Artesia Municipal Airport

Artesia Municipal Airport is a city owned, public use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) west of the central business district of Artesia, a city in Eddy County, New Mexico, United States. It is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a general aviation facility.

History
During 1943 and 1944 was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a contract glider training airfield. Big Spring Flying Service provided instruction. The mission of the school was to train glider pilot students in proficiency in operation of gliders in various types of towed and soaring flight, both day and night, and in servicing of gliders in the field. Used primarily C-47 Skytrains and Waco CG-4 unpowered Gliders.

The facility was deactivated on September 8, 1944 with the drawdown of AAFTC's pilot training program. Declared surplus and turned over to the Army Corps of Engineers on September 30, 1945. Eventually discharged to the War Assets Administration (WAA) and returned to being a civil airport.

Facilities and aircraft
Artesia Municipal Airport covers an area of 1,440 acres (583 ha) at an elevation of 3,541 feet (1,079 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways with asphalt surfaces: 3/21 is 6,301 by 150 feet (1,921 x 46 m) and 12/30 is 5,390 by 150 feet (1,643 x 46 m).

For the 12-month period ending April 6, 2011, the airport had 11,550 general aviation aircraft operations, an average of 31 per day. At that time there were 27 aircraft based at this airport: 74% single-engine, 19% multi-engine, and 7% jet.