<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-center">History Rafael Hern&aacute;ndez Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">In 1939, the Army sent Major George C. Kenney to Puerto Rico to conduct a preliminary survey of possible air base sites on Puerto Rico.</p>
<p class="blog-para">He examined a total of 42 sites and declared that Punta Borinquen the best site for a major air base. Planted sugar cane farms covered some 3796 acres that the government purchased for military use in the first week of September 1939 at a cost of $1,215,000. Later that year, Major Karl S. Axtater assumed command of what was to become Borinquen Army Air Field.</p>
<p class="blog-para">With the establishment of an independent United States Air Force in 1947, the complex was renamed Ramey Air Force Base in 1948. Ramey AFB was home to a Strategic Air Command bombardment wing and housed a number of B-36 Peacemaker intercontinental bombers. The B-36s were later replaced by B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers and KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft, while a tenant weather reconnaissance squadron operated WB-47 Stratojet and WC-130 Hercules aircraft. Due to the size and weight of the B-36, the runway at Ramey had to be built to a length of 11,702 ft and a width of 200 ft, added an 870 ft Blast Pad at each end and a 50 ft shoulder on each side.</p>
<p class="blog-para">On February 20, 2012, it was announced by both the mayor of Aguadilla and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce that the airport will be designated a "free trade zone" (FTZ), as are many other airports in the U.S., a move that is believed will improve the development of the airport and surrounding areas.</p>
<p class="blog-para">On April 10, 2014, Lufthansa Technik announced the creation of a maintenance, repair and overhaul center (MRO) at the airport. This created operations for maintenance of Lufthansa Aircraft flying on the Americas, starting with 2 reconditioning lines by C and D checks for the Airbus A320, with plans to expand up to 5 reconditioning lines.</p>
<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-left">Facilities Rafael Hern&aacute;ndez Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">Rafael Hern&aacute;ndez Airport covers an area of 1600 acres (647 ha). BQN has one runway, 8/26: 11,702 ft x 200 ft (3,567 m x 61 m) Asphalt/Concrete.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Rafael Hern&aacute;ndez Airport (Aeropuerto Rafael Hern&aacute;ndez) is a key link between Puerto Rico's vibrant, beach-fringed Porta Del Sol and the United States mainland. Almost half a million passengers pass through its modern facilities each year, on flights to Florida, New York, and other points in the USA, the Caribbean, and South America.</p>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100" title="Rafael Hern&aacute;ndez Airport" src="../../main/img/airport/rafa/1.webp" alt="Rafael Hern&aacute;ndez Airport" width="950px" height="500px"></p>