Bankstown Airport
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| Bankstown Airport | |||
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| IATA: BWU - ICAO: YSBK | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Operator | Bankstown Airport ltd. | ||
| Serves | Bankstown | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 29 ft (9 m) | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 11C/29C | 4,644 | 1,415 | Asphalt |
| 11R/29L | 3,419 | 1,042 | Asphalt |
| 11L/29R | 3,609 | 1,100 | Asphalt |
Bankstown Airport (IATA: BWU, ICAO: YSBK) is a general aviation airport and business park located in the City of Bankstown, 22 km from the central business district of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The airport is situated on 313 hectares of land and has three parallel runways, several apron areas, a small passenger terminal and a business park, home to over 170 businesses.
Bankstown Airport operates 24 hours a day with limitations placed on night circuit training. In the calendar year of 2006, AirServices Australia (ASA) recorded over 320,000 aircraft movements at the airport, making it the second busiest airport in Australia after Jandakot Airport in Western Australia.[1] The airport is generally considered the centre of Australian general aviation, is home to numerous fixed-wing and helicopter flying schools, charter operators, aircraft maintenance businesses, and private aircraft.
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[edit] History
[edit] World War II
Bankstown Airport was originally planned in 1929. The plan to build an airport at Bankstown was put on hold until it was established in 1940, after the commencement of World War II when the Department of Civil Aviation attained 630 acres (2.5 km²) of land for development as an Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) facility. Initially known as RAAF Station Bankstown, the station becoming RAAF Bankstown on 2 December 1940.
When General MacArthur arrived in Australia, during World War II, Bankstown Airport was taken over by the United States Army Air Force, and was established as a key strategic air base to support the war effort in 1942. It became home to members of the 35th Pursuit Group and the 49th Pursuit Group from 1942 to 1944. In 1945 operations became the responsibility of the British Fleet Air Arm, known as Royal Naval Air Station Bankstown, HMS Nabberley, before being handed back to the RAAF on 31 March 1946.
During the war, several "dummy houses" were built to make Bankstown Airport and its surrounds appear as a farm, hangers were disguised as houses with fake roads to further confuse the enemy. There was a command post on Black Charlies Hill and gun pits located within and around the airport to protect it from air attack. Part of its defences included an anti-aircraft battery situated on the Corner of Bexley Road and Homer Street, Kingsgrove to help protect the approaches to the airport. After the war it was considered as an international airport terminal but certain limitations made it unsuitable for this purpose.
De Havilland has been affiliated with the airport opening a factory at the airfield in 1942, occupying the area to the south of the runway.
[edit] Units based at Bankstown during World War II
- No. 2 Aircraft Park RAAF
- 4th Fighter Squadron of 35th Pursuit Group
- 39th Fighter Squadron of 35th Pursuit Group
- 41st Fighter Squadron of 35th Pursuit Group
- 7th Fighter Squadron of 49th Pursuit Group
- Royal Naval Air Station Bankstown, HMS Nabberley
[edit] Post War
In the late 1970’s Hawker de Havilland relocated their Lidcombe plant to Bankstown Airport.
In 1970 the government put forth a proposal to expand the airport’s operations but this was vigorously opposed by the local community.[2]
[edit] Facilities
[edit] Runways
The airport has three runways. The primary runway (11C/29C) is 1,415m x 30m, is rated at 20 tonnes and limited at 50 tonnes MTOW. Further details can be obtained in the Enroute Supplement published by AirServices Australia.
[edit] Taxiways & Aprons
Selective taxiways and aprons are rated at 20 tonnes and limited to 50 tonnes MTOW. Further details can be obtained in the Enroute Supplement published by AirServices Australia.
[edit] Lighting
Runway 11C/29C has three stage, high intensity edge lights and a Precision Approach Path Indicator or (PAPI).
[edit] Air Traffic Control
Bankstown has its own dedicated Air Traffic Control Tower, operated by AirServices Australia, and uses GAAP airspace procedures. The operating hours for the tower are published in the Enroute Supplement.
[edit] Navaids
Runway 11C/29C has a straight in GPS approach procedure. There is also a Radar Approach Procedure and a Non Directional Beacon (NDB) located at the airport.
[edit] Passenger Facilities
The existing small passenger terminal at the airport is capable of handling up to 200 passengers per hour. Vehicle parking is available at no charge. Arriving passengers can arrange for taxi pick up at the terminal. The main airport entrance is also serviced by a local bus service to Bankstown railway station.
[edit] Master Plan
The Airport’s Master Plan was approved in March 2005 by the Minister for Transport and Regional Services. The Plan governs the Airport’s operations until 2024-2025. The current approved Airport Environment Strategy is valid for five years until 2010, it outlines management plans for specific ground-based environmental issues.
[edit] A Filming Location
The Airport offers a range of aviation and non-aviation settings with large hangars to accommodate grand scale indoor filming. Bankstown is home the majority of Sydney’s Executive Jets and Helicopters, as well as the Australian Aviation Museum which showcases a range vintage aircraft. The site at Bankstown covers over 300 hectares with significant stretches of runways, tarmac, as well as wide and open spaces.
[edit] Airport Ownership
Bankstown Airport is owned by Bankstown Airport Limited, a subsidiary of BAC Airports Pty Limited, whose ultimate shareholders include James Fielding, Colonial First State and Westscheme. BAC Airports also owns Camden Airport, another of the three general aviation airports in the Sydney basin. Bankstown Airport’s business precincts are home to a large number of non-aviation businesses in addition to the many aviation related ones.
[edit] Location
The airport and the neighbouring Georges River Golf Course together form a suburb which is usually referred to as Bankstown Airport, although the official name is Bankstown Aerodrome. The suburb is part of the Bankstown local government area and shares the postcode 2200 with its eastern neighbour, Condell Park.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Movements at Australian Airports. Airservices Australia (accessed 2008-03-07)
- ^ Maltby, Kathy; Rosen, Sue – Bankstown: Sense of Identity. From Settlement to City. Civic Tower 66-72 Rickard Road Bankstown: Bankstown City Council, Pages 13.
[edit] External links
- Bankstown Airport website
- YSBK - ERSA [1]
- Travelmate - Bankstown, New South Wales
- Airport information for YSBK at World Aero Data
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