Bunbury Airport Explained

Bunbury Airport
Nativename:Bunbury City Airport
Iata:BUY
Icao:YBUN
Type:Public
Operator:Bunbury City Council
Location:Bunbury, Western Australia
Elevation-F:53
Coordinates:-33.3781°N 115.6769°W
Pushpin Map:Western Australia
Pushpin Label:YBUN
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Western Australia
Metric-Rwy:y
R1-Number:07/25
R1-Length-M:1,015
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Footnotes:Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[1]

Bunbury Airport is an airport servicing the Western Australian city of Bunbury. Bunbury Airport is located 8km (05miles) south-east of the city centre and is the only airport serving the city. The airport is used largely as a facility for General Aviation, pilot training and emergency services. Bunbury Airport serves an area that includes the City of Bunbury and the surrounding districts of Harvey, Dardanup, Capel and Donnybrook-Balingup.

History

The City of Bunbury is the owner and operator of Bunbury Airport. Council first investigated the possibility of an airstrip in 1965 and with the help of a band of enthusiastic aviators and input from the Department of Civil Aviation, the airstrip became operational in 1969. It has evolved to present day with council funds, government grants/funds, and operational input from the Bunbury Aero Club. The aerodrome is a 'registered' airport with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Recent upgrades to the airport include the following:

Operations and facilities

Bunbury Airport has a single sealed runway, 07/25 which is 1222x wide. Due to the proximity of the South Western Highway, there is a 206m (676feet) permanently displaced threshold at the runway 25 end to allow sufficient clearance over the road. Because of this, the available landing distance is 1015m (3,330feet). The airport is currently restricted to aircraft with a maximum take-off weight less than 5700kg (12,600lb).[2] Runway 07/25 is equipped with low intensity, pilot activated runway lighting for night operations. There is no control tower and pilots must co-ordinate arrivals and departures using a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency.

Three flying schools and 1 facility operate out of Bunbury Airport, they are: AirChartersWest,[3] Bunbury Aero Club,[4] Bunbury Flying School[5] and AirSportsWA. The schools and airport are a major Recreational Aviation Australia approved flight training facility.[6]

Bunbury Airport currently averages 13,000 aircraft movements per annum. The airport is home to a permanent rescue helicopter base operated by the Department of Fire & Emergency Services, seasonal water bombers operated by the Parks & Wildlife Services section of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and significant visitation by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. , Aeronautical Chart
  2. http://www.bunbury.wa.gov.au/pdf/Residents/Publications/Bunbury_Airport_Location_Analysis_Study/080903_Chapter_4_and_5.pdf Bunbury Airport Location Analysis Study
  3. http://www.aircharterswest.com.au/ Air Charters West
  4. http://www.bunburyaeroclub.com.au/ Bunbury Aero Club
  5. http://bunburyflyingschool.com/ Bunbury Flying School
  6. http://www.raa.asn.au/school-states/schools-wa/ List of schools in WA