Birdsville Airport Explained

Birdsville Airport
Iata:BVI
Icao:YBDV
Type:Public
Operator:Diamantina Shire Council
City-Served:Birdsville, Queensland, Australia
Elevation-F:159
Coordinates:-25.8908°N 139.3443°W
Pushpin Map:Queensland
Pushpin Label:YBDV
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Queensland
Metric-Rwy:y
R1-Number:14/32
R1-Length-M:1,732
R1-Surface:Asphalt
R2-Number:03/21
R2-Length-M:1,200
R2-Surface:Clay
Footnotes:Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[1]

Birdsville Airport is an airport serving Birdsville, Queensland, Australia. During the Birdsville Races weekend each September, as many as 200 light aircraft visit the airport, with aviators permitted to camp under the wings of their planes.[2] The Channel Mail Run, the world's longest mail run operates between Port Augusta, South Australia and Birdsville, stopping in the town to collect mail for the remote Queensland cattle stations of Glengyle and Durrie.[3] [4]

In September 2011, a $1.5 million upgrade was completed which included construction of a new terminal building, resurfacing and the installation of edge lights on runway 14/32 and extensions to the apron area to provide more aircraft parking and manoeuvring space. The upgrade was funded by the Diamantina Shire Council and Queensland Government's Regional Airport Development Scheme, in response to growth in aviation-related tourism leading to increased movements at the airport.[5]

Airlines and destinations

Regular services that were operated by Skytrans are under contract to the Government of Queensland and were taken over by Regional Express Airlines from 1 January 2015.[6]

Central Eagle Aviation operates scenic flights round Lake Eyre. West Wing Aviation operates mail flights to Port Augusta, Glengyle Station and Durrie Station as part of the Channel Mail Run.

See also

Notes and References

  1. , Aeronautical Chart
  2. http://www.iasaustralia.com.au/f.ashx/Birdsville-Airport-Project-Sheet-2010.pdf Birdsville Races
  3. http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2009/04/09/2540007.htm The world's longest mail run
  4. Web site: Getting here. https://web.archive.org/web/20120317164057/http://www.diamantina.qld.gov.au/web/guest/getting-here. dead. 17 March 2012. Diamantina Shire Council. 12 June 2012.
  5. Web site: $1.5M Birdsville Airport upgrade. Queensland Government. 9 September 2011. 12 June 2012.
  6. News: Rex soars in Queensland as Skytrans Falters. The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 October 2014.