Las Vegas Set to Celebrate New Terminal at McCarran

Here’s a blog I wrote for the website http://www.nycaviation.com.

It’ll be a festive June for Nevadans and the people behind Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport’s brand new Terminal 3. This summer Clark County will cut the ribbon on the $2.4 billion facility which will push McCarran into a new level of customer service.

Details of how McCarran plans to celebrate the grand opening were revealed during a recent Clark County Commission meeting. Department of Aviation director Randall Walker told commissioners he’s expecting to spend about $600,000 over the course of four events spread out during a two and a half week period.

The public will be invited to two of those events, the first being a fun run set for June 2. Runners will get the chance to run on all the new airport access roads built to handle “T3” traffic. The following weekend, on June 9, the airport will hold a public open house. Everyone is invited to come out and check out the 1.9 million square foot terminal that’s been years in the making.

The Department of Aviation will fund $200,000 of the $600,000 and the rest will come from donations from companies who are either doing business inside T3 or those companies that helped build the facility.

When officially opened, the terminal will be one of the most high-tech facilities in the world. Passengers will eventually be able to put their own tags on their luggage, there are even self-boarding gates (currently being tried by some airlines and airports) and self-docking gates. In all there will be 14 gates with about half being used for domestic arrivals and departures and the others being used for international traffic.

T3 will start operating on June 27th with the arrival of the first international flights. The current international terminal, Terminal 2, will be closed and equipment will be moved overnight. Domestic carriers will make the move in phases during July and August.

The airport has come under some scrutiny for building during one of the worst economic declines in Las Vegas history. However, Walker said that had the terminal not been built when it was it would not be able to handle the number of passengers expected to return as the economy rebounds.

http://www.nycaviation.com/2012/03/las-vegas-set-to-celebrate-new-terminal-at-mccarran-airport/

Aviation Nation Flies Into Las Vegas

Aviation Nation is one of the coolest events for any plane loving geek in Southern Nevada. Every year, Nellis Air Force Base opens up its doors for the public to see and experience what the Air Force does on a daily basis.

Nellis Air Force Base:

A very brief background. Here, pilots from all over the world (yes, world) train in a variety of aircraft and for a variety of missions- mostly in the desert. You can assume where they’re training to be deployed. It’s also home to the Air Force’s Weapon School. Think “Top Gun” of the Air Force. 

The Show:

Ok, now that we got that out of the way. Here’s how my day in the sun went down.

Walking off the bus and onto the flight line at the air show is awe inspiring. You see so many people, aircraft displays and shows of force (from the planes, not the people). The first plane you see is the Galaxy C-5. If you’ve never seen this plane up close then you’re missing out. Think of it as a 747 on steroids.

This year’s static displays selection included mostly military aircraft ranging from fighter jets, surveillance aircraft and trainers. There was a small selection of general aviation aircraft which is more my speed. But nothing other than the Air Force’s B-2 bomber made me drool. This stealth bomber comes with a cost of nearly a billion dollars a piece! It can carry all sorts of armament and is an aircraft that shows air superiority.  Here’s more about the B2.

The other half of Aviation Nation is dedicated to showing off what the Air Force can do. There were several demonstrations. The coolest one to me besides the Thunderbirds’ performance was a demo flight of the C-17. This high-wing cargo jet was put through its paces. Pilots completed a short field take off, high G turns, and a short field landing.  Other demonstrations showed off the capability of the A-10, F-15’s, and World War II vintage aircraft. The show comes to a flying end when the Air Force’s Thunderbirds take off and perform an arial display for all to admire.

I skipped out of last year’s Aviation Nation for what I’m sure was a valid reason then. Nellis Air Force Base is keeping things exciting though and I’m excited to see what next year brings.

Click here to see more pictures from 2011 Aviation Nation posted on my flikr site.