Niederstetten Air Base
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| Niederstetten Air Base Heeresflugplatz Niederstetten |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: none – ICAO: ETHN | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military/Civilian | ||
| Owner | Federal Ministry of Defence | ||
| Operator | German Army | ||
| Location | Niederstetten | ||
| Built | 1936 | ||
| Commander | Colonel Werner Hellinger | ||
| Occupants | German Army Aviators Corps | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 1535 ft / 468 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 07/25 | 3320 | 1012 | Concrete |
Niederstetten Air Base (German: "Heeresflugplatz Niederstetten") (IATA: ETHN) is located 4 km East of the city of Niederstetten in Northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
In 1936 construction of an air field for the Luftwaffe was completed. However, no permanent buildings and structures were erected, indicating that there were no plans for a permanent air field. The base was used during World War II by several Luftwaffe units including night fighters. After the end of World War II the air field was abandoned.
Beginning in 1957 works started to convert the former air force base into an air base to house units of the recently formed German Army's Aviation Corps, utilising the facilities of the previous occupant. These final works were completed in 1962 after which numerous units were stationed at Niederstetten Air Base.
Currently, the air base is home of Army Aviators Transport Helicopter Regiment 30 of the German Army. The regiment, which was relocated to Niederstetten in 1980, is part of German Army's Airmobile Operations Division, the division's headquarters being in Veitshöchheim. Approximately 750 members of the armed forces are at present employed at the air base. However, due to further restructuring within the German Army Aviators Corps this number will increase by 600 in 1211.[1]
Army Aviators Transport Helicopter Regiment 30 is equipped with helicopters of the type Bell UH-1D. These helicopters are being replaced by medium-sized NH90s, 32 of which will be stationed at Niederstetten Air Base.[2] To accommodate the new aircraft an extensive building program started in 2007,[3] the first result of which was the completion of a hangar to house 8 helicopters of the type NH90 in February 2008.[4]
The air base is also used for civilian purposes, particularly for business flights and recreational purposes. In order to comply with EU regulations and to retain permission for civilian use, the runway will be extended by 200 metres.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Heeresflieger stocken um 600 Soldaten auf (German). Fränkische Nachrichten. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
- ^ Startschuss zum Ausbau des Heeresflugplatzes in Niederstetten (German). Deutsches Heer (02-05-2007). Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
- ^ Heeresflugplatz Niederstetten wird für Transporthubschrauber NH 90 umgebaut (German). ngo-online (04-05-2007). Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
- ^ Heeresflugplatz Erste Baumaßnahme zur Nutzung übergeben (German). ofd magazin. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
