Dallas—Fort Worth International (DFW), DFW Airport: The only airport in the world with three FAA control towers. Plus: seven runways, four fire fighting stations, eight crash trucks, four structural pumpers, and two aerial platforms. Airport police are cross-trained as firefighters and EMTs. The only on-property airport jail in Texas recorded eight thousand arrests for various terminal and in-flight passenger incidents in 1999. Two carrier incidents with fatalities, 1985 and 1988.
Bush Intercontinental (IAH), Houston: The runways are equipped with Instrument Landing Systems. Plus: high intensity runway lighting, two aircraft rescue and fire fighting stations adjacent to runways, two others on property. No carrier incidents to date
Austin-Bergstrom International (ABIA), Austin: Austin is the best airport in Texas in which to have a heart attack. Defibrillator stations are within one minute of all public areas inside the terminal and police are cross-trained as EMTs (the only personnel at a Texas airport other than DFW to do so). Plus: emergency response vehicle inside terminal and east runway equipped with centerline lights. No carrier incidents to date.
Dallas Love Field (DAL), Dallas: Emergency response equipment includes capabilities to deal with snow and ice conditions. Plus: four rescue- and fire fighting vehicles. No carrier incidents to date (although there was a private-plane crash in May 2000 that involved fatalities).
Houston Hobby (HOU), Houston: The runways are equipped with Instrument Landing Systems. Plus: Airport Surveillance Radar and Low Level Alert Windshear System. No carrier incidents to date.
San Antonio International (SAT), San Antonio: The airport is equipped with an all-terrain response unit. Plus: command bus. No carrier incidents to date.
El Paso International (ELP), El Paso: The first airport in the U.S. with new Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) for FAA air traffic control. Plus: a runway more than eleven thousand feet long and two new Osh Kosh fire fighting vehicles. No carrier incidents to date.
Airport 2000: Joe Nick Patoski’s guide to Texas’ airports.
