Jacmel Airport
Encyclopedia
Jacmel Airport was the sixth busiest airport in Haiti
by passenger volume prior to the 2010 Haiti earthquake
, located near the city with the same name, Jacmel
, on Haiti's south coast. The airport's timezone is GMT –5, and is located in World Area Code region #238 (by the U.S. Department of Transportation
).
This airport is normally served by scheduled and charter airlines operating in the capital Port-au-Prince
, and was opened in 2006 for travel to and from the capital and other destinations across the continent.
The airport was temporarily placed under the control of the Canadian Forces
in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. It was one of two operational airports near the epicentre of the earthquake, the other being Toussaint Louverture International Airport, which was placed under the temporary control of the United States Air Force
by the Haitian government. In March 2010, the Canadian Forces
returned control to Autorité Aéroportuaire Nationale.
Prior to the January 2010 earthquake
there was no air traffic control service at the airstrip, and its ramp area could only accommodate five aircraft at a time. The maximum weight an aircraft could have and use the facility was 100,000 lbs. The runway was unlit and the airstrip lacked an instrument landing system
, radar
and other radio navigation aids –used for landings in poor weather. As such, it could normally only support good weather (VFR
) daylight operations.
The airport also hosted the local UN MINUSTAH base.
On September 9, 2010, a new terminal building was inaugurated by Public Works, Transport and Communications Minister, M. Jacques Gabriel, as well as by the General Manager of the Autorité Aéroportuaire Nationale, M. Lionel Isaac. The runway had been resurfaced as well (asphalt, 1000 meters).
.
, the airport was first used by Canadian Forces CH-146 Griffon
helicopters on 14 January, to reconoitre the area for relief efforts prior to the arrival of the main disaster assistance forces to be deployed at Jacmel. Trees at the edge of the approach to the runway meant that C-130 Hercules
transports were only able to land at the facility with great difficulty. The first Canadian Forces CC-130 Hercules flight (CFC 3923) into Jacmel Airport landed on 18 January, and flights by Canadian Forces CC-130 Hercules cargo aircraft were commenced thereafter. Canadian airfield engineers studied whether improvements to the runway would permit the heavier CC-177 Globemaster to land at Jacmel Airport. Canadian soldiers first arrived at the airport aboard CC-130 flights on Tuesday, 19 January. The identification of Jacmel as a possible site for use and the decision to use the airport was made by Canadian Major General Yvan Blondin.
8 Air Communications and Control Squadron
installed runway lighting on 19 January, enabling aircraft to land at night, with radar control of the airspace provided by the nearby HMCS Halifax
. Opening the Jacmel airfield 24 hours-a-day was intended to help relieve congestion at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. An air traffic control facility was established at the airport, and as of 22 January the airport could accommodate a mix of 160 military and civilian fixed-wing and helicopter flights a day.
Some degradation of the runway was discovered on 29 January 2010, as a result of the heavy use of the airstrip. At the north end of the airstrip, the pavement had starting to pothole. At the same time, plans have been established by the US military to shift military flights from Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince to Jacmel, to allow civilian flights into Toussaint Louverture. It was expected that around 100 flights per day would be shifted from Port-au-Prince to Jacmel. The Port-au-Prince airport resumed commercial flights, after repairs to the terminal structures, on 19 February.
After tree and terrain clearings to allow greater runway
overshoot areas, Jacmel Airport started accepting heavy-lift C-17 Globemasters from 20 February to facilitate disaster recovery efforts. By March 2010, flights had tapered off at Jacmel to 20–40 flights daily from an average of 80 per day during the heat of the relief operations, and from an original two to four per week prior to the earthquake. Airport staff were being training with the Canadian Forces to upgrade their skills in handling traffic.
In the wake of the Canadian Forces pullout
, the airport could no longer process international flights, as no equipment remained to operate the control tower, nor heavy equipment to process the planes, or security to police supplies at the airport. As such, it has been handling only about a flight a day since the pullout, and has lost its certification for handling international flights.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
by passenger volume prior to the 2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
, located near the city with the same name, Jacmel
Jacmel
Jacmel, also known by its indigenous Taíno name of Yaquimel, is a town in southern Haiti founded in 1698. It is the capital of the department of Sud-Est and has an estimated population of 40,000, while the municipality of Jacmel had a population of 137,966 at the 2003 Census.The buildings are...
, on Haiti's south coast. The airport's timezone is GMT –5, and is located in World Area Code region #238 (by the U.S. Department of Transportation
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
).
This airport is normally served by scheduled and charter airlines operating in the capital Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
, and was opened in 2006 for travel to and from the capital and other destinations across the continent.
The airport was temporarily placed under the control of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. It was one of two operational airports near the epicentre of the earthquake, the other being Toussaint Louverture International Airport, which was placed under the temporary control of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
by the Haitian government. In March 2010, the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
returned control to Autorité Aéroportuaire Nationale.
Facilities
The airport was originally built to accommodate smaller commercial flight services, but not large aircraft.Prior to the January 2010 earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
there was no air traffic control service at the airstrip, and its ramp area could only accommodate five aircraft at a time. The maximum weight an aircraft could have and use the facility was 100,000 lbs. The runway was unlit and the airstrip lacked an instrument landing system
ILS
Ils may refer to:*Ils , an electronic music producer and DJ*Them , a French horror filmILS may refer to:In Organizations:...
, radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
and other radio navigation aids –used for landings in poor weather. As such, it could normally only support good weather (VFR
Visual flight rules
Visual flight rules are a set of regulations which allow a pilot to operate an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going. Specifically, the weather must be better than basic VFR weather minimums, as specified in the rules of the...
) daylight operations.
The airport also hosted the local UN MINUSTAH base.
On September 9, 2010, a new terminal building was inaugurated by Public Works, Transport and Communications Minister, M. Jacques Gabriel, as well as by the General Manager of the Autorité Aéroportuaire Nationale, M. Lionel Isaac. The runway had been resurfaced as well (asphalt, 1000 meters).
Ground transportation
Most passengers arrive or depart from Jacmel by car via Route 208 located at the south end of the runway.Airlines operating to and from Jacmel
| Name | IATA code | ICAO code | Location | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toussaint Louverture International Airport | PAP | MTPP | Haiti | 28 miles (45.1 km) | NE (32°) |
| Cabo Rojo Airport Cabo Rojo Airport Cabo Rojo National Airport is an airport in the Dominican Republic serving Pedernales, a city on the border with Haiti. It offers domestic flights to destinations in the Dominican Republic.... |
CBJ | MDCR | Dominican Republic | 61 miles (98.2 km) | E (111°) |
| Antoine-Simon Airport | CYA | MTCA | Haiti | 83 miles (133.6 km) | W (271°) |
| Maria Montez International Airport María Montez International Airport María Montez International Airport is an international airport located in Barahona, Dominican Republic. It is named after the late film star Maria Montez, who was born in the province of Barahona.- Airlines and destinations :- Former Destinations :... |
BRX | MDBH | Dominican Republic | 92 miles (148.1 km) | E (90°) |
| San Juan de la Maguana Airport San Juan de la Maguana Airport San Juan de la Maguana National Airport is an airport that serves San Juan de la Maguana, in the southwest of the Dominican Republic. It is mostly for charter service, emergency landing or private flights into the country.- References :... |
SJM | MDSA | Dominican Republic | 93 miles (149.7 km) | NE (64°) |
| San Juan Airport | SJM | MDSJ | Dominican Republic | 94 miles (151.3 km) | NE (64°) |
| Jeremie Airport Jérémie Airport Jérémie Airport is the fifth most important airport in Haiti in passenger traffic and is located in the city with the same name, Jérémie, in the south west of Haiti.This airport is served by scheduled and non-scheduled companies from Port-au-Prince.... |
JEE | MTJE | Haiti | 112 miles (180.2 km) | W (285°) |
| Azua Dominica Airport Azua Dominica Airport Azua Dominica Airport is located near the city of Azua in the Azua Province of the Dominican Republic. It is an old airport which is used only for the emergency landing of domestic flights. This airport has never had regularly scheduled flights, although some airlines have operated charter or... |
MDAD | Dominican Republic | 118 miles (189.9 km) | E (84°) | |
| Dajabon Airport Dajabón Airport Dajabón National Airport is a small airport that serves Dajabón Province in the western Dominican Republic, on the border with Haiti. It supports only small aircraft and has some domestic flights.- References :... |
MDDJ | Dominican Republic | 107 miles (172.2 km) | NE (31°) | |
History
Regular airline service started on 29 January 2005 with a flight from Tortug' AirTortug' Air
Tortug' Air is a domestic airline in Haiti, and serves as Haiti's national flag carrier. The airline was founded in March 2003 and is based in Port-au-Prince. According to the airline, more than 200 people are employed with the company....
.
2010 Haiti earthquake aftermath
Subsequent to the 7.0 magnitude 12 January 2010 earthquake2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
, the airport was first used by Canadian Forces CH-146 Griffon
CH-146 Griffon
The Bell CH-146 Griffon is the Canadian military variant of the Bell 412EP, a multi-use utility helicopter. The CH-146 is used in a wide variety of roles, including aerial firepower, reconnaissance, search and rescue and aero-mobility tasks....
helicopters on 14 January, to reconoitre the area for relief efforts prior to the arrival of the main disaster assistance forces to be deployed at Jacmel. Trees at the edge of the approach to the runway meant that C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
transports were only able to land at the facility with great difficulty. The first Canadian Forces CC-130 Hercules flight (CFC 3923) into Jacmel Airport landed on 18 January, and flights by Canadian Forces CC-130 Hercules cargo aircraft were commenced thereafter. Canadian airfield engineers studied whether improvements to the runway would permit the heavier CC-177 Globemaster to land at Jacmel Airport. Canadian soldiers first arrived at the airport aboard CC-130 flights on Tuesday, 19 January. The identification of Jacmel as a possible site for use and the decision to use the airport was made by Canadian Major General Yvan Blondin.
8 Air Communications and Control Squadron
CFB Trenton
Canadian Forces Base Trenton , is a Canadian Forces base located northeast of Trenton, Ontario. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is the hub for air transport operations in Canada and abroad...
installed runway lighting on 19 January, enabling aircraft to land at night, with radar control of the airspace provided by the nearby HMCS Halifax
HMCS Halifax (FFH 330)
HMCS Halifax is a that has served in the Canadian Forces since 1992.Halifax is the lead ship in her class which is the name for the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project. She is the second vessel to carry the designation...
. Opening the Jacmel airfield 24 hours-a-day was intended to help relieve congestion at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. An air traffic control facility was established at the airport, and as of 22 January the airport could accommodate a mix of 160 military and civilian fixed-wing and helicopter flights a day.
Some degradation of the runway was discovered on 29 January 2010, as a result of the heavy use of the airstrip. At the north end of the airstrip, the pavement had starting to pothole. At the same time, plans have been established by the US military to shift military flights from Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince to Jacmel, to allow civilian flights into Toussaint Louverture. It was expected that around 100 flights per day would be shifted from Port-au-Prince to Jacmel. The Port-au-Prince airport resumed commercial flights, after repairs to the terminal structures, on 19 February.
After tree and terrain clearings to allow greater 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...
overshoot areas, Jacmel Airport started accepting heavy-lift C-17 Globemasters from 20 February to facilitate disaster recovery efforts. By March 2010, flights had tapered off at Jacmel to 20–40 flights daily from an average of 80 per day during the heat of the relief operations, and from an original two to four per week prior to the earthquake. Airport staff were being training with the Canadian Forces to upgrade their skills in handling traffic.
In the wake of the Canadian Forces pullout
Operation Hestia
Operation Hestia is the name of the Canadian Forces humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake which struck Haiti on 12 January, 2010. Operation Hestia is the military component of an interagency response that also involves Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Canadian...
, the airport could no longer process international flights, as no equipment remained to operate the control tower, nor heavy equipment to process the planes, or security to police supplies at the airport. As such, it has been handling only about a flight a day since the pullout, and has lost its certification for handling international flights.
See also
- Toussaint Louverture International Airport, the capital's airport, also involved with the 2010 Haiti earthquake relief
- Operation HestiaOperation HestiaOperation Hestia is the name of the Canadian Forces humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake which struck Haiti on 12 January, 2010. Operation Hestia is the military component of an interagency response that also involves Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Canadian...
, the Canadian military relief effort for the January 2010 Haiti earthquake
External links
- JAK at AirportFact.com