Geraldton Airport

Geraldton Airport
IATA: GET – ICAO: YGEL
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner/Operator	City of Greater Geraldton
Location	Geraldton, Western Australia
Elevation AMSL	121 ft / 37 m
Coordinates	28°47′46″S 114°42′27″E / 28.79611°S 114.70750°E / -28.79611; 114.70750Coordinates: 28°47′46″S 114°42′27″E / 28.79611°S 114.70750°E / -28.79611; 114.70750
Website	GeraldtonAirport.com.au
Map
YGEL Location in Western Australia
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 03/21 1,981 6,499 Asphalt 08/26 900 2,953 Gravel 14/32 844 2,769 Asphalt
Statistics (2010/11[1])
Passengers 104,051 Aircraft movements 3,783
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[2] Passenger and aircraft movements from the BITRE[3]

Geraldton Airport (IATA: GET, ICAO: YGEL) is an airport located 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) east^[2] of Geraldton, Western Australia, along the Geraldton – Mount Magnet Road. On average, from 2006 to 2011, more than 98,000 passengers used the airport annually.^[3]

Background

From 1941 to 1945, Geraldton was the site of No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF.

Geraldton Airport is the general aviation and regular passenger transport airport for the City of Greater Geraldton and it meets varying transport, industrial and commercial interests across the mid-west region.

Geraldton Airport is the main regional base for aircraft charter operations, flight training, private flying, aerial and agricultural work and aircraft maintenance in the mid-west region.

The closest significant aerodromes are Mullewa, 100 km (62 mi) to the east or Kalbarri 100 km (62 mi) to the north and for larger jet operations Perth Airport, 370 km (230 mi) to the south.

Geraldton Airport has daily Regular Public Transport (RPT) services, Geraldton – Perth – Geraldton, provided by both QantasLink and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines using Fokker 100 aircraft.

Geraldton Airport is the base for several general aviation flying training and charter operators, namely;

• Geraldton Air Charter, who purchased Abrolhos Air Services in 2002 and incorporated into business.
• Batavia Coast Air Charter
• Shine Aviation Services
• Mid West Aero Club
• OM Helicopters

Shine Aviation Services conduct flying training and utilise a gazetted low flying training area to the south east of the airport. Shine Aviation Services are also a major fly-in fly-out operator in the region.

Midwest Aviation conduct aircraft maintenance and have aircraft engineers.

Bristow Helicopters provide offshore support services to drill companies exploring offshore from Dongara.

Dunns Aerial Spraying & Spreading Service provides crop dusting services from the airport for up to nine months of each year.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service in Western Australia utilises the airport on an as required basis and has an aircraft hangar which is vested in the City of Greater Geraldton adjacent to the general aviation terminal.

Local charter operations from Geraldton Airport providing fly-in fly-out services include Shine Aviation to Golden Grove Mine, Mount Magnet and Jack Hills. Virgin Australia operates to Boolgeeda Airport from Geraldton on a Wednesday, and Network Aviation, Cobham Aviation Services Australia and Alliance Airlines operate charters to various sites on a non regular basis. Fixed wing and helicopter charters to the Abrolhos Islands are also well patronised.

Geraldton is close enough to Perth to receive a significant number of private operations from aircraft based in Perth. Geraldton is also a convenient location for pilots to fly to for recreational reasons.

Flying training squadrons from RAAF Base Pearce also use Geraldton Airport. They pay regular visits with Pilatus PC-9 training aircraft often staying overnight conducting circuits and cross-country navigation exercises. C130 Hercules transport aircraft also use Geraldton Airport for training on occasions throughout the year.

Airlines and destinations

Statistics

Geraldton Airport was ranked 44th in Australia for the number of revenue passengers served in financial year 2010-2011.^[1][3]

See also

• List of airports in Western Australia

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Geraldton Airport.

• Geraldton Airport, official site