Wittenoom Gorge Airport | |
Iata: | WIT |
Icao: | YWIT |
Type: | Defunct |
City-Served: | Wittenoom, Western Australia |
Location: | Wittenoom Contaminated Site |
Closed: | 1966 |
Coordinates: | -22.2264°N 118.3614°W |
Pushpin Map: | Western Australia |
Pushpin Label: | WIT |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Western Australia |
R1-Number: | 09/27 |
R1-Surface: | Gravel/Dirt |
Wittenoom Gorge Airport (ICAO YWIT, IATA WIT) is a former airfield that played a huge role in Wittenoom's asbestos industry. The airfield was operated by the Department of Civil Aviation. It is located in Wittenoom, Pilbara Region, Western Australia. [1]
In March 1945, the airfield was rated “A” class in favour of winds and dry weather.
In 1946, Airlines (WA) and competitor MMA opened up a new route that included Wittenoom along with other cities to carry workers and supplies to the asbestos mining site.
In 1955, runway 15/33 (5540 ft long) dirt strip was closed while two other runways were being used.[2]
Due to concerns of variations of the routes and subsidies, in 1955, Airlines (WA) and MMA merged forming MacRobertson Miller Airlines LTD.[3]
Located in the proximity of Wittenoom Gorge Airport, a small cemetery can be found with approximately 8 graves onsite. [4]