Airport comments for Asia
Comments 5,076 to 5,099 of 5,131
Clark Air Base
I was actually stationed at Clark Air base back in 1989-1991. I was just coming from Desert Shield/Desert Storm then evacuated a few days later to Subic which was hit harder during the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. It was quite an experience. Perhaps someday soon I will visit my homeland.
naval family
my brother was stationed here for years and my daughter may be stopping off soon just remembering where it was at exactly
airport
its really nice airport
Iranian Connection
This airfield is owned and operated by a nearby Scud missile factory that employs many Iranian workers. This airfield has also been used as a drop off point for Iranian weapons shipments.
Riots (August 2007)
There were riots at this airport on August 22, 2007, with four protesters shot by police, and the airport was temporarily closed:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/08/22/airport.riot.ap/index.html
Not currently in use
While this airport isn't officially closed, it hasn't been used since 1995, and has been controlled by the Israeli Defense Force since 2001. The airport has two ICAO codes: OJJR for Jordan (who originally controlled the territory), and LLJR for Israel.
re: A better, but less interesting place
XingR: Kai Tak is in the system now:
Closed in 1998
This airport closed in 1998 and was replaced by the new Hong Kong Intl (HKG). Because it was close to skyscrapers and hills, pilots had to do an irregular approach to runway 13, turning just before a hill covered in a checkered pattern, hence the name "checkerboard approach". Here's a video of a 747 following the approach, taken from the checkered hillside:
This is in Syria not Turkey
Syrian land not Turkey. The Stolen Sanjak
Simply the best
Arguably the best international airport in the world, ahead of Hong Kong then Sydney.
And I dare say home to the best airline in the world as well (SQ), which I believe is no coincidence !
One of Northwest's Frequent Stopovers
I've been here several times going to and from the Philippines. Northwest likes to use it rather than Narita because of traffic and economic reasons. (Sometimes known by the alternative nickname of "Route 66) See some of my acerbic comments on inadequate southern California airports. When the Japanese don't have a good place for an airport, they make one ... in the US we wring our hands for years on end and often do nothing.
A place To Learn About Paralell Runways
Transited many times on trips to and from the Philippines. Chian Airlines and EVA Air both hub here. A mediocre terminal in my view, someday I'd like to actually visit the island of Taipei, it would likely make up for the airport. This airport is sadly noted as the location of one of the more tragic and well-known "wrong departure runway" accidents, Singapore Air Flt 006.
A better, but less interesting place
I've been here a number rof times as a passenger, usually transiitioning to ground transpo for trips into mainland China. One of the best airports in the world for transiting visitors .. food, shopping, great transport down town, etc.
I welcomed the recent addition of Meigs, hopefully we might also see the "old" VHHH (Kai Tak) with the famous "Checkerboard" approach to runway 13? Been there and done that too.
DPS
The runway gets extremely slippery when wet, due to years of buildup of rubber deposits.
Main airport in Tehran, so far
Went...and left from...there three times as a passenger. AIrport is always crowded, inside and out. Luckily travelling in business class and had access to the lounges, but no alcohol is allowed even there. I could have used a cold beer.
Most maojor traffic to Tehran is supposed to move to the newer airport farther south, Imam Khomeini International soon, if it hasn't happened already, but it's a lot farther from town. Think Mirabel vs Dorval.
Also known as New Tokyo International
This is where I arrived to start my three years in Japan in September 1996. The airport had only the originak runway (the one in the lower partof the photo) then. the second, parallel runway had been slated to be built for nearly 20 years but delayed by farmers in the area who din't want to sell their land. At times the protests against airport expansion reached the point of people flying tethered balloons in the path of landing aircraft ... Japan is an "interesting" country to do large construction projects.
In addition to taking many flights in and out of Narita I had the opportunity to work "inside" Narita a number of times. My organization had a contracted "greeting" facility for US forces entering Japan in Terminal 1 which we had to move several times die to construction and it was a learning experience to see what goes on behind the normally closed doors to make an airport of this size actually operate.
Cebu International, where Magellan came to stay
Another former USAF Base, Mactan is joint use now with the airlines and the Philippine Air Force. The terminal is small, only about 6 gates but quite modern. A really huge contrast with the much better known NAIA in Manila 400 miles to the north. Cebu is the "queen city" of the southern Philippines and an interesting destination, much more laid back than other Asian cities. The airport is actually in the municipality of Lapu-Lapu named after one of the original residents (also known as the Kaliph Pulaka) who wasn't exactly overcome with joy at the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 and showed his displeasure by ending Magellan's voyage (and life) on the shore just north and east of the departure end of runway 4.
Another Great Home For A Year
I spent the year of 1972 at Khorat. Like my earlier time at Tahkli it is hard to think why a person would have such fond memories of a place ... but I do. Again I spent most of my year there building drop tanks, leading a wonderful crew of Thai civilian workers. The end of my tour there encompased the last Linebacker missions when our F-105s and F-4's flew round the clock stopping only when all the tanks we could build were used up. The B-52s from Guam and Utapao flew missions right into the "Downtown" Route packs and even shot down Migs on their own. A sad thing indeed, war, but at least we got the air war stopped ... I'll leave it to others to battle over the rights and wrongs, I served.
A Home For An Eventful year
I lived and worked at Takhli Royal Thai AB for a wonderful year of my life in 1967. There was a war on so I wonder that I consider it "wonderful" but it was .. my first real time truly away from home and holding down a really responsible job ..building drop tanks for the mssisons we were flying over North Vietnam.
I'm glad to see the old place is still going strong. The former American quarters are west of the south end of runway 36 and the shiny new maintenance complex to the est is all new in the past few years ... I dearly miss my time there and I miss the wonderful Thai workers I was priviledged to lead as we did our bit to help.
My Home for Three Years
I was the communications planner/program manager at Yokota for the years 1996 through 1999. Among the neat aviation-related things I got to do were the installation and commissioning of the runway 18 ILS ... a ssytem we physically removed from Minot AFB Montana, shipped across the pacific and put back to good use at Yokota. Mnay civilian plots have been through Yokota as a significant part of its traffic is contract passenger and cargo flights and I recall a number of times when I was there that Northwest used it to land when weather gave them a problem at Narita
My Current "Home base"
This former USAF installation is now run by a hybrid government-commercial development corporation. in addition to hosting many ground-based industries, casinos, hotels and recreatioal facilities it is being built up as a major international airport, slated to be linked to Manila via high-speed commuter rail and US-standard expressways ala the current Hong Kong airport.
If you zoom in just to the east of the approach end of runway 02R you'll see the separate runway and hangar facilities of Omni Aviation a busy flight school and FBO situated in the former home of the Clark AB Aero Club ... and an excellent place to base if you're in the Philippines. best of both worlds ... fly out of a major international airport but with your own runway and facilities.
My Current International Gateway
I presently make my home in the Philippines in Bulacan, about 25nm north of NAIA. NAIA is the major Philippines airline hub. The current government is working to move a lot of airline traffic to the former Clark Air Base, about 40nm North of the city ... which will be known as DMIA (after the father of the current Philippine Republic president) and is already a significant air freight hub.
Musharraf plane attack
This seems to be the air base where President Musharraf's plane was fired on on Friday 6 July 2007.
H 4
π Fri, 23 Nov 2007
β @Ramez at H4 Air Base, Jordan
Is this RJAF base abandoned?