OurAirports: Comments on airports in Africa

[HCMM] "Reopened in 2006" by david

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:49:19 -0400

Mogadishu's airport has been closed periodically because of fighting around the city. It last reopened in August 2006, and is still operational.

[FZNA] "re: Is this plane stranded?" by david

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:17:22 -0400

According to Wikipedia, the plane is a DC-8 that has been stranded since the eruption.

All the best,

David

[FZNA] "Is this plane stranded?" by ptomblin

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:51:56 -0400

There doesn't appear to be a taxiway to the south that could get it to the runway.

[FZNA] "re: Runway shortened by Lava" by ptomblin

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:49:30 -0400

In the satellite picture, it looks like there is a very large airplane with no way to get to the runway. I wonder if it's really cut off, or if they taxi it over the lava flow?

[FZNA] "Runway shortened by Lava" by david

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:28:09 -0400

A 2002 volcanic eruption nearby sent a lava stream over the north portion of the runway. The south portion of 18/26 is still operational.

[FZNA] "April 15 market crash" by david

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:18:32 -0400

On 15 April 2008, a Hew Bora Airways DC-9 lost power to an engine during its takeoff roll, attempted to abort, and overran the end of the runway into a crowded market immediately to the south of the airport:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Hewa_Bora_Airways_crash

[FMCV] "Invasion of Anjouan" by david

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:34:40 -0400

Comoros and the African Union invaded Anjouan on 25 March 2008 and retook possession of Ouani Airport. Details here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_invasion_of_Anjouan

[FYWE] "re: Cessna 210 crashes after takeoff" by Slick

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:25:03 -0500

Hi,

In defense of Eros Airport as such, the Pilot was NOT familiar with the Airport and took the shorter run-way with an overloaded Plane. Having 5 Passengers in a 210 on a very hot day at 5600ft ASL is looking for problems.

It is sad that Namibia gets such negative publicity, due to one Airline not putting Safety First. :(

A Namibian.

[FNLU] "The missing Boeing 727" by david

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:58:36 -0500

American-registered Boeing 727 N844AA, formerly owned by American Airlines, was stolen from Luanda Airport on May 25, 2003. It has never been found, though there was a possible sighting at Conakry Airport (CKY) in Guinea:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N844AA

[FNHU] "Beech 200 crash" by david

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:51:06 -0500

On January 19, 2008, a chartered Beech 200 (Super King Air) crashed on approach to Huambo airport in instrument conditions, killing all 13 people on board:

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20080122X00086&ntsbno=DCA08WA031&akey=1

[HEPS] "King Air crash" by david

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:40:23 -0500

A King Air crashed 500m from Port Said airport on January 15, 2008 while performing training circuits:

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief2.asp?ev_id=20080122X00084&ntsbno=DCA08WA030&akey=1

[FYWE] "Cessna 210 crashes after takeoff" by david

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 08:24:13 -0500

An Atlantic Aviation Cessna 210 lost power and went down in a residential neighbourhood right after takeoff from Eros Airport on 11 January 2008, killing all six people on board:

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20080118X00079&ntsbno=DCA08WA027&akey=1

[FAWB] "re: Scheduled Commercial flights starting soon??!!" by david

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:44:55 -0500

According to the airport's web site, they're planning to renovate Wonderboom to become ZA's third major international airport, but I see no indication of any schedule airline service there yet.

[FHAW] "big" by Anonymous Flier

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:50:28 -0500

its to big and no planes

[FAWB] "Scheduled Commercial flights starting soon??!!" by Anonymous Flier

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:33:03 -0500

I hear scheduled flights are going to start soon from Wonderboom? Apparently this will happen next year sometime and routes will open to Cape Town, Durban, PE and George. Has anyone got more information?

thanks

[FNPA] "PAmboim" by Anonymous Flier

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:26:21 -0500

Very nice with Canjala. I remenber this place.

jonhy albert

[DNKN] "MALLAM AMINU KANO INTL. AIRPORT" by Anonymous Flier

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 10:11:25 -0400

This intl. airport operating in in the commercial city of Kano, Nigeria is a small international airport with few flights flying internationally like KLM, Middle East, Egypt airlines etc. Not known for the infrastructure.

[FMNN] "Nice place to go" by Anonymous Flier

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:03:18 -0400

the picture here shows the airport in 2005 just after the runway had been prolonged. the circular open space at RWY23 is where now stands a VOR emitter. The airport handles several intl flights from/to Italy, France, La Réunion & Mauritius. There are of course domestic flights performed by Air Madagascar, the local, and only, and national, airline. Nosy Be is indeed a nice place to visit

[FZQA] "Lubumbashi" by Anonymous Flier

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:55:14 -0400

First 800 metres Rwy 07 u/s

ILS okay

August 2007

K Watkins Safair C-130

[FZSA] "Kamina Base" by Anonymous Flier

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:53:05 -0400

In use 13R / 31L

Viz quite poor Aug/Sept

K Watkins Safair C-130

[HTDA] "website" by Anonymous Flier

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 04:50:42 -0400

It would be quite useful if, like any normal International Airport, this one had a website showing the very usual information like destinations and air lines using it

Bill Fahy (Ireland)

[HUEN] "Famous raid" by david

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 18:21:07 -0400

This airport was made famous by Operation Entebbe in 1976, with the rescue of a hijacked Air France airliner:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Entebbe

[GVAC] "Lodging" by Desert185

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 17:34:11 -0400

Stay at the Riu Funana all inclusive resort. All meals and booze are included in the room price. It's a beautiful place and only one of two places I would stay at Sal. The rest of the island is barren and primitive...like Mars.

[FZAB] "Kinshasa's other airport" by Bonnie

Sun, 22 Jul 2007 07:30:05 -0400

According to an interesting article in Vanity Fair's July 2007 issue ("Congo from the Cockpit" by pilot/writer William Langewiesche) this aiport lies in the centre of town. When he lands, there are people walking across the runway, carrying items on their heads, apparently oblivious to the plane landing. People grow vegetables in the grass near the runway, soldiers have taken over some of the empty hangars, and their children play among the moving airplanes, unconcerned about the danger. A very interesting article.

[FZAA] "Designated Emergency Landing for US Space Shuttle" by Bonnie

Sun, 22 Jul 2007 07:24:19 -0400

According to an article in Vanity Fair's July 2007 issue ("Congo from the Cockpit" by pilot/writer William Langewiesche) the single, 15,420-foot runway, is designated by the US as an emergency landing strip for the space shuttle. According to Langewiesche, the ramp is crowded with "decrepit jets that are too fragile for the country's dirt strips, but can manage the paved runways of eastern and southern Congo." Interesting article to read.

[FZCA] "Runway full of potholes" by Anonymous Flier

Sun, 22 Jul 2007 07:19:36 -0400

An interesting article in Vanity Fair's July 2007 issue called "Congo from the Cockpit" by pilot/writer William Langewiesche describes the runway as asphalt, but "jarring", as pilots have to "pick our holes". The article is definitely worth reading, as the conditions some of these pilots fly under are pretty extreme.