Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (IATA: VQS, ICAO: TJVQ, FAALID: VQS) is a public airport on the island of Vieques in Puerto Rico. Because a large amount of Vieques's yearly revenue comes from the tourism industry, this airport plays an important part in the Vieques economy. For decades, the airport has been the hub of Vieques Air Link, and also a destination for a number of small airlines.
When anti-military demonstrators started flocking into Vieques in 1999, Vieques Airport saw a considerable increase to its normal yearly average of passengers. In addition, many celebrities who travelled from all over Puerto Rico and the rest of Latin America to join the protesters arrived at Vieques through this airport. When Carla Tricoli, a Vieques native, won the 2002 Miss Puerto Rico contest, her first flight as a beauty queen landed at Vieques Airport.
Early in 2005, plans were announced to expand the airport's runway, so that the airport could accept flights by smaller jets. This would be done in preparation for American Eagle to start operations to the airport on behalf of American Airlines via a code sharing agreement. The airline was expected to start flights to Vieques from San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in early 2010; however, American Eagle decided not to begin service and then subsequently ceased all code sharing flights on behalf of American in the Caribbean.
Facilitiesedit
Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport covers an area of 124 acres (50 ha) at an elevation of 49 feet (15 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 9/27 with an asphalt surface measuring 4,300 by 75 feet (1,311 by 23 m).[1]
Airlines and destinationsedit
The airport's main building as seen from a departing airplane
Scheduled passenger service is provided by the following airlines:[5]
A Beechcraft A100 King Air which belonged to Padosa Productions-a musical label to which boy band Menudo belonged-crashed with 11 people on board, 2 crew members and nine passengers, on Wednesday, August 17, 1983. The plane was on a flight from Alexander Hamilton International Airport in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands to Isla Verde International Airport in San Juan, with a stop-over at Vieques, when it confronted lifting problems on take-off from Vieques to San Juan, hitting citrus trees before it was able to stop. While there were no injuries reported, the airplane suffered substantial damage. It is unknown whether band director Edgardo Diaz or any of the band's members at the time (Johnny Lozada, Ricky Melendez, Charlie Masso, Ray Reyes and Roy Rossello) were in the plane when it crashed.[8]
^ abFAA Airport Form 5010 for VQS PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective April 5, 2012.
^Airport information for Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport at Great Circle Mapper.
^"Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport". Google Maps. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
^(PDF). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on September 27, 2012.
^"Getting to Vieques" (PDF). www.wvieques.com. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
^Ranter, Harro (August 17, 1983). "ASN Aircraft accident Beechcraft A100 King Air N129D Vieques Airport (VQS)". Aviation Safety Network >. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
External linksedit
FAA Terminal Procedures for VQS, effective November 30, 2023
Resources for this airport:
FAA airport information for VQS
AirNav airport information for TJVQ
ASN accident history for VQS
FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
SkyVector aeronautical chart for TJVQ
Antonio Rivera Rodriguez Airport
December 17, 2023
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Antonio Rivera Rodriguez Airport IATA VQS ICAO TJVQ FAA LID VQS is a public airport on the island of Vieques in Puerto Rico Because a large amount of Vieques s yearly revenue comes from the tourism industry this airport plays an important part in the Vieques economy For decades the airport has been the hub of Vieques Air Link and also a destination for a number of small airlines Antonio Rivera Rodriguez AirportIATA VQSICAO TJVQFAA LID VQSSummaryAirport typePublicOwnerPuerto Rico Ports AuthorityServesIsla De Vieques Puerto RicoHub forVieques Air LinkElevation AMSL49 ft 15 mCoordinates18 08 05 N 65 29 38 W 18 13472 N 65 49389 W 18 13472 65 49389MapVQSLocation of airport in Puerto RicoRunwaysDirection Length Surfaceft m9 27 4 300 1 311 AsphaltSource FAA 1 GCM 2 Google Maps 3 It is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011 2015 which categorized it as a primary commercial service airport more than 10 000 enplanements per year 4 Contents 1 History 2 Facilities 3 Airlines and destinations 3 1 Statistics 4 Accidents and incidents 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editWhen anti military demonstrators started flocking into Vieques in 1999 Vieques Airport saw a considerable increase to its normal yearly average of passengers In addition many celebrities who travelled from all over Puerto Rico and the rest of Latin America to join the protesters arrived at Vieques through this airport When Carla Tricoli a Vieques native won the 2002 Miss Puerto Rico contest her first flight as a beauty queen landed at Vieques Airport The airport does not accept jet aircraft but several international flights operate from it Most of the commercial aviation operations are domestic flights such as to Ceiba to Isla Grande Airport in San Juan and to Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in Carolina a suburb of San Juan Air ambulance flights to San Juan are also available Early in 2005 plans were announced to expand the airport s runway so that the airport could accept flights by smaller jets This would be done in preparation for American Eagle to start operations to the airport on behalf of American Airlines via a code sharing agreement The airline was expected to start flights to Vieques from San Juan s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in early 2010 however American Eagle decided not to begin service and then subsequently ceased all code sharing flights on behalf of American in the Caribbean Facilities editAntonio Rivera Rodriguez Airport covers an area of 124 acres 50 ha at an elevation of 49 feet 15 m above mean sea level It has one runway designated 9 27 with an asphalt surface measuring 4 300 by 75 feet 1 311 by 23 m 1 Airlines and destinations edit nbsp The airport s main building as seen from a departing airplaneScheduled passenger service is provided by the following airlines 5 AirlinesDestinationsAir SunshineSan Juan LMM St Thomas Tortola Virgin GordaCape AirSan Juan LMMM amp N AviationCharter San Juan Isla GrandeSilver AirwaysSan Juan LMMVieques Air LinkCeiba Culebra San Juan Isla GrandeStatistics edit Carrier shares November 2014 October 2015 6 Carrier Passengers arriving and departing Vieques 73 020Cape Air 42 010Sunshine 10 630Top domestic destinations November 2014 October 2015 6 Rank City Airport Passengers1 Ceiba PR Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport JRV 29 0002 San Juan PR Luis Munoz Marin International Airport SJU 21 0003 San Juan PR Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport SIG 14 0004 Christiansted VI Henry E Rohlsen Airport STX 4 0005 Culebra PR Benjamin Rivera Noriega Airport CPX 2 000Accidents and incidents editOn December 19 1977 a Britten Norman BN 2 Islander operated by Vieques Air Link en route from St Croix ditched off of Vieques due to fuel exhaustion Five passengers of the 10 on board were killed 7 A Beechcraft A100 King Air which belonged to Padosa Productions a musical label to which boy band Menudo belonged crashed with 11 people on board 2 crew members and nine passengers on Wednesday August 17 1983 The plane was on a flight from Alexander Hamilton International Airport in St Croix U S Virgin Islands to Isla Verde International Airport in San Juan with a stop over at Vieques when it confronted lifting problems on take off from Vieques to San Juan hitting citrus trees before it was able to stop While there were no injuries reported the airplane suffered substantial damage It is unknown whether band director Edgardo Diaz or any of the band s members at the time Johnny Lozada Ricky Melendez Charlie Masso Ray Reyes and Roy Rossello were in the plane when it crashed 8 Vieques Air Link Flight 901A On August 2 1984 a BN 2 Islander of Vieques Air Link crashed after take off killing all nine passengers and crew See also edit nbsp Puerto Rico portal nbsp Aviation portalTransport in Puerto Rico List of airports in Puerto RicoReferences edit a b FAA Airport Form 5010 for VQS PDF Federal Aviation Administration Effective April 5 2012 Airport information for Antonio Rivera Rodriguez Airport at Great Circle Mapper Antonio Rivera Rodriguez Airport Google Maps Retrieved June 9 2018 2011 2015 NPIAS Report Appendix A PDF National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems Federal Aviation Administration October 4 2010 Archived from the original PDF 2 03 MB on September 27 2012 Getting to Vieques PDF www wvieques com Retrieved March 26 2021 a b Vieques PR Antonio Rivera Rodriguez VQS Bureau of Transportation Statistics BTS Research and Innovative Technology Administration RITA U S Department of Transportation October 2015 Retrieved February 7 2016 Accident description for N862JA at the Aviation Safety Network Retrieved on November 7 2020 Ranter Harro August 17 1983 ASN Aircraft accident Beechcraft A100 King Air N129D Vieques Airport VQS Aviation Safety Network gt Retrieved March 26 2021 External links editFAA Terminal Procedures for VQS effective November 30 2023 Resources for this airport FAA airport information for VQS AirNav airport information for TJVQ ASN accident history for VQS FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker SkyVector aeronautical chart for TJVQ Antonio Rivera Rodriguez Airport Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antonio Rivera Rodriguez Airport amp oldid 1184185018, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
