AviationBanter - View Single Post

**Savageduck[_3_]** · November 22nd 11, 12:24 AM posted to alt.binaries.pictures.aviation

On 2011-11-21 14:52:42 -0800, said:

First, what qualifies an airport as an "international" airport? I've seen or
heard of some "international" airports that don't seem to be able to handle
worldwide flights. Maybe I'm wrong.

In the USA there are several different considerations, one of which is
the specific purpose of the facility. They might be a purely
International Air Cargo terminal.

For the FAA to grant authorization to operate as an "International"
airport purpose and proposed traffic has to be considered.
For example there is the "Fresno Yosemite International Airport" This
commuter airport originally gained authority as an "International"
airport through the city's application to operate an international air
cargo terminal to be operated by UPS, there in 2006. This established a
US Customs presence.

Fresno is located in the San Joaquin Valley and as such has a large
migrant labor population and a well established ICE office. So, in
April of 2011 it was easy to open a branch of Fresno ICE at the airport
to handle new Aeromexico and Voltaris international daily flight routes
between Mexico City, Guadalajara and Fresno.

So there might be many smaller airports which have 3 or 4 daily flights
from Canada or Mexico. They might also have limited hours for
international operation because they don't have permanent ICE staff.
This is what happened with the recent onboard stranding of
international passengers when their flights from Europe were diverted
to "International" airports which had no ICE staff present.

Second, on many, if not most or all airliners, what is the small round opening
in the very tail that almost looks like an exhaust?

Thanks.

--
Regards,

Savageduck