Chennault International Airport Explained

Chennault International Airport
Iata:	CWF
Icao:	KCWF
Faa:	CWF
Type:	Public
Owner:	Chennault International Airport Authority
City-Served:	Lake Charles, Louisiana
Elevation-F:	16
Coordinates:	30.2106°N -93.1431°W
R1-Number:	15/33
R1-Length-F:	10,702
R1-Length-M:	3,262
R1-Surface:	Concrete
Stat-Year:	2023
Stat1-Header:	Aircraft operations (year ending 2/1/2023)
Stat1-Data:	20,814
Stat2-Header:	Based aircraft
Stat2-Data:	24
Footnotes:	Sources: airport website^[1] and FAA^[2]

Chennault International Airport is a public aerospace/industrial complex in Lake Charles, in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is governed by the Chennault International Airport Authority. The facility covers 1,310 acres (530 ha) of land. The main runway is, at 10,702 feet (3,262 meters), among the longest along the Gulf Coast.^[3]

The facility was originally the Lake Charles Army Airfield, being renamed as Chennault Air Force Base for military aviator Claire Chennault, who commanded the Flying Tigers fighter group during World War II.^[4]

The airport was named Louisiana's Airport of the Year in 2021.^[5]

Other features

The airfield is home to the Chennault International Airshow.^{[6] [7]}

LandLocked Aviation, a company mostly known for painting and refinishing aircraft, has their base at CWF. They have partnered with major airlines such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, and they are known to also paint military aircraft.

Accidents at CWF

• On March 14, 1972, a USAF Douglas C-47 crashed while practicing touch-and-go's at CWF. The aircraft landed hard and veered to the left into a covered concourse. All 4 occupants died.

See also

• List of airports in Louisiana

References

1. http://www.chennault.org/about/index.cfm Chennault International Airport Authority
2. , effective 2023-08-10
3. Web site: Chennault runway ready for landings . American Press . American Press . 17 August 2018.
4. Book: Parzych, Cynthia . Historical Tours Arlington National Cemetery: Trace the Path of America's Heritage . 2015 . 73 . Rowman & Littlefield . 978-1-4930-1300-5.
5. Web site: Chennault awarded Louisiana's Airport of the Year for 2021 . Robinson . Andrea . KPLC News . 2021-12-30 . 2023-03-06.
6. Web site: Thompson. Lindsey. Chennault to host tailgate-style airshow this summer. 2021-11-30. www.kplctv.com. en.
7. Web site: Smith. Mike . Big plans with a big runway: Historic Louisiana airport seeks to transform itself. 2021-11-30. The Advocate. en.

• Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office 1961 (republished 1983, Office of Air Force History,).
• Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History 1984. .