ERJ170 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 6626 posts, RR: 19 Posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 999 times:
Smyrna Airport has recently built a new "terminal". I know it is mostly a GA airport. Did it previously have commercial service? Considering it's proximity to Nashville, could it become a viable alternative to BNA (and it's huge WN presence) with minimal upgrades for commercial capability (much like BFI and SEA)?
Luv2fly From United States of America, joined May 2003, 11957 posts, RR: 51 Reply 1, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 986 times:
With all the available space that BNA has since AA downsized I would think not, though who knows for sure. I have relatives in BNA and fly there two to three times every 6 months or so, and each time it is a ghost town to say the least.
BNAflyer78 From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 258 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 978 times:
BNA is nowhere near capacity. Why would we need an alternative?
I'm not sure if there has ever been commercial service to this airport. Corporate Airlines has its headquarters in Smyrna, but has no scheduled service there. However, they do offer numerous charter services.
Lying around the field are old airliners from legacies such as TWA and Pan Am, as well as some NW 727's. This was also a military airfield at one time - although I don't really know any details on the operations.
Nissan Motors assembly plant is located very close to the airport - just beyond the approach end to runway 32.
I do know that there have been several mishaps involving aircraft destined to BNA mistakenly identifying MQY for BNA. MQY's main runway, 14/32 is almost directly lined-up with BNA's longest runway 13/31. Not sure if an aircraft has actually landed, but there have been several reports of very low-flying airliners over the Smyrna area in years past listed in the local papers.
Mostly, the airport is used for general aviation/flight training and charter operations. There is a control towers that operates during daylight hours and there is an ILS approach to runway 32.
Hopefully someone else can fill in the gaps I've missed or correct me on anything I got wrong!
EMBQA From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 9286 posts, RR: 13 Reply 3, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 977 times:
No, Smyrna has never had commercial service. It is a long ago closed military base and offers no advantage over BNA. I was told a long time ago, Emery had several 727's they brought in at night...and way back when FedEX looked at Smyrna when they where looking for a home. The airfield is little more then a limited storage facility for a bunch of derelict 727's and DC-8's.
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog"
ERJ170 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 6626 posts, RR: 19 Reply 4, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 971 times:
True, BNA isn't nearly at capacity. I was just thinking the "avoid WN" tactic.. perhaps if an airline was to fly MQY, the could avoid some direct competition with WN.. just thinking..
EMBQA From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 9286 posts, RR: 13 Reply 5, posted (7 years 10 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 958 times:
Not even plausible. It would cost millions just to get Smyrna 'up to code'. There is no Crash-Rescue, no Airport Police, no TSA, no Security Check point....shoot...no security at all...!!! No passanger terminal, no parking, no easy access...the list goes on.
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog"
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