Mahikeng Airport

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}

{{Use South African English|date=June 2019}}

{{Infobox airport

| name = Mahikeng Airport

| nativename = Mmabatho Airport

| image =

| IATA = MBD

| ICAO = FAMM

| type = Public

| owner =

| operator = Government

| city-served = Mahikeng, South Africa

| location = Mmabatho

| elevation-f = 4,181

| elevation-m = 1,274

| coordinates = {{coord|25|48|27|S|025|32|40|E|region:ZA-NW|display=inline,title}}

| pushpin_map = South Africa North West

| pushpin_relief = yes

| pushpin_label = FAMM

| pushpin_label_position = bottom

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in North West province{{hidden begin|title=Location of North West in South Africa}}File:North West in South Africa.svg{{hidden end}}

| website =

| metric-rwy = y

| r1-number = 04/22

| r1-length-m = 4,499

| r1-length-f = 14,760

| r1-surface = Asphalt

| footnotes = Sources: South African AIP,{{cite web | url = http://www.caa.co.za/resource%20center/Charts/AERONAUTICAL%20CHARTS/M/FAMM_MAFIKENG/AD_01/AD-01.pdf | title = Aerodrome chart for MAFIKENG - FAMM | publisher = South African Civil Aviation Authority | date = 26 August 2010 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120929015824/http://www.caa.co.za/resource%20center/Charts/AERONAUTICAL%20CHARTS/M/FAMM_MAFIKENG/AD_01/AD-01.pdf | archivedate = 29 September 2012 }} DAFIF{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130217013926/http://www.worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?airport=FAMM Airport information for FAMM]}} from DAFIF (effective October 2006){{GCM|MBD|source=DAFIF (effective October 2006)}}

}}

Mahikeng Airport or Mmabatho Airport{{Cite web|url = https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/7006|title = Mandela: 'A lesson they will never forget'|date = 23 March 1994|accessdate = 11 September 2014|website = Green Left Weekly|last = Dixon|first = Norm|quote = Mmabatho's Bophuthatswana Air Base|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140911202523/https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/7006|url-status = live|archivedate = 11 September 2014}} {{airport codes|MBD|FAMM}} is an airport serving Mahikeng and Mmabatho, the current and former capital cities of the North West province in South Africa. The airport is widely known as Mafikeng Airport after Mahikeng's former name. The airport is managed by the North West Province Department of Transport and Roads. The airport is a former air force base of the Boputhatswana Defence Force and was previously classified as an international airport.{{Cite web|url = http://www.tourismnorthwest.co.za/mafikeng/mafikeng_airport.html|title = Mahikeng Airport|accessdate = 11 September 2014|website = Tourism North West|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140815012846/http://www.tourismnorthwest.co.za/mafikeng/mafikeng_airport.html|archivedate = 15 August 2014|url-status = dead}} As of 2014, discussions and construction was in progress in order for the airport to regain its status as an international airport.{{Cite web |url = http://www.gov.za/north-west-hosts-mahikeng-airport-city-project-stakeholders-roundtable |title = North West Government hosts Mahikeng Airport City Project stakeholders roundtable |date = 28 January 2014 |accessdate = 26 October 2014 |website = South Africa Government Online |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20141026122445/http://www.gov.za/north-west-hosts-mahikeng-airport-city-project-stakeholders-roundtable |archivedate = 26 October 2014 |url-status = live }}{{Cite web|url = http://www.ann7.com/article/12516-2306201423-06-2014%E2%80%98we-want-an-airport-city-to-arise-at-mahikeng%E2%80%99.html#.VBG9UKg0WSo|title = We want an airport city to arise at Mahikeng|date = 23 June 2014|accessdate = 11 September 2014|website = Africa News Network|last = Torerai|first = ELFAS|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140911221412/http://www.ann7.com/article/12516-2306201423-06-2014%E2%80%98we-want-an-airport-city-to-arise-at-mahikeng%E2%80%99.html#.VBG9UKg0WSo|archivedate = 11 September 2014|url-status = live}}

History

The airport is home to a flying club called the Mafikeng Flying Club. The club was formed in 1971.{{Cite web|url = http://www.mafikeng-flyingclub.co.za/about-mafikeng-flying-club.php|title = About Mafikeng Flying Club|accessdate = 11 September 2014|website = Mafikeng Flying Club}} The air base was taken over and used as a base by members of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging during the Bophuthatswana coup d'état of 1994.

The airport's international license was suspended by the South African Civil Aviation Authority on 16 April 2001 with immediate effect due to issues with security, fire and airport management.{{Cite web|url = http://209.203.9.244/press_files/2001/pr0416.html|title = CAA Suspends Mafikeng Airport Licence|date = 16 April 2001|accessdate = 11 September 2014|website = South African Civil Aviation Authority Online|publisher = South African Civil Aviation Authority|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140911220132/http://209.203.9.244/press_files/2001/pr0416.html|archivedate = 11 September 2014|url-status = dead}}

The airport is used by private aircraft operators as passenger flights stopped in 2009 due to the airport failing to comply with various regulations. Scheduled commercial flights by South African Express resumed in 2015 and were suspended in June 2018.{{cite news |url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/north-west/mafikeng-airport-back-in-business-1911170 |title=Mafikeng Airport back in business |agency=ANA |newspaper=Independent Online |date=4 September 2015 |accessdate=27 April 2016}}

Facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of {{convert|4181|ft|0}} above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 04/22 with an asphalt surface measuring {{convert|4499|x|45|m|0}} as well as asphalt taxiways.

As of 2014, the airport is undergoing an expansion that includes re-marking runways and taxiways as well as installing a new instrument landing system that should allow Mahikeng airport to regain its international status. The cost of the expansion project was R15 million with a further R30 million being spent in order to ensure the project is completed within 2014.{{Cite web|url = http://sanews.gov.za/south-africa/freight-hub-pipeline-mahikeng-airport|title = Freight hub in the pipeline for Mahikeng airport|date = 12 September 2013|accessdate = 11 September 2014|website = South African Government News Agency|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140911214131/http://sanews.gov.za/south-africa/freight-hub-pipeline-mahikeng-airport|archivedate = 11 September 2014|url-status = live}} The expansion is intended to make Mahikeng airport a major cargo hub in the North West province that can be used to export various agricultural products produced within the province. Mahikeng airport has all the necessary facilities for customs control. The airport does not have international certification, however these facilities can be made operational again if needed.

Airlines and destinations

Since South African Express terminated their flights to Johannesburg–O. R. Tambo, the airport no longer supports scheduled routes.

See also

References

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