Kandahar Airfield
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| Kandahar Airfield | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| IATA: KDH - ICAO: OAKN | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | public/military | ||
| Operator | US Air Force/NATO | ||
| Serves | Kandahar | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 3,330 ft (1,015 m) | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 05/23 | 10,498 | 3,200 | Paved |
Kandahar International Airport (or Kandahar Airport) (IATA: KDH, ICAO: OAKN) is located 10 miles (16 kilometers) south-east of Kandahar in Afghanistan. Kandahar Airport was built in the 1960s with US financial and technical assistance under the United States Agency for International Development program. The airport was severely damaged during the Soviet attacks on the city during 1979-89 and again during the US raids in late 2001.
As of 2006, Kandahar Airport has been partially rebuilt and is operational for civilian use. The Airfield is sometimes difficult to locate from the air due to a lack of contrast with ground and usual dust and haze in area.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Hijacking
The airport came into the public eye the first time for the tense drama that was played out in its airfield where Taliban members, who hijacked and landed Indian Airlines Flight 814 on the airfield ordered the Indian Government to ensure the release and safe-passage of three Taliban prisoners in return for letting the occupants of the passenger plane leave without harm. Although the exact nature of the deal that was struck between the Indian Government and the Taliban are not known at this point, they did secure the release of the 3 prisoners who were being held in a prison in India.
[edit] Operation Enduring Freedom
As part of the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom, the Royal Air Force has based a squadron of Harrier GR7A aircraft at Kandahar Airfield to provide close air support to coalition ground forces.[2] Eight F-16 close air support fighters of the Royal Netherlands Air Force were deployed to Kandahar Airfield to support the expanded NATO operation in Southern Afghanistan in 2006.
The airfield itself was actually built in 1962 by American consultants. It bears resemblance to typical U.S. architecture of the time. While US AID has been slow to rebuild the facility, the vast majority of the facility has been reclaimed from years of neglect and damage by Soviet, Taliban, and American soldiers.
The interior gardens, pools, kitchen galley, restroom facility, and ticketing areas have been restored. With the transistion of the U.S. passenger area terminal to the Afghans in 2005, the airport is physically ready for civilian transfers. It was used for the 2006 Hajj by Muslim pilgrims.
[edit] Canadian Forces in 2006
With the closure of Camp Julien in Kabul on November 29, 2005, most of the Canadian Forces personnel in Afghanistan are now located in the Kandahar region. Canadian Brigadier-General David Fraser will take command, in March 2006, of the multinational brigade from its headquarters at Kandahar Airfield. The majority of headquarters personnel will be Canadian and they will deploy for a nine-month period.
At the same time, Canada will also field a battle group for two successive six-month rotations, and will deploy a new rotation for the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) at Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar. Canada has committed to maintain the PRT for at least another year.
These deployments in February 2006 will bring Task Force Afghanistan in Kandahar to about 2,250 personnel. The mission of TFA will be to improve the security situation in southern Afghanistan, and play a key role in the transition from the U.S.-led multinational coalition to NATO leadership. In the southern provinces, this change is scheduled for the summer of 2006.[3]
[edit] Trivia
- September 11th hijackers Saeed al-Ghamdi and Waleed al-Shehri were both security guards at the airport, as well as Mushabib al-Hamlan.
- A number of entertainers from the United States, including some famous ones, have visited Kandahar Airport and the adjoining NATO's military base to perform for US troops. They include:
- Robin Williams (actor)
- David Letterman (late night TV talk host)
- Drew Carey (actor and comedian)
- Angela Lanza (singer)
- Tracy Williams, Eileen Esposito and Cristal Bermudez (singers of the group UC3)
- Hooters Calendar Girls
- Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Melissa Gutierrez and Julie Moulas)[4]
