[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 74 (Wednesday, June 10, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6033-S6034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF McCARRAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

  Mr. BRYAN. Mr. President. I rise today to recognize a milestone in 
Nevada history. This weekend, Nevadans will celebrate the 50th 
anniversary of McCarran International Airport and on Monday the opening 
of the new ``D'' gates.
  Seventy-eight years ago, in 1920, pilot Randall Henderson landed his 
plane on a makeshift dirt runway marking Las Vegas' first flight. I am 
sure that Mr. Henderson had no idea that some 78 years later the 
McCarran International Airport would be one of the fastest growing 
airports in the country.
  That runway was later used by such famous people as Amelia Earhart, 
Clarence Prest, and Emery Rogers and came to be named Rockwell Field.
  Rockwell Field was sold in 1929. Fortunately, P.A. ``Pop'' Simon 
bought the land northeast of Las Vegas, the site of today's Nellis Air 
Force Base, and built the Las Vegas Airport. It was later named Western 
Air Express Field. In 1948, Clark County purchased an existing airfield 
on Las Vegas Boulevard South and established the Clark County Public 
Airport.
  That year, the airport was renamed McCarran Field, after Nevada's 
senior Senator, Senator Pat McCarran, who authored the Civil 
Aeronautics Act and played a major role in the development of aviation 
not only in Nevada but in the country. McCarran Airport was at that 
time already servicing 12 flights a day, by four airlines. Later, the 
growth of Las Vegas necessitated the move of the airport terminal from 
the Las Vegas Boulevard South location to Paradise Road, and the 
present McCarran Field Terminal was opened in 1963. At this time the 
airport was serving nearly 1.5 million passengers. Three short years 
later, the annual passenger volume exceeded the two-million mark for 
the first time in the airport's history. By 1978, tourism to the Las 
Vegas area had increased dramatically, and the McCarran 2000 master 
plan was established to respond to the burgeoning tourism industry. 
This plan brought the addition of more terminals, parking, runways, and 
passenger assistance facilities. After Phase I of the McCarran 2000 
project was completed, the size of the airport quadrupled, adding 16 
more gates. Later, a fourth runway was added along with major 
renovations to the runways and terminals, and in 1994, a 1,400-foot 
extension was added, making it one of the longest civilian runways in 
the United States.
  This Monday, McCarran will celebrate the opening of the new ``D'' 
gates, which will ultimately consist of 48 gates throughout four 
concourse wings. The completion of the ``D'' gates will enable the 
airport to serve a total of 55 million passengers per year, nearly 
double the current capacity.

[[Page S6034]]

  The growth of Las Vegas is a fact that has been recorded on many 
occasions. It has been dramatic. That growth could not have occurred if 
McCarran International had not kept pace and indeed anticipated the 
phenomenal tourism growth in southern Nevada. We salute McCarran on the 
50th anniversary of its establishment. It has become an international 
gateway to the entertainment capital of the world. We are sure it was 
the farsighted leadership that has been provided in the past and its 
present expansion that will allow McCarran to continue to enjoy another 
50 years of service to the community and to the millions of people who 
arrive by air each year making Las Vegas their destination.

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