Kampong Chhnang Airport Explained

Kampong Chhnang Airport
Iata:KZC
Icao:VDKH
Pushpin Map:Cambodia
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of airport in Cambodia
Pushpin Label:Kampong
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Type:Public
Operator:Government
City-Served:Kompong Chhnang, Cambodia
Elevation-F:56
Elevation-M:17
Coordinates:12.255°N 104.5636°W
Metric-Rwy:y
R1-Number:18/36
R1-Length-M:2,400
R1-Length-F:7,874
R1-Surface:Concrete
Stat-Year:?
Stat1-Header:Passenger movements
Stat1-Data:?
Stat2-Header:Airfreight movements in tonnes
Stat2-Data:?
Stat3-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat3-Data:?
Footnotes:Source: DAFIF[1]

Kampong Chhnang Airport is an abandoned airport near Kampong Chhnang, the capital of the Kampong Chhnang Province in Cambodia. It is located near Pratlang village, roughly 60 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh. The airfield was built and abandoned during the Cambodian Genocide.

History

Plans to construct the airport began in 1975, organized by the Khmer Rouge with considerable assistance from Chinese advisors. Construction began in early 1976 with forced labor, similar to other infrastructure projects initiated by the Khmer Rouge. The total number of laborers initially was in the hundreds, and by 1977 was estimated to be more than 10,000. Workers died in significant numbers due to malnutrition, exposure, disease, and execution, and were buried in mass graves at the site. It is unknown how many died in total during the construction, however, local villagers have stated that the stench of decomposing corpses remained for years after the site was abandoned. There is no placard or memorial at the site.[2]

Facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of 60feet above mean sea level. It has one runway designed 18/36 with a concrete surface measuring 2400mx50mm (7,900feetx160feetm).The airfield has been abandoned since the late 1970s.

References

  1. from defunct resource of DAFIF (archived 6 June 2011)
  2. Tyner. James A.. Brindis-Alvarez. Gabriela. Colucci. Alex R.. 2012 . Memory and the everyday landscape of violence in post-genocide Cambodia . Social & Cultural Geography . 13 . 8 . 853-871 . 10.1080/14649365.2012.734847.