Yongphulla Airport

Yongphulla Airport (IATA: YON, ICAO: VQTY)[2] (also known as Yonphula Airport) is a domestic airport in Bhutan, one of four airports in the country. It is located near the town of Trashigang in Trashigang District.[3]

Yonphula Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorDepartment of Civil Aviation
ServesTrashigang, Bhutan
Elevation AMSL2,743 m / 9,000 ft
Coordinates27°15′23″N 091°30′52″E
Map
YON
Location of airport in Bhutan
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
12/30 1,266 4,154 Asphalt
Source: DAFIF[1][2]

History

The airport was originally constructed by the Indian Army in the 1960s. Yongphulla Airport was simply an airstrip at that time, located high atop mountainous terrain and largely unused. In the early 2000s, the airport was renovated with the aim of becoming a viable domestic airport.[4] It was scheduled for completion in January 2010,[5] but the airport was eventually completed and inaugurated in December 2011. Six months later it closed for runway surface repairs, after Drukair suspended operations citing safety concerns. During construction, budget constraints had allowed only half of the runway to receive 'patchwork repairs'. The runway had not been resurfaced since the 1960s.[6]

While the airport reopened in January 2013, following a complete resurfacing of the runway, Drukair scheduled flights to Yongphulla remained suspended because of regulatory requirements and further safety concerns. The ATR 42-500 used by Drukair for domestic services, while able to land on the 3.8 percent gradient runway, was prohibited from doing so in commercial flight operations, as there was a limitation in the aircraft manual of 2 percent gradient.[7] Additionally, Drukair highlighted concerns with a 'hump' in the runway, on the grounds that it may cause long-term structural damage to their aircraft. Drukair also asked for the two hillocks either side of the runway to be removed on the grounds that the airport is prone to strong crosswinds and these represent a hazard to aircraft in such conditions.[6]

In October 2013, it was announced that the airport would be closed to all air traffic until 2015, due to the lack of fire service cover and to allow significant structural repairs to the airfield.[6] The closure lasted for over four years. The airport was re-opened on 8 October 2017 by Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay after the runway was upgraded to international standards.[8]

Facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of 9,000 ft (2,700 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 12/30 with an Asphalt surface measuring 4,154 by 120 feet (1,266 m × 37 m).[4][9][10]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Druk Air Jakar, Paro
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See also

References
  1. Airport information from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
  2. "Trashigang Yongphulla - ch-aviation.com". ch-aviation. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  3. "Bhutan Portal". Bhutan.gov.bt. 2009-02-11. Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  4. "Kuensel Newspaper - Domestic air service to take wing soon". Kuenselonline.com. 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  5. "Kuensel Newspaper - DYT approves quarry without community clearance". Kuenselonline.com. 2010-08-30. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  6. "Yonphula airport shuts down earlier than planned". KuenselOnline. Archived from the original on 2014-12-13. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  7. "Blog Archive » Drukair Yonphula flights up in the air". kuenselonline. 2012-01-04. Archived from the original on 2012-12-06. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  8. "Yongphula Domestic Airport reopens to air traffic". Bhutan Broadcasting Service. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  9. "Airport YONGPHULLA". Fallingrain.com. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  10. "photos of airport Yongphula ( YBH / VQTY )". planes.cz. Archived from the original on 2014-08-11. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
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