South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field
South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field | |||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Owner | City of El Dorado | ||||||||||||||
| Serves | El Dorado, Arkansas | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 277 ft (84 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 33°13′16″N 092°48′48″W / 33.22111°N 92.81333°W | ||||||||||||||
| Website | FlyELD.com | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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| Statistics | |||||||||||||||
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| Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1] | |||||||||||||||
South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field (IATA: ELD, ICAO: KELD, FAA LID: ELD) is nine miles west of El Dorado, in Union County, Arkansas, United States.[1]
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021–2025 categorized it as a general aviation airport (the commercial service category requires at least 2,500 enplanements per year).[2]
History
[edit]The first airline flights were on Chicago and Southern in 1945; Trans-Texas arrived in 1953 and Delta/C&S soon pulled out. The last TI Convair 600 left in 1977.
It was served by SeaPort Airlines, a service subsidized by the federal government's Essential Air Service program at a cost of $1,977,153 (per year).[3] SeaPort Airlines ceased operations on September 20, 2016.[4]
In May 2024, the main runway was repaved. Also, the runway numbers were updated to 05 / 23.
In March 16–17 in 2026, Contour Airlines made its first, scheduled flight to El Dorado. It is the first scheduled jet service in this airport.
Facilities
[edit]The airport covers 1,590 acres (642 ha) at an elevation of 277 feet (84 m). It has two active asphalt runways: 5/23 is 6,601 by 150 feet (2,012 x 46 m) and 13/31 is 5,100 by 100 feet (1,554 x 30 m). Former runway 17/35 is closed; it had a concrete surface measuring 3,733 by 75 feet (1,138 x 23 m).[1]
In the year ending July 31, 2020 the airport had 18,020 aircraft operations, an average of 49 per day: 78% general aviation, 11% commercial, 8% air taxi and 3% military. In April 2022, there were 19 aircraft based at this airport: 11 single-engine, 2 multi-engine, 5 jet and 1 helicopter.[1]
Airline and destinations
[edit]This section needs more citations. (June 2024) |
Passenger
[edit]| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Contour Airlines | Dallas/Fort Worth[5] |
The El Dorado airport terminated the hold-in requirement for Southern Airways Express and had no commercial air service until the new air carrier, Contour Airlines, when it prepared to inaugurate service to Dallas since 2024,[6] which launched its first scheduled flights on March 16, 2026.[7][8][9]
Statistics
[edit]| Carrier | Passengers (arriving and departing) |
|---|---|
| Southern Airways Express |
| Rank | City | Airport | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | 2,740 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | Memphis International Airport (MEM) | 510 |
| 3 | Hot Springs, AR | Memorial Field Airport (HOT) | 30 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "FAA Airport Form 5010 for ELD" (PDF). FAA. . Federal Aviation Administration. effective April 21, 2022.
- ↑ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF, 2.03 MB). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010.
- ↑ "Essential Air Service Reports". U.S. Department of Transportation. 2013-02-07. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- ↑ Njus, Elliot (Sep 21, 2016). "SeaPort Airlines to be liquidated, fleet grounded". oregonlive.com. Retrieved Aug 21, 2019.
- ↑ https://www.knoe.com/2026/03/16/contour-airlines-starts-service-el-dorado/
- ↑ Bingham, Jasmine (2024-11-02). "South Arkansas Regional Airport proposes jet service". www.knoe.com. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ "Southern Airways Express to take final El Dorado flight today | Eldorado News". www.eldoradonews.com. 2025-11-30. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ↑ "Regulations.gov". www.regulations.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ↑ "Contour Airlines launches nonstops from DFW to El Dorado, AR - CultureMap Dallas". dallas.culturemap.com. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- 1 2 "El Dorado, AR: South Arkansas Regional At Goodwin Field (ELD)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. January 2022.
Other sources
[edit]- Essential Air Service documents (Docket OST-1997-2935) from the U.S. Department of Transportation:
- Order 2005-1-14: selecting Air Midwest, Inc., to provide essential air service at El Dorado/Camden, Jonesboro, Harrison and Hot Springs, Arkansas, at a subsidy rate of $4,155,550 annually for a two-year rate term.
- Order 2007-1-7: selecting Air Midwest, Inc. to provide essential air service at El Dorado/Camden, Jonesboro, Harrison and Hot Springs, Arkansas, at a subsidy rate of $4,296,348 annually for the two-year rate term beginning April 1, 2007.
- Order 2009-6-25: tentatively selecting Alaska Juneau Aeronautics, Inc. d/b/a SeaPort Airlines (SeaPort) to provide subsidized essential air service (EAS) at El Dorado/Camden, Harrison, Hot Springs, and Jonesboro, Arkansas, for two years.
- Order 2009-7-8: making final the tentative selection of Alaska Juneau Aeronautics, Inc. d/b/a SeaPort Airlines, to provide essential air service at El Dorado/Camden, Harrison, Hot Springs, and Jonesboro, Arkansas.
External links
[edit]- South Arkansas Regional Airport, official website
- South Arkansas Regional at Goodwin Field (ELD) from Arkansas Department of Aeronautics
- Aerial image as of 30 January 2001 from USGS The National Map
- FAA Terminal Procedures for ELD, effective August 6, 2026
- Resources for this airport:
- FAA airport information for ELD
- AirNav airport information for KELD
- ASN accident history for ELD
- FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
- NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
- SkyVector aeronautical chart, Terminal Procedures