Sde Dov Airport
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| Sde Dov Airport שדה דב |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: SDV - ICAO: LLSD | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Operator | IAA | ||
| Serves | Tel Aviv | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 42 ft (13 m) | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 03/21 | 5,712 | 1,741 | Asphalt |
Sde Dov Airport (IATA: SDV, ICAO: LLSD) is a municipal airport located in Tel Aviv, Israel. It mainly handles domestic flights to Eilat (and Ovda) and the north of Israel (Galilee and Golan Heights). Sde Dov (lit. Dov Field) is named after Dov Hoz, one of the pioneers of Jewish aviation.
While the airport is conveniently located, it also sits on prime real estate in northern Tel Aviv near the Mediterranean coastline and is surrounded by residential neighborhoods, a fact which curtails its ability to expand operations. As of 2005, plans for someday relocating the airport to an artificial island offshore are being discussed.
Contents |
[edit] History
In 1937, the mayor of Tel-Aviv Israel Rokach asked the British mandate authorities for permission to create an airport in Palestine, promising to solve the transportation problem of Jews during the Arab revolt of 1936-39. Works began on the airport in 1938.
When it was completed, Sde Dov served regular flights to Haifa, but also customers could pay for flights to Beirut.
In 1940, the airport's name was changed to Sde Dov, in memory of Dov Hoz, one of the pioneers of Jewish aviation.
Sde Dov served as a base to the Israeli Air Force in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It was a central base, home to 21 aircraft at the time. The first military flight was made in December, 1947, when the pilot Pinchas Ben Porat flew an RWD-13 to Beit Eshel to rescue an injured soldier.
After the war the airport also regained its commercial operations, initially serving domestic flights, mostly to single customers, on Piper Cub aircraft, later expanding to scheduled service on larger aircraft to various parts of Israel. The IAF still maintains a presence at the airport, consisting mainly of a light transport wing and some support units as well.
[edit] Statistics
| Year | Total Passengers | Total operations |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 831,748 | 37,489 |
| 2001 | 879,922 | 38,884 |
| 2002 | 808,774 | 38,624 |
| 2003 | 757,817 | 37,674 |
| 2004 | 666,879 | 35,716 |
| 2005 | 662,951 | 34,687 |
[edit] Airlines and destinations
- Arkia Israel Airlines (Eilat, Haifa, Ovda)
- Israir (Eilat, Haifa, Ovda)
- Tamir Airways (Rosh Pina)
[edit] External links
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| International | Tel Aviv Ben Gurion | Eilat Ovda Int'l | |
| Domestic | Be'er Sheva | Eilat | Ein Yahav | Haifa | Herzliya | Kiryat Shmona | Masada Airfield | Megiddo | Mitzpe Ramon | Pik | Rosh Pina Ben Ya'aqov | Tel Aviv Sde Dov | Yotvata | |
| Military | Ein Shemer | Kfar Sirkin | Hatserim | Hatsor | Nevatim | Palmachim | Ramat David | Ramon | Tel Nof | |
| Defunct | Jerusalem Atarot | |
| edit this box | ||
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