Gulu Airport

Gulu Airport
IATA: ULU – ICAO: HUGU
Summary
Airport type Public and military
Operator Uganda Civil Aviation Authority
Serves Gulu, Uganda
Elevation AMSL 3,510 ft / 1,070 m
Coordinates 2°48′20″N 32°16′18″E / 2.80556°N 32.27167°E / 2.80556; 32.27167Coordinates: 2°48′20″N 32°16′18″E / 2.80556°N 32.27167°E / 2.80556; 32.27167
Map
ULU

Location of airport in Uganda

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
17/35 3,139 10,299 Asphalt
Sources: GCM[1] SkyVector[2]

Gulu Airport (IATA: ULU, ICAO: HUGU) is a civilian and military airport in the Northern Region of Uganda. It is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north-west of the central business district of Gulu, the largest metropolitan area in the Northern Region. The airport is approximately 303 kilometres (188 mi) north of Entebbe International Airport, Uganda's largest civilian and military airport.[3]

The airport serves the city of Gulu, with an estimated population of 154,300 in 2011. It is one of the twelve upcountry airports under the administration of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA). It is also one of the five upcountry airports authorized to handle cross-border air traffic between Uganda and neighboring countries, in an effort to promote tourism within eastern Africa.

Eagle Air has regular flights from Entebbe International Airport on Mondays and Thursdays. Charter flights between Gulu and Moyo Airport, Arua Airport, and Pakuba Airport are also occasionally flown.

History

The runway was built in 1959 and has never seen any surface servicing since. The tarmac runway is heavily cracked but still suitable for small to medium aircraft. Hopes of upgrading the airport during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2007 did not materialize. The airport grounds are fenced off completely to minimize animal movements onto the runway.

Fugro's airborne survey division was contracted by the government of Uganda to perform airborne geophysical mineral exploration surveys throughout Uganda between 2006 and 2009. To perform its duties in the Northern Region, the company based two aircraft out of Gulu with daily low level (80 meters above ground level) flights up to the Sudanese border.

During the 21 years of civil war between the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government, the Ugandan Air Force actively based from Gulu. Since the LRA rebel activity ended, the Gulu military presence has been reduced to a sizeable ground force with no aircraft, based around the military hangars west of runway 35.

Facilities

Gulu Airport terminal buildings

The airport lacks airplane refueling facilities and no customs service is available. However, crash-assistance and a fire truck with 2,000 liters (530 U.S. gal) of water, foam capability, and dry chemical powder is at hand between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (local time). A small terminal is located next to the airport, and taxis provide transportation to town. A newly installed mobile air traffic control centre is available from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. (local time). No navigational aids or runway lights exist. The weather office in Gulu is not in use.

Renovations

In 2010, the UCAA contracted with Gauff Consultants Limited for consultancy services for the development of preliminary master plans and detailed engineering designs for the airport for a price of about UGX:359 million.[4] Gulu will be re-designed into an international airport.[5]

In January 2014, phased renovation of the airport was commissioned by the Ugandan Minister of Works and Transport. The first phase involves resurfacing and lengthening the asphalt runway to 3.14 kilometres (10,300 ft) and widening it to 45 metres (148 ft) at a budgeted cost of US$4 million. The complete renovation will cost an estimated US$59 million and involves the construction of a larger passenger terminal building, a new car park, access roads, and cargo operations facilities. Other planned improvements include the addition of runway lights, infrastructure for fire and rescue services, and air navigation and traffic control systems.

Airline and destinations

Airlines offering scheduled passenger service:

AirlinesDestinations
Eagle Air[6] Entebbe

See also

References

  1. ↑ Airport information for ULU at Great Circle Mapper.
  2. ↑ "Aeronautical chart showing HUGU with elevation and runway length". SkyVector. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  3. ↑ Flight Distance Between Entebbe Airport And Gulu Airport With Map
  4. ↑ Gulu Airport To Undergo Modernization Archived July 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ Plans To Create Gulu International Airport In Advanced Stages
  6. ↑ Eagle Air Schedule
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