Lockhart River Airport

Lockhart River Airport (IATA: IRG, ICAO: YLHR) (also known as Iron Range Airport) is an airport in Lockhart River, Queensland, Australia, located approximately 800 km (500 mi) north of Cairns on the eastern coast of Cape York Peninsula. Being so remote with the road to Lockhart River being unpassable during the tropical wet season, the airport provides a vital transport hub for the community as well as being the only means of freighting in critical medical and other supplies during the summer months.

Lockhart River Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorLockhart River Aerodrome Company Pty Ltd
LocationLockhart River
Elevation AMSL77 ft / 23 m
Coordinates12°47′13″S 143°18′17″E
Map
YLHR
Location in Queensland
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
12/30 1,500 4,921 Asphalt
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[1]

History

The airport was constructed during World War II, and was used as a bomber and communications base for many years. Known World War II United States Army Air Forces Fifth Air Force units assigned to Iron Range Airport were:

  • 22d Bombardment Group, (29 September 1942 – 4 February 1943)
19th Bombardment Squadron, (15 September 1942 – 4 February 1943) B-26 Marauder
33d Bombardment Squadron, (29 September 1942 – 4 February 1943) B-26 Marauder

In addition, the 479th Service Squadron provided supplies for the B-26 and B-17s assigned to the airport, as well as operating a repair and maintenance depot for B-24 Liberator aircraft.

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Skytrans Airlines Aurukun, Cairns, Weipa

Accidents and incidents
Main article: Lockhart River air disaster

On 7 May 2005 a Fairchild Metroliner aircraft crashed 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) north-west of Lockhart River Airport, killing all 15 people on board. The aircraft had flown from Bamaga and was preparing to land at the airport.

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See also

References
  1. YLHR – Lockhart River (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 21 May 2020, Aeronautical Chart Archived 11 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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