Departure
99%
vs 95% ▲ 4
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Valley International Airport (KHRL) serves Harlingen in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, with a substantial mix of airline, cargo, military training and general aviation traffic. Built on the site of the former Harlingen Air Force Base, it now offers three lit hard-surfaced runways, an ILS approach and full Class C air traffic services, making it a straightforward and well-equipped destination for visiting pilots.
Valley International Airport lies on the site of the former Harlingen Air Force Base and is owned and operated by the City of Harlingen. It is the largest airport in the Rio Grande Valley, handling airline, air cargo and a significant amount of military training traffic alongside general aviation. For a simulator pilot, its long paved runways, ILS approach and Class C tower environment make it a good study field for airline-style operations in South Texas, while its general aviation ramp on the east side keeps it accessible to light traffic as well.
Valley International Airport sits within Class C airspace, reflecting its status as a busy regional airport with airline, cargo and military training operations. It is centrally located in the Rio Grande Valley at Harlingen, Texas, and is commonly promoted as the aviation gateway to South Padre Island. The field lies close to other Rio Grande Valley airports serving Brownsville and McAllen.
Valley International has three physical runways, all hard-surfaced and lit. The main runway, 17R/35L, is 8,298 ft long and is equipped with an ILS on runway 17R. Runway 13/31 is 7,255 ft (13) and 7,254 ft (31). The third runway, 17L/35R, measures 5,952 ft on the 17L end and 5,761 ft on the 35R end. Field elevation is 33 ft.
Air traffic services are provided on Air/Departure (A/D) 120.7 MHz, with approach and departure control on the same frequency. The ATIS broadcasts on 124.85 MHz. The tower operates as CTAF/TWR on 119.3 MHz, with ground control on 121.7 MHz. A remote radio outlet (RDO), associated with San Angelo Radio, is available on 122.35 MHz, and UNICOM is on 122.95 MHz. Runway 17R is served by an ILS approach.
The airport occupies the site of Harlingen Air Force Base, which closed in 1962 following defence budget cuts under President Kennedy that saw a number of US military airfields shut down. The base was handed to the City of Harlingen and converted for civil use as Harlingen Industrial Airport. In 1967, Hurricane Beulah caused severe wind and flood damage to the original civil field, Harlingen Municipal Airport (Harvey Richards Field), which closed permanently, and all civil operations transferred to the former air force base. The airport was subsequently renamed Harlingen Regional Airport and later took its current name, Valley International Airport. Scheduled jet service began at the end of 1967 with Trans-Texas Airways Douglas DC-9s, and the field also saw international flights to Mexico in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Trans-Texas Airways became Texas International Airlines, which in turn merged into Continental Airlines, itself later merged into United Airlines, which continues to serve the airport today. Mainline jets that have historically operated into Harlingen include Boeing 727s and DC-9s flown by American Airlines, Braniff International Airways and Continental Airlines. The airport was also home to the Confederate Air Force (later Commemorative Air Force) headquarters and museum until a 2014 decision saw the organisation relocate to Dallas Executive Airport in 2015-2016.
Valley International remains a significant commercial and military training field, with roughly half of its flight operations consisting of US Air Force and US Navy training aircraft operating out of bases and naval air stations across southern and central Texas. Scheduled airline service is provided by Southwest Airlines, United Express, American Eagle, and seasonally by Delta Air Lines and Sun Country Airlines, alongside a substantial air cargo operation served by wide-body freighters from FedEx and DHL. General aviation facilities are located on the east side of the airfield, where Gulf Aviation and Sun Valley Aviation provide aircraft rental, maintenance and flight training for visiting and based pilots.
