Fath Air Base
{{Short description|Iranian airfield}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Fath Air Base
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| ICAO = OIIF
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| operator = Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force
| city-served = Karaj
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| elevation-f = 3999
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| coordinates = {{coord|35|43|02|N|50|56|07|E}}
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| r1-number = 13/31
| r1-length-f = 3,281
| r1-length-m = 981
| r1-surface = Asphalt
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Fath Air Base {{airport codes||OIIF}} is a military airfield near Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran.
Location
Fath Air Base is located near Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran. The airport is at an elevation of {{convert|3999|ft|m}} and has an asphalt runway, {{convert|3218|ft|m}} long, designated 13/31,.{{cite web |url=https://skyvector.com/airport/OIIF/Karaj-Fath-Airport |title=OIIF Karaj/Fath Airport |publisher=Skyvector |accessdate=16 January 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.scramble.nl/orbats/iran/irgcaf |title=Iran - IRGCAF |publisher=Scramble |accessdate=16 January 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.aviationsmilitaires.net/v2/base/view/Airfield/1907.html |title=Fath (Iran) |publisher=Aviations Militaires |language=French |date=27 February 2015 |accessdate=16 January 2019}} It is mainly used as a base for helicopters of the Helicopter Training Squadron, Attack Helicopter Squadron and Training & Recce Helicopter Squadron of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force.{{cite web |url=http://www.xairforces.net/ppolice.asp?id=50#.XD9PYs3grIU |title=ranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force |publisher=XairForces |accessdate=16 January 2019}}
Accidents and incidents
{{main|2019 Saha Airlines Boeing 707 crash}}
On 14 January 2019, a Boeing 707 of Saha Airlines overran the runway on landing, killing fifteen of the sixteen people on board.{{cite web |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/431837/Boeing-707-cargo-plane-crashes-near-Tehran-claims-16-lives |title=Boeing 707 cargo plane crashes near Tehran, claims 16 lives |publisher=Tehran Times |date=14 January 2019 |accessdate=16 January 2019}} It was reported that the aircraft should have landed at Payam International Airport but landed at Fath in error.{{cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/2019/01/14/17/14/iran-news-boeing-707-plane-crash-payam-airport|title=Flight engineer survives Iran plane crash |first=Tom |last=Livingstone |publisher=Channel Nine News |date=14 January 2019 |accessdate=16 January 2019}} Payam is located 10.9 kilometres (5.9 nmi) northwest of Fath Air Base.
A crash was avoided in a similar incident on 16 November 2018, when a Taban Airlines MD-88 carrying 155 people twice attempted to land on this runway, mistaking it for a longer 3,659-metre (12,005 ft) runway at Payam International Airport, which is nearly inline but 11 km away. The first approach was aborted at 11:26 hours and the aircraft circled for another attempt. The second approach was aborted at 11:29 and the aircraft continued for a safe landing at Payam Airport at 11:31. AAID Iran reported that the flight reached an altitude of 1 m above ground level during one of the approaches.{{Cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=219603|title=Serious incident McDonnell Douglas MD-88 EP-TBC, 16 Nov 2018|last=Ranter|first=Harro|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=2019-01-18}} The MD-88 requires a minimum of approximately 1,500 m of runway to land safely, 519 m more than the 981 m runway at Fath Air Base.{{Cite web|url=https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/MD88|title=McDonnell Douglas MD-88 – SKYbrary Aviation Safety|website=www.skybrary.aero|access-date=2019-01-18}}