Bundaberg Airport
Encyclopedia
Bundaberg Airport is a regional airport serving Bundaberg, a city in the Australia
n state
of Queensland
. It is located 10 km (6.2 mi) from the town centre, on North Childers Road and Takalvan Street. The airport is owned and operated by the Bundaberg Regional Council
. It is also known as Bundaberg Regional Airport.
The Bundaberg Regional Council conducted major works on the runway, terminal, carpark and navigation aids in 2009-10 in an attempt to attract services using A320/737 type aircraft.
, M.H.R., as a civilian airport.
, it was decided as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme to requisition Bundaberg Airport and develop it as a Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) Flying Training School.
Known as RAAF Station Bundaberg it was initially used in 1941 by No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF (12 EFTS), until 12 EFTS relocated to Lowood Aerodrome on 12 January 1942. No. 8 Service Flying Training School RAAF then operated from the base.
.
took over Bundaberg Aerodrome on 31 July 1946. Bundaberg City Council took over the airport in June 1983. A new terminal was opened on 9 May 1986. A major extension to Bundaberg Airport was completed in March 2010, making the runway jet capable and also including an expanded Terminal.
of 107 feet (33 m) above mean sea level. It has two runway
s: 14/32 with an asphalt
surface measuring 2000 by 30 m (6,561.7 by 98.4 ) and 07/25 with a grass
ed grey silt
clay
surface measuring 1128 by 30 m (3,700.8 by 98.4 ).
or Emerald
. A local real estate agent set up a Facebook
page to petition the airline to commence services to and from the airport to break the Qantas monopoly on all services to and from the airport (excluding Lady Elliot Island services). In 2010 the airline was in talks with the airport regarding commencement of services, although it was also in talks with Gladstone and Emerald airports. Another local resident started a Facebook page of support for the commencement of Jetstar Airways
services to and from the city, although the airline stated that it did not have any plans to commence services to and from the city due to a recent capacity expansion.
s served in financial year 2009-2010.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n state
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. It is located 10 km (6.2 mi) from the town centre, on North Childers Road and Takalvan Street. The airport is owned and operated by the Bundaberg Regional Council
Bundaberg Regional Council
The Bundaberg Region is a Local Government Area located in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, the state capital. It is centred on the city of Bundaberg, and also contains a significant rural area surrounding the city...
. It is also known as Bundaberg Regional Airport.
The Bundaberg Regional Council conducted major works on the runway, terminal, carpark and navigation aids in 2009-10 in an attempt to attract services using A320/737 type aircraft.
History
The airport was officially opened on 12 December 1931, by the Minister for Trade and Customs, the Hon. Francis FordeFrank Forde
Francis Michael Forde PC was an Australian politician and the 15th Prime Minister of Australia. He was the shortest serving Prime Minister in Australia's history, being in office for only eight days.-Early life:...
, M.H.R., as a civilian airport.
World War II
With the outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it was decided as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme to requisition Bundaberg Airport and develop it as a Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF) Flying Training School.
Known as RAAF Station Bundaberg it was initially used in 1941 by No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF (12 EFTS), until 12 EFTS relocated to Lowood Aerodrome on 12 January 1942. No. 8 Service Flying Training School RAAF then operated from the base.
Units Based at Bundaberg
- No. 32 Squadron RAAFNo. 32 Squadron RAAFNo. 32 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force unit based at RAAF East Sale in Victoria. It currently flies training and transport operations.- World War II :...
('B' Flight) - 1 May 1943 - 4 September 1944 - No. 66 Squadron RAAFNo. 66 Squadron RAAFNo. 66 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed in May 1943 as an emergency measure and was disbanded in January 1944.-History:...
- 20 May 1943 - 6 January 1944 - No. 71 Squadron RAAFNo. 71 Squadron RAAFNo. 71 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron of World War II. It was formed in January 1943 and conducted patrols off the east coast of Australia until it was disbanded in August 1944.-History:...
('B' Flight) - 1 May 1942 - 26 January 1943 - No. 8 Service Flying Training School RAAF - 14 December 1941 - 25 July 1945
- No. 12 Elemetery Flying Training School RAAF - 16 October 1941 - 12 January 1942
- No. 88 Operational Base Unit RAAF - 14 June 1945 - 26 April 1946
- Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air ForceRoyal Netherlands East Indies Army Air ForceThe Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force was the air arm of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army in the Dutch East Indies from 1939 until 1950...
Personnel & equipment pool - 25 June 1945 - 26 April 1946.
Bundaberg War Graves
Located within the Bundaberg General Cemetery, it contains 46 burials of soldiers and airmen of the Australian Forces and five airmen of the United States Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
.
Post war
The Department of Civil AviationCivil Aviation Safety Authority
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is the Australian national aviation authority , the government statutory authority responsible for the regulation of civil aviation.-History:...
took over Bundaberg Aerodrome on 31 July 1946. Bundaberg City Council took over the airport in June 1983. A new terminal was opened on 9 May 1986. A major extension to Bundaberg Airport was completed in March 2010, making the runway jet capable and also including an expanded Terminal.
Facilities
The airport resides at an elevationElevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 107 feet (33 m) above mean sea level. It has two runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s: 14/32 with an asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
surface measuring 2000 by 30 m (6,561.7 by 98.4 ) and 07/25 with a grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
ed grey silt
Silt
Silt is granular material of a size somewhere between sand and clay whose mineral origin is quartz and feldspar. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...
clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
surface measuring 1128 by 30 m (3,700.8 by 98.4 ).
Airlines and destinations
Virgin Australia
According to various reports, Virgin Australia has looked at establishing a new service to a central Queensland city-either Bundaberg, GladstoneGladstone Airport
Gladstone Aerodrome, , is located south of Gladstone, Manitoba, Canada....
or Emerald
Emerald Airport
Emerald Airport is an airport serving Emerald, a town located in the Central Highlands district of Queensland, Australia. It is located south of the Emerald town centre, on Springsure Road...
. A local real estate agent set up a Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page to petition the airline to commence services to and from the airport to break the Qantas monopoly on all services to and from the airport (excluding Lady Elliot Island services). In 2010 the airline was in talks with the airport regarding commencement of services, although it was also in talks with Gladstone and Emerald airports. Another local resident started a Facebook page of support for the commencement of Jetstar Airways
Jetstar Airways
Jetstar Airways is an Australian low-cost airline headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. It is a subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by low-cost airline Virgin Blue...
services to and from the city, although the airline stated that it did not have any plans to commence services to and from the city due to a recent capacity expansion.
Statistics
Bundaberg Airport was ranked 41st in Australia for the number of revenue passengerRevenue passenger
A revenue passenger is someone who has paid the transport operator for her or his trip. That excludes non-paying passengers such as airline employees flying on free or nearly-free passes, babies and children who do not have a seat of their own, etc...
s served in financial year 2009-2010.