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Lakselv Airport, Banak

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Lakselv Airport, Banak
Lakselv lufthavn, Banak
Avinor logo purple.svg
File:Lakselv Airport Banak.jpg
IATA: LKL – ICAO: ENNA
Summary
Airport type Joint (Public and military)
Operator Avinor
Serves Lakselv, Norway
Location Banak, Porsanger, Finnmark
Elevation AMSL 8 m / 25 ft
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Website avinor.no
Map
LKL is located in Norway
LKL
LKL
Location in Norway
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
17–35 2,788 9,147 Asphalt/concrete
Statistics (2012)
Passengers 71,763
Aircraft movements 3,699
Cargo (tonnes) 330
Source:[1][2]

Lakselv Airport, Banak (Norwegian: Lakselv lufthavn, Banak; IATA: LKL, ICAO: ENNA) is an international airport located at Banak, 1.5 kilometers (0.9 mi) north of Lakselv, in the municipality of Porsanger, Finnmark county, Norway. Co-located with the military Station Group Banak, the airport is owned and operated by the state-owned Avinor. The airport is also branded as North Cape Airport, although the North Cape is 180 kilometers (110 mi) away. The runway is 2,788 meters (9,147 ft) long and aligned nearly north–south. The airport is served by Widerøe with flights to Tromsø and Alta, and seasonally by Norwegian Air Shuttle to Oslo, in addition to international charter services. The airport had 71,763 passengers in 2012. In addition to serving Porsanger, the airport's catchment area includes Karasjok and Lebesby.

The airfield was constructed with triangular runways in 1938. It was taken over by the Luftwaffe in 1940, who expanded it and laid down two wooden runways. It was taken over by the NoRAF in 1945, but abandoned in 1952. It opened in 1963 and was largely funded by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Scandinavian Airlines operated out of the airport to the other primary airports in Finnmark and to Tromsø and Oslo. The runway was extended in 1968. From 1990, flights were taken over by SAS Commuter and the direct flights to Oslo were halted. From the mid-1990s there have been occasional charter flights out of Banak. Widerøe took over SAS' services in 2002.

History

First airport

An airport at Lakselv was first proposed out of military considerations. Despite a Norwegian neutrality policy, there was a fear that Norway could be occupied by foreign powers to take advantage of the country's strategic position. The military therefore wanted to construct airfields throughout the country to increase the air force's mobility.[3] Especially Finnmark was regarded as a key location, given the increased Soviet militarization on the Kola Peninsula. Increased military funding was granted from 1937, and the following year, a triangular runway was built at Banak.[4]

File:Lakselv Airport, Banak overview 1.jpg
Overview of the runway

During the German occupation of Norway during World War II, Banak was taken over by the Luftwaffe. They were planning an attack on the Soviet Union from Finnmark and decided to designate Banak as their main air base in Northern Norway. By September 1940, the main runway was extended to 1,000 by 200 meters (3,280 by 660 ft) with a wooden surface. In addition, three hangars were built, allowing the air base to house bombers. The main function of the air station was to attack the Arctic convoys. By 1943 there were two parallel runways, both 1,800 meters (5,900 ft) long. The air station was blasted in October 1944 during Operation Nordlicht, the German retreat from Finnmark.[5]

The Royal Norwegian Air Force took control over the airfield in 1945 and started reconstruction.[6] In 1945, the air force operated scheduled flights from Bardufoss Air Station via Banak to Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen; at Bardufoss a corresponding flight was offered to Oslo. The service lasted only the one season.[7] Later the runway was used to serve air ambulances. During the late 1940s, part of the wooden runway was removed and used for other construction projects.[6]

Interest in Banak rose with the Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948 and fears of Soviet intervention in Norway. Finnmark, located on the Norway–Soviet Union border, became of particular interest for the military. Although specific plans were articulated, no construction was carried out.[8] Norway's entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949 had a dramatic effect on the military strategy and Banak.[9] Norwegian authorities and NATO regarded Finnmark as a tripwire—it was to be sacrificed and delay attacking forces in case of a Soviet invasion.[10] The airfield was closed in 1952,[11] but the runway remained, with a short section of an unmaintained wooden runway and otherwise consisting of a grass strip. It was occasionally used by small aircraft.[12]

Re-establishment

Interest from military leaders for an airport at Banak returned in 1955. For the air force the main concern was that they could not reach the eastern-most parts of Norway from Bodø Main Air Station. This resulted in several Soviet infringements of Norwegian air space.[13] Alternative locations were considered, such as Kautokeino, were there had been built a radar.[14] NATO supported a reconstruction of Banak, partially raised by increased focus on flanking maneuver strategies,[15] and also to serve as a part of the nuclear program.[16] NATO was ready to provide funding in 1957, but by the Norwegian authorities wanted to delay its construction,[17] citing lack of personnel to man the station and that it would not be usable in times of war.[18] The government decided in 1957 to not allow nuclear warheads to be stored in Norway during peacetime, thus eliminating NATO's strategic need for Banak. The airport was therefore removed from the investment program.[19]

By 1959 the United States was concerned that the militarization of the Kola Peninsula would become the prime point of a Soviet attack on North America.[20] A new discussion about location arose, with Alta and Kautokeino as the main alternatives.[21] Banak was estimated to cost 4.9 million Norwegian krone (NOK), NOK 2.8 million less than Alta, had better instrument landing and weather conditions and allowed a longer runway.[22] The main advantage of Alta was that it would be better suited for civilian traffic.[23] The government and Parliament approved construction of Banak in 1959 on condition that it receive NATO funding.[24] Construction was estimated at NOK 8.9 million, which would include a 2,000-meter (6,600 ft) runway, but lack of funding meant the airport would not meet all of NATO's air base standards.[25] The project was approved by NATO on 1 June 1960 and by Parliament on 5 August.[26]

File:Widerøe Dash 8-100 at Lakselv.jpg
Widerøe de Havilland Canada Dash 8-100

Construction was carried out simultaneously at Banak, Alta Airport and Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen, which combined would give Finnmark three primary airports.[27] All three airports opened on 4 May 1963,[28] while Tromsø Airport opened the following year.[29] Services were at first operated by Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS). At first the airline used 56-passenger Convair CV-440 Metropolitan aircraft, which flew flights south to Oslo in combination with flights to Alta and Kirkenes—from 1964 also to Tromsø. The general route scheme of flying multi-legged flights from Oslo to Finnmark would remain until 1990.[30]

Operational history

To allow increased military use of the air station, the airport received an upgrade in 1967 and 1968 costing NOK 17.8 million. This included an extension of the runway with 600 meters (2,000 ft), a taxiway and various military hangars and structures.[26] Following the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, Norway decided to further strengthen the Finnmark defenses, which among many measures included a further extension of the runway at Banak.[31] From 7 April 1969, SAS introduced the 85-passenger Douglas DC-9-21 jetliner on the Finnmark service; the last Metropolitan flew on 1 April 1970.[30] The 330 Squadron, which operates the Westland Sea King search and rescue helicopters, was established at Banak Air Station in 1973.[32] SAS' traffic increased throughout the 1970s, resulting in SAS gradually increasing the frequency of its services, and later also using larger DC-9s. The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 was first flown on the Finnmark route on 11 July 1986.[30]

File:Lakselv Airport.jpg
The passenger terminal

SAS Commuter was established in 1988 and started operations in Northern Norway in May 1990, making Alta its central hub for Finnmark.[33] Lakselv Airport had been proposed by among others Finnmark County Council as the hub, but SAS and other found Alta better suited.[34] For Banak this meant that the Oslo services were terminated and smaller Fokker 50 aircraft were flown to Alta and Tromsø, and passengers could continue to Oslo with direct flights from there.[33] The runway was extended in 1992 and 1993, including widening to 45 meters (148 ft) and receiving new runway lighting.[7] Lakselv Airport started using the brand "North Cape Airport" in 1996, in an attempt to increase tourist traffic to the airport.[35] Honningsvåg Airport, Valan in Nordkapp was already using the name, but the latter had a short runway only suitable for regional aircraft, and Banak is the closest airport serving jetliners.[36] The Civil Aviation Administration followed up by investing NOK 21 million expanding the terminal to allow international passengers and Stolt Seafarm started export of fish via the airport.[37] From 1997, LTU started charter services from Düsseldorf to Lakselv,[38] and Condor operated flights from Barcelona.[39] Finnair started in June 2001 a scheduled service from Lakselv via Rovaniemi to Helsinki three times a week.[40] North Cape Golf Club, located immediately next to the airport, opened in 2001.[41]

All SAS Commuter services in Northern Norway were taken over by Widerøe in October 2002.[42] Norwegian Air Shuttle took over the routes to Alta and Tromsø from 1 April 2003, but already by the start of operations announced they would retire their fleet of Fokker 50 aircraft, resign from short-haul routes and become a low-cost airline.[43] Widerøe won the subsequent tender and started operating to Lakselv from 1 January 2004.[44] SAS Braathens introduced low-frequency summer services from Oslo from 2006, which was kept for three seasons. SAS cited too low ridership from foreign tourists as the reason for the closure.[45] Widerøe took over SAS Ground Services' operations at Banak in 2008.[46] Norwegian introduced a new summer seasonal route from Oslo to Lakselv from 2011.[47] Outgoing charter services started in 2012 to Burgas and Antalya.[48][49] Scandinavian Airlines operated one charter flight from Tokyo and back in 2011.[50]

Facilities

Lakselv Airport is equipped with a cafe and a duty-free shop.[51] The airport is manned with customs and police during international flights.[52] It is located three to five minutes from Lakselv and 74 kilometers (46 mi) by road to Karasjok. Taxis and an airport bus are available; there are 172 paid parking spaces.[53] The runway is 2,788 by 45 meters (9,147 by 148 ft) and aligned 17–35 (roughly north–south). It is mostly asphalt, although parts are concrete. There is instrument landing system category I in both directions.[1] In 2012, the airport had 71,763 passengers, 3,699 aircraft movements and 330 tonnes of cargo.[2]

Airlines and destinations

File:Lakselv Airport, Norway.jpg
A Widerøe de Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 in a blizzard at Banak

Widerøe is the main airline operating at Banak, with daily flights to Alta and Tromsø using Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft.[54] During the Weekdays, Norwegian Air Shuttle operates a twice-weekly service to Oslo using their Boeing 737 aircraft.[47]

Airlines Destinations
BH Air Seasonal charter: Burgas
Norwegian Air Shuttle Oslo-Gardermoen
Widerøe Alta, Tromsø

Military

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Main article: Station Group Banak

Station Group Banak, formerly Banak Air Station, comprises the airfield's military activity. It is organizationally part of Bodø Main Air Station.[55] The 330 Squadron has a detachment at Banak, which is responsible for operating the Westland Sea King for search and rescue missions in the Barents Sea.[32] The air station is regularly visited by the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon for use in the shooting range at Halkavarre. The Garrison of Porsanger is located close to Lakselv.[55]

Accidents and incidents

  • On 12 June 1985 an F-16B with two people on board experienced control problems north of Banak. The pilot ejected and survived while an officer died.[56]
  • On 23 March 1992 an F-16A lost power at 5,500 meters altitude (18,000 ft). The pilot survived after aiming the aircraft at an unpopulated area and ejecting at an altitude of 1,400 meters (4,500 ft).[57]
  • On 29 June 2005 an ICP Savannah micro aircraft crashed only a few minutes after its departure from Banak, with two flight instructors on board. Both instructors were killed in the accident.[58]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Klevberg: 10
  4. ↑ Klevberg: 11
  5. ↑ Klevberg: 12
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Klevberg: 13
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Arheim: 220
  8. ↑ Klevberg: 14
  9. ↑ Klevberg: 16
  10. ↑ Klevberg: 17
  11. ↑ Klevberg: 20
  12. ↑ Klevberg: 48
  13. ↑ Klevberg: 22
  14. ↑ Klevberg: 23
  15. ↑ Klevberg: 26
  16. ↑ Klevberg: 32
  17. ↑ Klevberg: 33
  18. ↑ Klevberg: 34
  19. ↑ Klevberg: 39
  20. ↑ Klevberg: 44
  21. ↑ Klevberg: 49
  22. ↑ Klevberg: 51
  23. ↑ Klevberg: 52
  24. ↑ Klevberg: 60
  25. ↑ Klevberg: 62
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Klevberg: 63
  27. ↑ Eikeset: 376
  28. ↑ Eikeset: 377
  29. ↑ Malmø: 65
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Klevberg: 101
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Arheim: 88
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Bibliography
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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