Käyser Airstrip Explained

Käyser Airstrip
Nativename:Eilerts de Haan Airstrip / Jan Gouka Airstrip
Icao:SMKE
Type:Public
Operator:Luchtvaartdienst Suriname
Location:Käyser Mountains, Suriname
Elevation-F:849
Coordinates:3.0931°N -56.4736°W
Pushpin Map:Suriname
Pushpin Label:SMKE
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Suriname
Metric-Rwy:y
R1-Number:11/29
R1-Length-M:1150
R1-Surface:grass
Footnotes:Sources: GCM Google Maps[1]

Käyser Airstrip, also Käyser Jan Gouka Airstrip is near the Käyser Mountains range in Sipaliwini District, Suriname. It was constructed as part of Operation Grasshopper (a project to look for natural resources) and has one long grass runway. Fishing and wildlife tours are prime users of the airstrip.[2]

History

The runway was laid out in the framework of Operation Grasshopper and is located on the Zuid River (branch of the Lucie River) near the Käyser Mountains, named after the explorer Conrad Carel Käyser. In July 1959 under the direction of Dirk Geijskes an expedition began in preparation for the airports at the Coeroeni River and the Käyser Mountains.[2] In December 1960, Käyser Airstrip opened up for public air traffic in Suriname. On 25 October 1968 a KLM Aerocarto C-47A registered PH-DAA flew into Tafelberg Mountain, Suriname, following an engine failure while on a survey flight. The aircraft collided with the mountain in cloudy conditions, killing three of the five people on board.[3] In memory of the deceased Captain Jan Gouka, the Käyser Airstrip was named after him. [4]

Airlines and destinations

Currently, no scheduled airlines are offered from Käyser Jan Gouka Airstrip.

Charter

Charter Airlines serving this airport are:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.google.com/maps/@3.0929061,-56.4762996,3483m/data=!3m1!1e3 Google Maps - Kayser
  2. Web site: Operatie sprinkhaan. Landewers. 25 June 2020. nl. 8 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220808125605/http://www.landewers.net/grasshopper.pdf. dead.
  3. Web site: PH-DAA Accident description . Aviation Safety Network . 24 July 2011.
  4. Web site: Operatie Sprinkhaan, de ontsluiting van de Surinaamse binnenlanden door de lucht. 28 December 2022.