space Port is an FAA-approved commercial space launch site, making it the first commercial spaceport co-located with an FAA Part 139 commercial airport. Midland International Airport started as Sloan Field, a small airport founded in 1927 by Samuel Addison Sloan. The airport is located within the city limits of Midland, Texas, and is owned and operated by the City of Midland.
In 2012, the Midland City Council amended a contract allowing three teams of experts to prepare and submit a commercial space launch site application. Two years later, in September 2014, the airport was licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration to serve commercial spaceflight. The airport has four airlines, with Southwest Airlines being the largest carrier.
The Midland Spaceport Business Park, located within the Midland International Air and Space Port, offers businesses abundant opportunities for growth. The park consists of 50 acres on the southeast side of the airport and an additional 327 acres on the east side of the terminal. The Midland Altitude Chamber Complex, a unique feature of the business park, is an incredible resource for testing, simulating, and training flight crews.
The aerospace ecosystem in Midland is thriving, with both aerospace and defense companies establishing a presence in the community. Midland's location, workforce, and community make it an ideal hub for the aerospace and defense industries. The city's rich history in oil and gas has resulted in a higher-than-average number of engineers in the workforce, with skills that are easily transferable to the aerospace and defense sectors. Additionally, Midland's airspace and state-of-the-art infrastructure provide a key differentiator for aerospace companies, offering immediate access to unmatched airspace.
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Midland is in the heart of oil and gas country
Midland International Air and Space Port is located in Midland, Texas, in the heart of oil and gas country. The airport, owned and operated by the City of Midland, has a rich history in the oil and gas industry. The region has profited from a thriving energy sector, which has helped diversify the local economy. Midland's strategic location has attracted many aerospace and defence companies, which have set up operations in the Midland Spaceport Business Park. The business park offers prime locations and state-of-the-art facilities for these companies to innovate and grow.
Midland International Air and Space Port is the first commercial spaceport in the country to be co-located with a major commercial airport. This unique feature, combined with its FAA approval as a Commercial Space Launch Site, makes it highly convenient for companies involved in designing, manufacturing, testing, and launching satellites and reusable vehicles. The Midland facility is expected to produce up to 100,000 satellite space modules annually, catering to a wide range of commercial and defence applications.
The Midland Altitude Chamber Complex, located within the business park, is a valuable resource for testing, simulating, and training flight crews. Additionally, Midland's airspace is a key differentiator in the aerospace industry, offering immediate access to unmatched airspace and advanced infrastructure. This creates real-time value for aerospace companies, attracting both established enterprises and emerging innovators.
The Midland International Air and Space Port has a long history dating back to 1927 when it was known as Sloan Field, a small airport started by Samuel Addison Sloan. Unfortunately, Sloan died in a plane crash in 1929, after which his brother, William Harvey Sloan, took over the operation. The airport has since expanded and evolved, with the City of Midland annexing the land in 1946 and opening a new passenger terminal in the early 1960s. The terminal underwent renovations in the late 1990s, and in 2014, the airport received its license to serve commercial spaceflight.
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Midland has a rich history in oil and gas
Midland, Texas, has a rich history in the oil and gas industry. The city has grown exponentially, leveraging the profits from a thriving energy sector to diversify its economy. The Midland Spaceport Business Park, located within the Midland International Air & Space Port, offers businesses abundant opportunities for growth and acceleration. The Midland Altitude Chamber Complex at the Midland Spaceport Business Park is unique to Midland and an incredible resource for testing, simulating, and training flight crews.
Midland's location in the heart of oil and gas country has contributed to its economic growth and development. The city has a higher-than-average number of engineers in its workforce due to its history in the oil and gas industry. These engineers possess skills that are highly transferrable to the aerospace and defense industries. The aerospace ecosystem in Midland is growing, attracting both established companies and emerging innovators.
The Midland International Air & Space Port is the first commercial spaceport co-located with an FAA Part 139 commercial airport. This unique co-location makes Midland an ideal location for companies involved in manufacturing, testing, and launching new technologies. The airport's horizontal launch license, open land, and airspace are operational assets that contribute to the growth of the aerospace and defense industries in the region.
Midland's airspace is a key differentiator, offering immediate access to unmatched airspace and state-of-the-art infrastructure. The city's progressive management approach to maintaining and improving crucial infrastructure, including runways and taxiways, further enhances its appeal to aerospace businesses. The Midland International Air & Space Port is well-positioned to accommodate a wide range of aerospace and aviation enterprises.
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Midland has a high number of engineers in the workforce
Midland, Texas, has a high number of engineers in its workforce due to its rich history in the oil and gas industry. The skills required in this sector are easily transferable to the aerospace and defence industries. The city's location, workforce, and community are ideal for aerospace and defence companies.
Midland Spaceport Business Park offers prime locations and state-of-the-art facilities for aerospace and technology development. The Midland Development Corporation markets the Midland Spaceport and the Midland Spaceport Business Park to the aerospace industry and the commercial space industry. The Midland International Air and Space Port is the first commercial spaceport co-located with an FAA Part 139 commercial airport. It is an FAA-approved Commercial Space Launch Site, making it ideal for companies producing, testing, and launching satellites and reusable vehicles.
The Midland Altitude Chamber Complex at the Midland Spaceport Business Park is a unique resource for testing, simulating, and training flight crews. The city's location in the heart of "space coasts" positions it at the hub of several other spaceports, including the Mojave Air and Spaceport and the Kennedy Space Center.
The Midland International Air and Space Port covers 1,600 acres and has four asphalt runways. In 2021, the airport had 58,001 aircraft operations, averaging 159 per day. The airport has a progressive management approach to maintaining and improving crucial infrastructure, including runways and taxiways.
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Midland has state-of-the-art infrastructure
Midland International Airport is a spaceport because it has state-of-the-art infrastructure. Located in Midland, Texas, the airport has been strategically developed to accommodate the needs of the aerospace and aviation industries. With a rich history in oil and gas, Midland has a higher-than-average number of engineers, who possess skills that are easily transferable to the aerospace and defence sectors.
The Midland Spaceport Business Park offers prime locations and advanced facilities for aerospace and technology development. The city's progressive approach to infrastructure maintenance and improvement ensures that the airport's runways and taxiways are always in top condition. Additionally, the Midland Altitude Chamber Complex, with its hypobaric chambers, provides a unique resource for testing, simulation, and training flight crews.
The airport's infrastructure is designed to support a wide range of aerospace and aviation businesses. The Midland International Air and Space Port is the first commercial spaceport co-located with a major commercial airport. This unique co-location allows companies to efficiently design, manufacture, test, and launch innovative technologies, including satellites and reusable vehicles. The airport's horizontal launch license, open land, and airspace are valuable assets that contribute to the growth of the aerospace and defence industries.
Midland's airspace is a key differentiator, offering immediate access and unmatched capacity. This, combined with the airport's world-class facilities, makes it a cutting-edge hub for aerospace and defence companies. The airport's four asphalt runways, modern terminal, and ample parking facilities enhance the overall efficiency and functionality of the spaceport.
In conclusion, Midland International Airport's status as a spaceport is firmly established through its state-of-the-art infrastructure. The airport's strategic location, advanced facilities, and progressive management approach have transformed it into a thriving hub for aerospace innovation and development. By leveraging its unique assets, Midland International Airport has positioned itself at the forefront of the commercial space industry.
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Frequently asked questions
Midland Airport is the first commercial spaceport in the country that is co-located with an FAA Part 139 commercial airport. This makes it ideal for aerospace companies to test and launch new technologies.
Midland, Texas, is located at the centre of the "space coasts", with Mojave Air and Spaceport and Kennedy Space Centre on either side. Midland also has nearly twice the national average for engineers in its workforce, many of whom have skills that are transferrable to the aerospace and defence industries.
Midland Airport's mission is to provide a hub for the aerospace and defence industries. Its horizontal launch license, open land, and airspace are operational assets that contribute to the growth of these industries.
Midland Spaceport Business Park is located within the Midland International Air & Space Port and offers businesses opportunities for growth. It consists of 50 acres on the southeast side of the Midland International Air & Space Port and 327 additional acres on the east side of the terminal.
Midland's airspace is a key differentiator in the aerospace world. It offers the opportunity for immediate use of unmatched airspace and state-of-the-art infrastructure, creating real-time value for aerospace companies.
