Limbang Airport
Encyclopedia
Limbang
Airport
is an airport
serving the town of Limbang
, in the state of Sarawak
in Malaysia. The airport is 6 kilometres from the town centre. The airport
opened on the 15 July, 2004, and is capable of handling 250,000 passengers per year. It is able to handle large turboprop aircraft such as the Fokker
F50 and the ATR 72-500. In 2008, the airport
handled 49,181 passengers, 2,112 aircraft movements and 474,513 kg (475 tonnes) of cargo.
STOL
(Short Take Off and Landing) airfield was built in 1963 by The British Army for use during the confrontation
between Malaysia and Indonesia
. Situated beside Mas Hill (Bukit Mas), about 3 miles from the town of Limbang
. The old airfield did not meet the safety requirements of ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). Furthermore, the old airfield was surrounded by mountains and the Approach Path was covered by tall vegetation such as trees, combined with the relatively high ground. This makes it particularly hazardous and difficult for civilian aircraft to operate safely into and out of the airfield.
In 1978, a consultant firm was appointed to select a new site for a completely new airport and thus proceeded with the Master Plan Study regarding the layout of the new airport. The development plan of the new airport back then is to accommodate the Fokker
F27
turboprop aircraft operation in the beginning and thereafter Boeing
737-200 jet aircraft operation.
After lengthy delays, the new Limbang
Airport project started in the year 2000 and was completed in only four years. The airport was officially opened on the 7th of April, 2004, and full operational use followed on the 15th of April, 2004. The new Runway is 1500 meters (4,922 feet) long and is well suited to accommodate de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
, Fokker 50 and ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft. The new airport is located about 6 kilometres North-West of the town of Limbang
.
Currently, Malaysia Airlines
' subsidiary MASWings
operates into and out of the airport. Other operators include Medevac and Logging helicopters, and private turboprop powered aircraft. Previous users of the airport were Malaysia Airlines
and former Air Asia subsidiary FAX (Fly Asian Express).
Limbang
Limbang is a border town and the capital of Limbang District in the Limbang Division of northern Sarawak, East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. The division has an area of 3,978.1 square kilometers, and a population of 42,600...
Airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
is an airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
serving the town of Limbang
Limbang
Limbang is a border town and the capital of Limbang District in the Limbang Division of northern Sarawak, East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. The division has an area of 3,978.1 square kilometers, and a population of 42,600...
, in the state of Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
in Malaysia. The airport is 6 kilometres from the town centre. The airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
opened on the 15 July, 2004, and is capable of handling 250,000 passengers per year. It is able to handle large turboprop aircraft such as the Fokker
Fokker
Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Schwerin, Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919....
F50 and the ATR 72-500. In 2008, the airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
handled 49,181 passengers, 2,112 aircraft movements and 474,513 kg (475 tonnes) of cargo.
History
The old LimbangLimbang
Limbang is a border town and the capital of Limbang District in the Limbang Division of northern Sarawak, East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. The division has an area of 3,978.1 square kilometers, and a population of 42,600...
STOL
STOL
STOL is an acronym for short take-off and landing, a term used to describe aircraft with very short runway requirements.-Definitions:There is no one accepted definition of STOL and many different definitions have been used by different authorities and nations at various times and for a myriad of...
(Short Take Off and Landing) airfield was built in 1963 by The British Army for use during the confrontation
Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation during 1962–1966 was Indonesia’s political and armed opposition to the creation of Malaysia. It is also known by its Indonesian/Malay name Konfrontasi...
between Malaysia and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. Situated beside Mas Hill (Bukit Mas), about 3 miles from the town of Limbang
Limbang
Limbang is a border town and the capital of Limbang District in the Limbang Division of northern Sarawak, East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. The division has an area of 3,978.1 square kilometers, and a population of 42,600...
. The old airfield did not meet the safety requirements of ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). Furthermore, the old airfield was surrounded by mountains and the Approach Path was covered by tall vegetation such as trees, combined with the relatively high ground. This makes it particularly hazardous and difficult for civilian aircraft to operate safely into and out of the airfield.
In 1978, a consultant firm was appointed to select a new site for a completely new airport and thus proceeded with the Master Plan Study regarding the layout of the new airport. The development plan of the new airport back then is to accommodate the Fokker
Fokker
Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Schwerin, Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919....
F27
Fokker F27
The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
turboprop aircraft operation in the beginning and thereafter Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
737-200 jet aircraft operation.
After lengthy delays, the new Limbang
Limbang
Limbang is a border town and the capital of Limbang District in the Limbang Division of northern Sarawak, East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. The division has an area of 3,978.1 square kilometers, and a population of 42,600...
Airport project started in the year 2000 and was completed in only four years. The airport was officially opened on the 7th of April, 2004, and full operational use followed on the 15th of April, 2004. The new Runway is 1500 meters (4,922 feet) long and is well suited to accommodate de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...
, Fokker 50 and ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft. The new airport is located about 6 kilometres North-West of the town of Limbang
Limbang
Limbang is a border town and the capital of Limbang District in the Limbang Division of northern Sarawak, East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. The division has an area of 3,978.1 square kilometers, and a population of 42,600...
.
Currently, Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Malaysian Airline System Berhad , DBA Malaysia Airlines , is the government-owned flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its eastern hub in Kota Kinabalu. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Sultan Abdul Aziz...
' subsidiary MASWings
MASwings
MASwings Sdn. Berhad is a regional airline operating the Rural Air Services in East Malaysia. It took over the RAS previously operated by FlyAsianXpress. The first flight was on 1 October 2007,which is also the anniversary of the founding of Malaysia Airlines in 1972. Its headquarters are in Jalan...
operates into and out of the airport. Other operators include Medevac and Logging helicopters, and private turboprop powered aircraft. Previous users of the airport were Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Malaysian Airline System Berhad , DBA Malaysia Airlines , is the government-owned flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its eastern hub in Kota Kinabalu. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Sultan Abdul Aziz...
and former Air Asia subsidiary FAX (Fly Asian Express).
Airlines and destinations
Traffic and Statistics
| Years | Passenger Movements | Aircraft Movements | Cargo Movements in Metric Tonnes | Cargo Movements in Kilograms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 83,459 | 5,046 | 226 | |
| 2004 | 96,209 | 5,691 | 179 | |
| 2005 | 105,652 | 5,568 | 289 | |
| 2006 | 89,814 | 4,366 | 379 | 378,876 |
| 2007 | 50,107 | 2,552 | 440 | 439,828 |
| 2008 | 49,181 | 2,112 | 475 | 474,513 |
| 2009 | 45,512 | 1,949 | 530 | 530 |
| 2010 | 50,044 | 2,171 | 559 | 559 |
External links
- Limbang Airport at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad