FAA Certifies Huntsville International Airport to Accommodate Boeing 747-8

Huntsville International Airport today announced it has received certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to accommodate the Boeing 747-8. The August 17th certification approved the airport’s request, which will allow it to accommodate the aircraft on its 10,000-foot runway and 12,600-foot runway – the second-longest in the Southeast – as well as all associated taxiways. Huntsville International Airport is among 21 airports currently approved to accommodate this type of aircraft, including Chicago O’Hare, John F. Kennedy, Atlanta and Miami.

According to Rick Tucker, Executive Director, Huntsville International Airport, “This certification by the FAA is of significant importance to our facility. As the home to U.S.-based flight operations for freight forwarder, Panalpina, HSV will now be in a position to facilitate the 747-8 Freighter. Panalpina’s charter operators, Atlas and Cargolux, will be among the first to take inventory of this transportation goliath.”

“With the milestone increase in air cargo volume at the International Intermodal Center – up 27.9% in June 2011 as compared year over year – it is critical that the airport remain proactive in its approach, continuing to position itself as the Southeast global gateway,” said Betty Fletcher, Chairman, Huntsville International Airport Board of Directors. “Accommodation of this latest and largest group of aircraft at Huntsville International Airport speaks volumes about our facility and our objective to set the standard as a frontrunner in the future of aviation transportation.”

Huntsville International Airport initially requested approval by the FAA in January 2010. The airport has accommodated numerous types of large-body aircraft, including the Antonov AN-124, a test of the Boeing 747-8, and most recently, the arrival of two Boeing 747-LCF (Dreamlifters).