N'Djamena International Airport explained

N'Djamena International Airport
Iata:	NDJ
Icao:	FTTJ
Type:	Public / military
Owner:	Government
City-Served:	Chad
Elevation-F:	968
Website:	aeroport-ndjamena.com
Coordinates:	12.1336°N 15.0339°W
Pushpin Map:	Chad#Africa
Pushpin Map Caption:	Location of airport in Chad
Pushpin Label:	FTTJ
Pushpin Label Position:	right
Metric-Rwy:	y
R1-Number:	05/23
R1-Length-M:	2,800
R1-Surface:	Asphalt
Footnotes:	Sources:^[1]

N'Djamena International Airport (Arabic: مطار انجمينا الدولي; French: Aéroport international de N'Djaména) serves N'Djamena, the capital city of Chad. It is the country's only international airport. The airport is dual use, with civilian and military installations on opposite sides of the single runway.

Facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of 968feet above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 05/23 with an asphalt surface measuring 2800mx45mm (9,200feetx148feetm).

French military base

What would become Fort-Lamy Base Aerienne 172 was occupied by a permanent detachment of French Air Force aircraft from 1939 until its abandonment in 1975.

There has been a French base here since independence, the only lapses being in 1975 and again for a couple of years beginning in 1978. After Operation Epervier started, it has been extensively used by the French Air Force and Army during various operations. In 2016, Epervier was composed of about 1500 men, a dozen Mirage 2000 fighters, Puma and Caiman helicopters, and transport and tankers aircraft (C-160 Transall, Boeing KC-135, C-130 Hercules) Operations are undertaken over neighbouring Mali and Niger for Operation Barkhane, combating militant groups throughout the southern Sahara. The entire area is under the authority of COMELEF (commandement des élément français), typically a French Air Force colonel. The importance of the operation does mean that the runway is always open, and that excellent primary radar coverage is provided, as well as other facilities (military hospital, rescue and fire services, and assistance with ATC).

On September 7, 1987, a Tupolev Tu-22 of the Libyan Arab Air Force was shot down as it was bombing the French base. French Army Hawk missiles downed this aircraft, and three crew members were killed. The bombs missed their targets, falling in sandy areas.

The French base is also shared by the Chadian Air Force with Su-25 Frogfoot, Mi-24 Hind helicopters, and C-130 Hercules stationed there.

Airlines and destinations

Cargo

Incidents

• On 7 November 1951, a Douglas C-47A-80-DL (F-BEIV) of Société de Transports Aériens Camerounais (STAC) crashed during takeoff. There were no fatalities; the plane was written off.^[2]
• On 11 November 1952, a Douglas C-54B-1-DC (F-BFVO) of UAT crashed en route to Beirut shortly after takeoff, killing 5 of the 6 occupants.^[3]
• On 3 June 1955, a Douglas C-54A-5-DC (F-BFVT) of UAT overturned on landing on a cargo flight from Douala, killing all three occupants.^[4]
• On 15 February 1963, a Nord 2501 Noratlas (45) of L'Armee de L'Air was destroyed by fire while fueling.^[5]
• On 28 January 1978, Douglas C-47 TT-EAB of Air Tchad^[6] was reportedly "possibly shot down by rebels" near Tibesti.^[7] The damaged aircraft apparently landed at N'Djamena International Airport.^[8]
• On 10 March 1984, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63PF (F-BOLL) of UTA was parked during a 1-hour intermediate stopover in N'Djamena on a flight from Brazzaville to Paris. Shortly after arriving, however, a small bomb detonated in the baggage compartment; all 23 occupants were immediately evacuated; another explosion went off 20 minutes later, destroying the aircraft.^[9]
• On 19 September 1989, UTA Flight 772, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 (registration N54629)^[10] operating the Brazzaville-N'Djamena-Paris CDG sector, was bombed 46 minutes after take-off from N'Djamena, causing the aircraft to crash while flying over Niger. All 156 passengers and 14 crew members on board died.^{[11] [12]}
• On 17 August 1995, a Boeing 707-321C (YR-ABN) of Air Afrique arriving on a cargo flight from Paris veered to the left on landing due to the no. 4 engine not reversing, and went off the runway going 10 knots (11.5 mph), with the left main landing gear striking a concrete block and collapsing. The plane was written off; all six occupants survived.^[13]
• On 24 July 2001, Vickers Viscount 3D-OHM of Transtel was damaged beyond economic repair in a take-off accident. Although written off by the insurers, the aircraft was repaired. Repairs were almost complete when a soldier accidentally discharged his gun, puncturing a fuel tank.^[14]
• On 18 September 2001, a Cessna 208 Caravan I (F-OHRM) owned by an A. Trichot was substantially damaged after being blown over by a gust of wind while standing and subsequently written off.^[15]
• On 24 January 2007, Air West Flight 612, a Boeing 737-200, landed at N'Djamena after being hijacked.^[16]
• In 2008 (date unknown), an Antonov An-12B (UP-AN208) of East Wing was damaged beyond repair in a non-fatal landing incident during a cargo flight. The right main undercarriage is reported to have collapsed.^[17]

See also

• Transport in Chad

Notes and References

1. from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
2. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-47A-80-DL (DC-3) F-BEIV Fort Lamy Airport (NDJ) . 2023-07-14 . aviation-safety.net.
3. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-54B-1-DC (DC-4) F-BFVO Fort Lamy Airport (NDJ) . 2023-07-14 . aviation-safety.net.
4. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-54A-5-DC (DC-4) F-BFVT Fort Lamy Airport (NDJ) . 2023-07-14 . aviation-safety.net.
5. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Nord 2501 Noratlas 45 Fort-Lamy Airport (NDJ) . 2023-07-14 . aviation-safety.net.
6. Web site: Douglas DC-3 and C-47 in Chad, Spelled Tchad in French . The Dakota Association of South Africa . 2 August 2010.
7. Web site: TT-EAB Criminal occurrence description . Aviation Safety Network . 1 August 2010.
8. Web site: Jacques Hémet shares his vintage propliner images . Ruud Leeuw . 2 August 2010.
9. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63PF F-BOLL N'Djamena Airport (NDJ) . 2023-07-14 . aviation-safety.net.
10. http://aviation-safety.net/photos/displayphoto.php?id=19890919-1&vnr=1&kind=PC
11. News: BBC NEWS - UK - UTA 772: The forgotten flight. 19 August 2003 . 7 June 2015.
12. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 N54629 Ténéré desert. Harro Ranter. 19 September 1989. 7 June 2015.
13. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 707-321C YR-ABN N'Djamena Airport (NDJ) . 2023-07-14 . aviation-safety.net.
14. Web site: Accident description . Aviation Safety Network . 5 September 2009.
15. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Cessna 208 Caravan I F-OHRM N'Djamena Airport (NDJ) . 2023-07-14 . aviation-safety.net.
16. Web site: Hijacked Plane Lands In Chad . https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083848/http://www.nbc11.com/news/10829062/detail.html . September 29, 2007 . January 24, 2007 . NBC Bay Area.
17. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Antonov An-12B UP-AN208 N'Djamena Airport (NDJ) . 2023-07-14 . aviation-safety.net.