Amakusa Airfield
Encyclopedia
is an airport located 2.3 NM northwest of Amakusa, Kumamoto
, Japan
, on the Amakusa Islands
. Locals often referred to the airfield as Amakusa Airport. It is located on the northern side of the Amakusa Islands, north east of Amakusa city. Only one airline, Amakusa Airlines
, uses this airfield.
announced plans for a small airport during a regular press conference. On December 26, 1990, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport approved the construction of the airfield. Construction began in 1992. The first plane that landed at this airport was a DHC-8 of Amakusa Airlines
on November 19, 1999. The airfield was opened for public use on March 23, 2000.
In the spring of 2000, it had round trips between Amakusa Islands and Kumamoto twice a day. Starting from December 1, 2005, the operating time was extended from (8:00 am ～ 7:00 pm) to (7:40 am ～ 8:30 pm). It now has three round trips between Amakusa Airfield and Fukuoka Airport
and one round trip between Amakusa Airfield and Kumamoto Airport
(also one round trip between Kumamoto Airport and Kobe Airport
) per day while using the same aircraft (aircraft registration number JA81AM). Since this airfield is served only by Amakusa Airlines and this airline only has one aircraft, the DHC-8 (pictured on the right) is the only regular, scheduled, aircraft that uses this airfield.
Landings are made using VOR/DME
approach on runway 13/31. The airport has a single runway, 13/31, which is 1000 metre and is constructed of asphalt concrete
. The lighting systems on runway 13/31 are High Intensity Runway Lights, Runway End Identification Lights
, and Precision Approach Path Indicator
(PAPI).
Amakusa, Kumamoto
was a town located in Amakusa District, Kumamoto, Japan.Amakusa-machi consists of five villages, four spread along the west coast of Shimo-shima and one located in the mountains between the coast and Hondo, the administrative capital of Amakusa city. They are, in order of geographic location...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, on the Amakusa Islands
Amakusa
Amakusa is a series of islands belonging to Japan, off the west coast of Kyushu . The biggest of the Amakusa islands is Shimoshima Island, 26.5 miles long and 13.5 miles in extreme width...
. Locals often referred to the airfield as Amakusa Airport. It is located on the northern side of the Amakusa Islands, north east of Amakusa city. Only one airline, Amakusa Airlines
Amakusa Airlines
is an airline based in Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It operates a regional service from and to Amakusa. Its main base is Amakusa Airfield, with a focus city of Kumamoto Airport.- History :...
, uses this airfield.
History
On September 6, 1982, the governor of Kumamoto PrefectureKumamoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...
announced plans for a small airport during a regular press conference. On December 26, 1990, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport approved the construction of the airfield. Construction began in 1992. The first plane that landed at this airport was a DHC-8 of Amakusa Airlines
Amakusa Airlines
is an airline based in Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It operates a regional service from and to Amakusa. Its main base is Amakusa Airfield, with a focus city of Kumamoto Airport.- History :...
on November 19, 1999. The airfield was opened for public use on March 23, 2000.
In the spring of 2000, it had round trips between Amakusa Islands and Kumamoto twice a day. Starting from December 1, 2005, the operating time was extended from (8:00 am ～ 7:00 pm) to (7:40 am ～ 8:30 pm). It now has three round trips between Amakusa Airfield and Fukuoka Airport
Fukuoka Airport
, formerly known as Itazuke Air Base, is an international and domestic airport located east of Hakata Station in Fukuoka, Japan. It is officially designated a second class airport. It is operating at full capacity, and cannot be further expanded. Flights stop at 10 p.m...
and one round trip between Amakusa Airfield and Kumamoto Airport
Kumamoto Airport
, also known as , is an airport in Mashiki, Kumamoto, Japan.A planned merger of municipalities will be implemented around March 31, 2010; the City of Kumamoto will be merged with the Shimomashiki District town of Jonan and Mashiki. When the merger is completed the airport will be within the City of...
(also one round trip between Kumamoto Airport and Kobe Airport
Kobe Airport
is an airport on an artificial island just off the coast of Kobe, south of Sannomiya Station Japan. It primarily handles domestic flights, but can also accommodate international charter flights. In the first year of operation the airport handled 2,697,000 passengers with an average load factor of...
) per day while using the same aircraft (aircraft registration number JA81AM). Since this airfield is served only by Amakusa Airlines and this airline only has one aircraft, the DHC-8 (pictured on the right) is the only regular, scheduled, aircraft that uses this airfield.
Airlines and destinations
Runway information
| Operations and Statistics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger movements | |||
| 2001 | 83,654 | 2007 | 73,410 |
| 2002 | 83,868 | 2008 | 60,086 |
| 2003 | 76,161 | 2009 | 70,138 |
| 2004 | 76,123 | 2010 | 70,138 |
| 2005 | 72,866 | 2011 | |
| 2006 | 74,847 | ||
| Airfreight movements in tonnes | |||
| 2001 | 0 | 2007 | 6 |
| 2002 | 0 | 2008 | 4 |
| 2003 | 3 | 2009 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 | 2010 | |
| 2005 | 3 | 2011 | |
| 2006 | 7 | ||
| Aircraft movements | |||
| 2001 | 1,914 | 2007 | 2,033 |
| 2002 | 1,850 | 2008 | 1,896 |
| 2003 | 1,842 | 2009 | 1,559 |
| 2004 | 1,723 | 2010 | |
| 2005 | 1,679 | 2011 | |
| 2006 | 1,859 | ||
Landings are made using VOR/DME
VOR/DME
VOR/DME refer to combined radio navigation station for aircraft, which consists of two beacons, placed together:*VHF omnidirectional range, the VOR*Distance measuring equipment, the DME...
approach on runway 13/31. The airport has a single runway, 13/31, which is 1000 metre and is constructed of asphalt concrete
Asphalt concrete
Asphalt concrete is a composite material commonly used in construction projects such as road surfaces, airports and parking lots. It consists of asphalt and mineral aggregate mixed together, then laid down in layers and compacted...
. The lighting systems on runway 13/31 are High Intensity Runway Lights, Runway End Identification Lights
Runway End Identification Lights
Runway end identifier lights are installed at many airports to provide rapid and positive identification of the approach end of a particular runway. The system consists of a pair of synchronized flashing lights located laterally on each side of the runway threshold...
, and Precision Approach Path Indicator
Precision Approach Path Indicator
Precision approach path Indicator is a visual aid that provides guidance information to help a pilot acquire and maintain the correct approach to an aerodrome or an airport. It is generally located beside the runway approximately 300 metres beyond the landing threshold of the runway...
(PAPI).
Airport facilities
- 1st Floor
- Information Office
- Departure
- Arrival Lobby
- Amakusa Airlines Headquarters
- Washrooms
- Breast-feeding room
- Tourist Information
- Shop
- Taxi bus
- 2nd Floor
- Observation deck
- Administration Office