【時報訊】就在聖路易中國空港委員會、美國國會參議員Kit Bond、Claire McCaskill等率領聖路易地區政商代表，於上週再度飛往中國北京，繼續洽談聖路易林白國際機場作為中國空港計劃之際，“中國空港”計劃半路殺出程咬金，位於伊利諾州Mascoutah市、離聖路易市以東45哩之美中聖路易機場(Mid America St. Louis Airport)8月26日宣佈，一架自中國上海起飛載重87噸、麥道11型貨機，已正式在當天飛抵美中機場，完成首航試飛試驗達陣成功。美中機場表示，希望能在今年年底以前，開始正常運作中美貨運航班。
這個消息給予爭取近三年之久的聖路易空港委員會很大震撼。根據這項事實，中國空港委員會主席Mike Jones儘力淡化衝擊和任何可能之競爭，他表示恭禧美中機場這項成績，無論與中國空港有任何衝突與否，Mike Jones強調，中國空港委員會仍將繼續該有的努力，促使中國空港在聖路易林白機場實現。
Mike Jones說，如果美中機場的這項成功試飛之範圍是在中國空港努力範圍之內，這將是對本地區一個利多的表示。
自中國上海飛來美中機場之麥道11型貨機載重87噸，屬於北卡飛航運租賃公司，貨機落地後所載貨品隨即順利分送各卡車，陸運至美中地區，美中機場所在地之聖克雷爾郡主席Mark Kern表示，這趟試飛證實美中機場各項設備可以擔任空運貨物中心任務，但他並未說明是何種貨品自中國上海飛來。
根據暸解，伊利諾州美中機場在聖路易中國空港推動之初確實有所參與，但是現在與聖路易中國空港並沒有任何牽連。據Mark Kern說， 美中機場正在和數家空中貨運公司洽談固定航班，並將再建一座貨儲中心以因應貨物運輸。Kern強調，美中機場是最早推動建立中國空港的機場，但是卻沒有受到像聖路易林白機場那麼多的關注，也沒有聯邦經費補助，他堅持美中機場是中國空港的較佳選擇。
並未拒絕相互合作的可能，Mark Kern說，『美中機場希望可以和密州各界一起合作努力，共同推動中國空港計劃，但是我們相信，國際空運貨運空港，仍舊是美中機場為最佳機場。』
THE CHINESE HAVE LANDED...AT MIDAMERICA ST. LOUIS AIRPORTSuccessful test flight from Shanghai to MidAmerica paves the way for new long-term air cargo service slated to begin before year's end
MASCOUTAH, ILL., Aug. 26, 2010 - As an MD 11 aircraft landed on the runway at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) early this afternoon, airport officials celebrated the successful completion of a critical cargo test flight from China to the airport. The purpose of the flight, which departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (KPVG), was to complete all the procedures, communications and logistics coordination required for a long-term air commerce trade route into MidAmerica from Asia and back again. With the success of the first flight, regular air cargo service from Asia to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010. The news of the new air commerce trade route comes exactly one week after The Boeing Company announced a long-term lease with MidAmerica and plans to invest $7 million in a new manufacturing facility at the airport.
The new trade route is six years in the making, starting back in 2004 when MidAmerica Airport and St. Clair County officials began working to lay the necessary foundation to attract international cargo. In 2005, the airport completed the cargo terminal, and 3,600 acres of the airport became part of the Foreign Trade Zone 31. MidAmerica Airport was named a U.S. Port of Entry (# 4581) in 2006 and received its first international shipment from South America. Two years later, the airport completed refrigeration capability and began welcoming regular flights from Latin America carrying fresh flowers, produce and herbs, along with pharmaceuticals and other perishable air freight. With Boeing now set to be utilizing the entire existing cargo terminal by the first quarter of 2011, the airport will be building another warehouse to host the perishable capability as well as general cargo in order to continue to facilitate existing and future international cargo operations.
"Today is another milestone day for MidAmerica Airport," noted Mark Kern, Chairman of St. Clair County. "We've worked long and hard to acquire this route, and the success of the first flight is a clear sign that the effort was worth it. With the start of this new trade route, we believe the overall cargo operations here at MidAmerica will really take off."
The test flight carried 83 kilo tons of general cargo. Sky Lease Cargo, based in Greensboro, NC, operated the aircraft, and Beijing Expedient Services and Transportation LTD (EST Cargo) of China chartered the flight, consolidated the freight in Shanghai and coordinated the loading. En route from Shanghai, the aircraft made a servicing stop in Anchorage, Alaska, as most aircrafts from Asia do. After the successful landing at MidAmerica, the cargo is being unloaded to waiting trucks that will transport it from there to O'Hare, Dallas, New York, Minneapolis and Atlanta for further distribution. By mid-afternoon, the aircraft will be back in the air as it continues on to Piedmont Triad International Airport (KGSO) in Greesnboro, NC.
More details about the new air trade route from China will be announced in the coming months. To learn more about MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, visit www.flymidamerica.com.
MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is located in Mascoutah, Illinois, in the eastern portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area. Major multimodal rail and inland port centers are located within 22 miles of the airport, which also enjoys easy access to five interstate highways via I-64. With parallel runways of 8,000 and 10,000 feet, the airport can handle simultaneous take-offs and landings in all conditions, minimizing delays. It has an annual capacity of 200,000 operations. Tenants include Boeing, which recently announced plans to locate a new manufacturing facility at the Airport, as well as AVMATS, a company providing alternatives for the support and maintenance of corporate aircraft, which has been operating at MidAmerica for over seven years. MidAmerica is a Joint Use Airport partnering with Scott AFB, the home to US Transportation Command, a multi service organization, and Air Mobility Command, the USAF's component command for airlift. MidAmerica and the 375th Air Mobility Wing operate Scott AFB/MidAmerica St. Louis Airport.
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