Leg 131 KPHX - Phoenix (USA) to KLAS - Las Vegas (USA)
KPHX - Airport Info
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ICAO code: KPHX
Airport name: Phoenix Sky Harbour Intl. Airport
Location: Phoenix
Alternate Airport - KDVT - Airport Info
ICAO code: KDVT
Airport name: Phoenix Deer Valley Airport
Location: Phoenix
Instrument approach (ILS, LOC, LDA, and SDF):
Phoenix Info
Phoenix (city, Arizona), capital city of Arizona and seat of Maricopa County, located on the Salt River in the south central part of the state. Phoenix sits on the eastern edge of the Sonoran Desert. A commercial, manufacturing, financial, tourist, and retirement center, Phoenix serves as a distribution point for the agricultural products of the irrigated Salt River Valley. It is the hub of a vast metropolitan region that includes Avondale, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Scottsdale, Sun City, and Tempe. Phoenix has become one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing cities. Several factors have contributed to the city’s spectacular growth, including its temperate, dry, sunny climate during much of the year, its recreational opportunities, and its diversified industries.
Phoenix’s population grew from 789,704 in 1980 to 1,321,045 in 2000; in the 1990s it was second in total population growth among the country’s large cities, behind only New York City. According to the 2000 census, whites constitute 71.1 percent of the city’s population; blacks, 5.1 percent; Native Americans, 2 percent; Asians, 2 percent; and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, 0.1 percent. People of mixed heritage or not reporting race are 19.7 percent. Hispanics, who may be of any race, make up 34.1 percent of the population.
Almost two-thirds of Arizona’s population lives in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The regional population increased from 1,600,000 in 1980 to 3,252,000 in 2000. Three Native American reservations in the area cover a total of more than 1,800 sq km (more than 700 sq mi); these are the Fort McDowell, Salt River, and Gila River reservations, with a total population of almost 19,000.
Points of interest in Phoenix include Civic Plaza, which comprises Symphony Hall and a convention center; and America West Arena, the home of the Phoenix Suns professional basketball team and the Phoenix Coyotes professional hockey team. The Arizona Cardinals, a professional football team, plays its home games at Sun Devil Stadium in nearby Tempe. The Arizona Diamondbacks, a professional baseball team, began playing in the new Bank One Ballpark in 1998. Annual events in Phoenix include the National Livestock Show, the Agricultural Trade Fair, the Arizona State Fair, and the Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition.
KLAS - Airport Info
ICAO code: KLAS
Airport name: Mc Carran Intl. Airport
Location: Las Vegas
Alternate Airport - KVGT - Airport Info
ICAO code: KVGT
Airport name: North Las Vegas Airport
Location: Las Vegas
Useful information
Airport elevation: '
Time zone: UTC-
Lighted runways : Yes
Maximum runway length: '
Runway surface : Asphalt
Instrument approach (ILS, LOC, LDA, and SDF):
Las Vegas Info
Las Vegas (Nevada), city in southern Nevada. The seat of Clark County, Las Vegas is located in the Las Vegas Valley, a desert surrounded by the Spring Mountains and the Sierra Nevada. Las Vegas serves as the center of one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. Its population has multiplied by a factor of 30 since the 1940s—more than that of any other major American city. Las Vegas is renowned for tourism, gaming, a dry and vigorous climate, and an assortment of indoor and outdoor recreational activities. The city is also booming in manufacturing and industrial employment, in the construction of new houses, and in the creation of new service jobs.
The city of Las Vegas covers a land area of 215.2 sq km (83.1 sq mi). In addition to Las Vegas, the city’s metropolitan region includes North Las Vegas, Boulder City, Henderson, Mesquite, and a large number of unincorporated communities.
The downtown area of Las Vegas, known as Glitter Gulch, is characterized by long-established casinos. It is the site of the Fremont Street Experience, a renovation project completed in 1995, designed to revitalize the downtown area and attract more people to the street’s casinos. Covering a five-block stretch of Fremont Street, this section is a covered pedestrian mall where thousands of lights play out animated scenes overhead. In addition to the casinos and attractions downtown, more are located on The Strip, a 6-km (4-mi) neon-lined portion of Las Vegas Boulevard, located slightly south of downtown. Some of the extravagant casinos on The Strip play on epic Hollywood themes, such as the Treasure Island Casino, while others advertise attractions, such as an Egyptian pyramid, a medieval castle, or an erupting volcano. Ever-grander casinos open each year, attracting patrons with such draws as replicas of New York City landmarks or roller-coasters atop tall towers. Outside the city lies Hoover Dam, a massive concrete dam that was completed in 1936 as part of a federally funded water works project.
Las Vegas bills itself as the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” and tourism, gaming, and entertainment represent a large portion of the city’s revenue. In addition to its renowned casinos, Las Vegas attracts visitors to its outdoor shows, including simulated volcanic eruptions, pirate duels on artificial lakes, and laser cannon displays. Indoor casino shows, with world-famous entertainers, are also popular. Annual events include the National Finals Rodeo and the Las Vegas Invitational Golf Tournament. Las Vegas is a popular destination for tours and conventions, including COMDEX, an annual computer show. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway opened in 1996.
The federal government is also a major presence in Las Vegas. Nellis Air Force Base is the city’s largest single employer. In addition, there are a number of military bases headquartered nearby, and a permanent nuclear waste site at Yucca Mountain has been proposed.