Canberra International Airport
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| Canberra International Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: CBR - ICAO: YSCB | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | public | ||
| Operator | Capital Airport Group | ||
| Serves | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 1888 ft (575 m) | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 17/35 | 8,882 | 2,680 | Asphalt |
| 12/30 | 5,509 | 1,679 | Asphalt |
The Canberra International Airport (IATA: CBR, ICAO: YSCB) is the airport serving Australia's national capital, Canberra. It is divided into three sections: the passenger terminal and general aviation facility on one side of the main runway, the ex-air force base on the other, which houses the government's VIP transport squadron and is used by visiting heads of state and military aircraft in transit, and a retail and mixed use section on Majura Road. Although there are no current international flight services, a service to Fiji operated briefly in 2004.
Today, the airport is a hub for flights to south eastern Australia. In addition to regular traffic, the airport today handles diverted traffic from Melbourne Airport or Sydney International (Kingsford Smith International), where weather conditions restrict landings.
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[edit] Location
The airport is located near the semi-rural suburb of Pialligo about 10 minutes drive from the city centre and also a 10 minute drive to Queanbeyan. Recent activity by the Canberra Airport in constructing office centres and retail have caused trip times in peak hour to reach 20 to 30 minutes. There is an ongoing dispute between the local government and the Canberra Airport on the funding of road infrastructure around the airport. This has lead to the ACT government not providing a bus service to the airport, instead the Canberra Airport was forced to use private bus companies to provide shuttle services for airport and office park users.
Approach and departure corridors lie over largely unpopulated areas, although flights frequently pass low over the New South Wales suburb of Jerrabomberra and the town of Queanbeyan. Proposals have been made to the Planning Minister to approve housing estates that some claim to be under flight paths in New South Wales. The housing estates vary in proximity to the airport - the most recent and furthest proposal, Tralee, is over 12 km from the airport runway.
[edit] History
The airport was built up from an old airstrip that was first laid down in the 1920s, not long after the National Capital site was decided on. In 1939 it was taken over by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), with an area leased out for civil aviation. From 1962 it was known as RAAF Base Fairbairn. The site was sold to Canberra International Airport in 1998 and the RAAF area was leased back by the Department of Defence. It was decommissioned as a RAAF base in 2003, although one squadron remains based there.
[edit] Recent expansion
The airport was sold by the Commonwealth to local businessman Terry Snow in 1998, and in the intervening years a series of upgrades have taken place at the airport including major terminal upgrades as well as a number of office buildings which have been built at Brindabella Business Park. Several new hangars and buildings have been erected in both Fairbairn and near the terminal. An outlet centre has been established along Majura Road, which is operated by Brand Depot. As part of the biggest runway upgrade in Australia since the construction of Sydney's third runway, [1] a 600m runway extension was completed in 2006, as well as upgrades to runway systems.
[edit] Accidents
On 13 August 1940, in what became known as the Canberra air disaster, a RAAF Lockheed Hudson crashed immediately after takeoff into a small hill to the east of the airport. Killed in the accident were six passengers and four crew including the Chief of the General Staff and three Federal government ministers. James Fairbairn, Minister for Air and Civil Aviation, was one of those killed and Fairbairn Airbase the eastern component of the airport was subsequently named after him.
On 13 March 1993 a MiG 15UTI took off from Canberra Airport. Shortly after takeoff the pilot reported engine difficulty and was cleared to land on Runway 35. Some 4km from the runway it was seen to dive sharply into the ground. Both pilot and passenger were killed. The accident was determined to be caused by an in-flight fire - undetectable by the pilot.
On 28 January 2001 a Beech Musketeer took off from Runway 30 in a shallow climb (below normally expected). It reached 300ft below rolling sharply and hitting the ground. The resulting fireball killed the pilot and three passengers.
On 5 November 2002 a Boeing 737-476 landed hard and awkwardly on Runway 35 at the airport. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigated the incident (refer to external links below for their report). It was found that a hangar close by to the runway could cause unexpected severe turbulence during a particular wind event, strong westerley winds. It was also noted that the Canberra Airport had not sufficently notified operators of aircraft of this hazard.
On 7 May 2003 one of the largest hangars in the Southern Hemisphere collapsed whilst under construction. The hangar, located on the RAAF Fairbairn Airbase, was to house the Australian Primeminister's VIP jet. The collapse injured 12 workers and ultimately three companies and five individuals were convicted for lax safety standards on the work site.
[edit] Airlines & Destinations
- Qantas (Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney)
- QantasLink (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane)
- Virgin Blue (Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne)
- Brindabella Airlines (Albury, Newcastle, Traralgon)
[edit] Previous Services
- Hobart HBA - Tasair flew twice weekly direct to Hobart until late 2005.
- Nadi - Air Pacific
- Many Destinations - Ansett Australia
[edit] External link
- Canberra International Airport official site
- Airport Hangar Collapse
- Emergency Management Australia report on hangar collapse
- [1] Severe Turbulence at Canberra Airport]
[edit] Notes
- ^ The Hub, October 2006
| Road Infrastructure in Canberra | |
|---|---|
| Freeways | Tuggeranong Parkway | Gungahlin Drive | Parkes Way |
| Bridges & Tunnels | Commwealth Ave Bridge | Kings Ave Bridge | Parkes Way Tunnel |
| Major Roads | Commonwealth Avenue | Kings Avenue | Northbourne Avenue | ANZAC Parade | London Circuit | Kingsford Smith Drive | Southern Cross Drive |
Ginninderra Drive | Belconnen Way | Barry Drive | William Hovell Drive | Drakeford Drive | Limestone Avenue | Fairbain Avenue | Cotter Road | Hindmarsh Drive | State Circle | Adelaide Avenue | Canberra Avenue |
| Important Streets | Garema Place | Bunda Street | Mort Street | City Walk |
| Highways | Barton Highway | Monaro Highway | Federal Highway | Kings Highway |
| Under Construction | Gungahlin Drive Extension | Glenloch Interchange Re-design |
| Interchanges | Glenloch Interchange |
| Operators | ACT Department of Urban Services | Roads ACT |
| Transport in Canberra | ACTION | Canberra International Airport | Canberra railway station |
