Notodden Airport

The first plans for an airport serving Notodden were launched in 1954 by Reidar Hedwig-Dahl, director of the tourist office. In late 1954 or early 1955, he held a meeting with Ludvig G. Braathen, owner of Braathens SAFE, and representatives for his airline. They saw Notodden as a possible gateway to Telemark and Braathen promised to start flying to an airport serving Notodden, should one be built.Olsen (1999): 328 At the time, Braathen had started flying to several smaller airports in Norway using a fleet of de Havilland Heron aircraft. Braathen had been traveling around Norway and encouraging municipalities to build regional airports, stating that he wanted more but smaller airports than the central authorities were planning. He succeeded at having similar airports built in Hamar and Røros.Tjomsland & Wilsberg (1995): 104

The issue was first discussed politically on 23 April 1955. The municipalities of Heddal and Notodden reached an agreement concerning financing and ownership the airport, whereby Notodden would own seven elevenths and Heddal four elevenths of the airport. Construction of the airport cost 200,000 Norwegian krone (NOK), which included a {{convert|1000|by|40|m|sp=us|adj=on}} runway. This was sufficient for the Herons, but the plans included the possibility to extend the runway by another {{convert|240|m|sp=us}} to allow landing by larger aircraft, such as the Douglas DC-3. Construction took seven and a half months,Olsen (1999): 329 and the airport opened on {{start date|1955|11|11|df=y}}. The operating costs were estimated at NOK 17,850 for the first year. This excluded air traffic control, which was covered by the state.

Braathens SAFE started test flights on 14 March 1956, with the service taking 20 minutes from Oslo Airport, Fornebu. The scheduled service was inaugurated on 21 May as a stop on Braathens SAFE's route between Oslo and Stavanger Airport, Sola. Passengers could travel twice each day to both airports, with tickets costing NOK 30. The service was seasonal and only flown during the summer half of the year. Notodden Airport proved to have too few passengers, resulting in the route being terminated after the end of the 1958 season.Tjomsland & Wilsberg (1995): 105 The last season, the service was operated by Thor Solberg on contract with Braathens SAFE. From 1959, Solberg started with a two-month service with six weekly round trips to Fornebu, after securing a NOK 5,000 guarantee from the municipality to cover any losses.{{cite news |title=Solberg starter opp flere mindre flyruter |work=Verdens Gang |date=24 June 1959 |language=no |page=9}} The route was abandoned after the single season.{{cite news |title=Stor dag for Notodden igår: Helårs flyrute åpnet |last=Guhnfeldt |first=Cato |author-link=Cato Guhnfeldt |work=Aftenposten |date=16 August 1985 |language=no |page=11}}

General aviation activities at the airport gradually increased.Olsen (1999): 331 In the early 1960s, sailplanes became popular at the airport. The aerodrome is located with good wind and air pressure conditions for sailplane flying, and Oslo Flyklubb stationed two of its sailplanes at Tuven.{{cite news |title=Seilflygerne har kurs og stevne på Notodden |work=Verdens Gang |date=17 July 1964 |language=no |page=13}} Ronald Stensrud established a pilot school in 1966, but was forced to close after failing to make ends meet.

In 1967, Notodden Municipality granted NOK 900,000 and Telemark County Municipality granted NOK 600,000 for the runway to be extended to {{convert|1400|m|sp=us}}.{{cite news |title=Flyplassen på Notodden utvides |work=Verdens Gang |date=15 June 1967 |language=no |page=4}} The new section of runway was laid down to Heddalsvatnet. At the same time, the gravel runway was asphalted. This was sufficient to allow Fokker F-27 Friendship and Convair CV-440 Metropolitan to operate. The plan was to serve international charter flights during winter, which would bring tourists to neighboring mountain resorts. During a time when there was a heated political debate over state grants to airport, Notodden was the only airport which had expanded without any central grants.{{cite news |title=Notodden satser privat |last=Christensen |first=Dag |work=Verdens Gang |date=19 September 1968 |language=no |page=21}} The airport never succeeded at attracting any regular charter services.{{cite news |title=Naboene rasende |last=Solum |first=Morten |work=Verdens Gang |date=4 August 1979 |language=no |page=15}}

The opening was planned for 18 October 1968, but was delayed to the following year after the airport was flooded a week before the scheduled date.{{cite news |title=Voldsom nedbør flommer over flyplassen |work=Verdens Gang |date=5 October 1968 |language=no |page=5}} The construction work resulted in a legal dispute between the municipality and the consulting company Norsk Teknisk Byggekontroll. The initial filling of earthwork had proved insufficient, so additional earthwork had to be filled, costing an additional NOK 840,000. The municipality demanded that the consulting company cover NOK 250,000 of the extra cost.{{cite news |title=Notodden-advokat "lukter" utpressing |work=Verdens Gang |date=6 April 1971 |language=no |page=8}}

In 1979, Det Norske Helikoperskole started Norway's first helicopter pilot school at the airport. This was met with protests from the neighbors, who were affected by noise pollution all day long. The municipality was sued by 600 locals who wanted to prohibit the school from operating. During an air show in 1983, the airport was visited by a Boeing 737-200 from Braathens SAFE and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon from the Royal Norwegian Air Force.{{cite news |title=Notodden-advokat "lukter" utpressing |last=Magnus |first=John |work=Verdens Gang |date=30 May 1983 |language=no |page=46}}

In March 1985, Partnair was granted concession for scheduled services from Fornebu via Notodden to Stavanger.{{cite news |title=Konsesjon på linjetaxiflyvning |work=Aftenposten |date=1 March 1985 |language=no |page=15}} The route was started on 15 August using a ten-seat Beechcraft 200 Super King Air{{cite news |title=Flyselskapet Partnair åpner torsdag regulære flyginger på |agency=Norwegian News Agency |date=14 August 1985 |language=no}} and flew twice a day, five days a week. This route was made possible after an instrument landing system was installed at the airport. The NOK 2 million cost had been paid for by Norsk Hydro, while Tinfos had paid NOK 100,000 for new landing lights. The upgrades also included a new terminal, which included a café in the second story and seating for 14 people. Ticket sales and check-in was managed by NSB Reisebyrå, a subsidiary of the Norwegian State Railways. After five months, Partnair had lost NOK 1.2 million on the route.{{cite news |title=Flyselskapet Partnair, som blant annet trafikkerer flyruta |agency=Norwegian News Agency |date=10 January 1986 |language=no}} In average, they were selling three to four tickets per flight to Stavanger, and one to Oslo.{{cite news |title=Lite belegg på ny flyrute |agency=Norwegian News Agency |date=23 January 1986 |language=no}} From March 1986, the leg from Notodden to Oslo was dropped and the service to Stavanger reduced.{{cite news |title=Partnair fortsatt på Notodden |work=Aftenposten |date=7 March 1986 |language=no |page=38}} However, the route proved unprofitable and was eventually terminated later the same month.{{cite news |title=TA for 25 år siden |work=Telemarksavisa |date=1 March 2011 |language=no |page=28}}

As part of the Oslo Airport location controversy, after the new airport was decided located to Gardermoen, there was a public discussion as to what to do with the general aviation which had operated from Fornebu. While some local aircraft owners wanted to keep a small part of Fornebu for general aviation, the authorities decided to close the airport completely. Instead, the general aviation was distributed to various private airports in Eastern Norway, including Notodden.{{cite news |title=Småflyfolket tapte i retten |last=Larsen |first=Fredrik |work=Aftenposten |date=10 October 1998 |language=no |page=2}} In May 1998, Air Team started flights from Notodden to Bergen.{{cite news |title=Himmelsk vekst for Air Team |last=Tinnholt |first=Dag |work=Dagens Næringsliv |date=20 January 1998 |language=no |page=48}} Air Team gradually moved all its operations, including its pilot school, to Notodden.{{cite news |title=Innenriksnotiser |work=Dagens Næringsliv |date=10 July 1998 |language=no |page=4}} After Fornebu was closed in October, the airline experienced a quadrupling of patronage, as Gardermoen had given longer travel time for people in Buskerud and Telemark. In addition to business travel, the airline catered offshore workers commuting to the North Sea via Bergen. The airline stated that it intended to also open routes to Stavanger and Copenhagen.{{cite news |title=Notodden satser på fly til Bergen |last=Valderhaug |first=Rune |work=Bergens Tidende |date=18 February 1999 |language=no |page=8}}

In 1999, the British airport operator TBI announced it was in negotiations to purchase an airport close to Oslo, and Dagens Næringsliv speculated that it could be Notodden. The municipality confirmed that they were in negotiations to establish a limited company to operate the airport, which would be jointly owned by Air Team and the municipality.{{cite news |title=På flyplass-raid i Norden |last1=Bark |first1=Susanne |last2=Tuv |first2=Kirsten |work=Dagens Næringsliv |date=19 February 1999 |language=no |page=19}} In 2000, Bergen Air Transport started flying between Notodden and Bergen, using a Cessna 421B.{{cite news |url=http://www.bergenairtransport.no/artikkel.aspx?AId=40&back=1&MId1=50&MId2=51 |title=Historie |publisher=Bergen Air Transport |access-date=25 October 2011 |archive-date=6 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006102502/http://www.bergenairtransport.no/artikkel.aspx?AId=40&back=1&MId1=50&MId2=51 |language=no }} It transported 1,000 passengers in 2000, and 1,500 the following year.{{cite news |url=http://www.telen.no/nyheter/solid-okning-i-flytrafikken-1.4647727 |title=Solid økning i flytrafikken |work=Telen |date=30 November 2001 |access-date=25 October 2011 |archive-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002035827/http://www.telen.no/nyheter/solid-okning-i-flytrafikken-1.4647727 |language=no }} During the summer of 2002, the company also attempted to fly from Notodden to Kristiansund Airport, Kvernberget, but was forced to give up due to lack of passengers.{{cite news |url=http://www.telen.no/nyheter/ny-flyrute-til-kristiansund-1.4653287 |title=Ny flyrute til Kristiansund |work=Telen |date=16 May 2002 |access-date=25 October 2011 |archive-date=6 April 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406132234/http://www.telen.no/nyheter/ny-flyrute-til-kristiansund-1.4653287 |language=no }} In 1995, the airport saw 770 arriving and departing passengers. It increased to 2,467 the following year but fell to 986 in 1998 before increasing to 3,682 in 1999. The patronage has since varied significantly from year to year, but has stayed in the range between 1,500 and 3,500 passengers per year.{{cite web |url=http://www.avinor.no/tridionimages/Historikk%20tidsserier%20pr%20lufthavn%20pr%20%C3%A5r_tcm181-72654.xls |title=Trafikktall per lufthavn per år |format=XLS |publisher=Avinor |access-date=16 April 2012 |archive-date=22 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122042151/http://www.avinor.no/tridionimages/Historikk%20tidsserier%20pr%20lufthavn%20pr%20%C3%A5r_tcm181-72654.xls |url-status=dead }}

On 20 November 2003, Notodden Airport was closed for all scheduled traffic by the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority, due to a not conforming with safety requirements. Bergen Air Transport was forced to reroute all its aircraft to Skien Airport, Geiteryggen. Following an investment of NOK 500,000 from the airline and NOK 1.2 million from the municipality, scheduled services could commence. The municipality had ambitions to upgrade the airport to a higher standard, which would allow it to serve charter aircraft weighing more than {{convert|5.7|t}} and with more than nine passengers. The plans were abandoned after 11 neighboring municipalities rejected giving grants for the necessary technical upgrades. Notodden Municipality instead started a program to increase the popularity of the airport by targeting companies in the neighboring municipality of Kongsberg to encourage use of the airport, instead of going to Oslo Airport, Gardermoen and Sandefjord Airport, Torp.{{cite news |url=http://www.ta.no/nyheter/article841948.ece |title=Fortsatt rutefly fra Notodden Lufthavn |author=Pedersen, Jarle |work=Telemarksavisa |date=3 January 2003 |access-date=25 October 2011 |archive-date=29 September 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929143320/http://www.ta.no/nyheter/article841948.ece |language=no }} Another NOK 250,000 was invested from 1 October 2004 to keep meet safety requirements.{{cite news |url=http://www.varden.no/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?AID=/20041010/NYHET/110100070 |title=Tretten lys til en kvart million kroner |last=Aulie |first=Kjell |work=Telemarksavisa |date=10 October 2004 |access-date=25 October 2011 |archive-date=25 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025093747/http://www.varden.no/ |language=no }} Starting in October 2004, security control was introduced.{{cite news |url=http://www.varden.no/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?AID=/20041001/NYHET/110010087/0/ |title=Sjekker alle passasjerer |last=Aulie |first=Kjell |work=Varden |date=1 October 2004 |access-date=25 October 2011 |archive-date=25 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025093747/http://www.varden.no/ |language=no }} In September 2007, the Bergen Air Transport bought a new hangar at Notodden, giving it ample space for expansion, and new arrival and departure facilities.{{cite news |url=http://www.telen.no/article/20070917/NYHET/709170003# |title=Ny ankomsthall |last=Buverud |first=Unni |work=Telen |date=17 September 2007 |access-date=25 October 2011 |archive-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002035943/http://www.telen.no/nyheter/ny-ankomsthall-1.4679095 |language=no }}

Larger airports in the region are Oslo-Gardermoen, 166 km and over 2 hours away by road, and Sandefjord 110 km away.

File:Notodden Lufthavn 04.jpg

The airport consists of a {{convert|1393|by|40|m|sp=us}} asphalted runway aligned 12–30. County Road 152 crosses the runway, forcing the road to close when the full length runway is in use.{{cite web |url=http://www.notodden-flyplass.no/index.php?page=om-flyplassen |title=Bruk av flyplassen |publisher=Notodden Airport |access-date=16 April 2012 |language=no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525161345/http://www.notodden-flyplass.no/index.php?page=om-flyplassen |archive-date=25 May 2012 }} It has a flight information service (AFIS) and is located {{convert|19|m|sp=us}} above mean sea level. It has category 3 fire fighting and a rescue vessel. The airport is equipped with an instrument landing system. In connection with the airport lies a water aerodrome, which uses Heddalsvatnet for landing and take-off. The area for landing and take-off is {{convert|1000|by|100|m|sp=us}} and has the same center-line as the runway.{{cite web |url=http://www.notodden-flyplass.no/uploads/Flyplasshandbok%20Notodden%20Sjoflyhavn%20Rev%20A%20270611.pdf |title=Flyplasshandbok Notodden sjøflyhavn |publisher=Notodden Airport |last=Fossdal |first=J. B. |date=27 June 2011 |access-date=26 October 2011 |language=no |page=7 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425092421/http://www.notodden-flyplass.no/uploads/Flyplasshandbok%20Notodden%20Sjoflyhavn%20Rev%20A%20270611.pdf |archive-date=25 April 2012 }}

The airport is operated by the limited company Notodden Lufthavn AS, which is again owned by Notodden Municipality.{{cite web |url=http://www.proff.no/roller/notodden-lufthavn-as/notodden/flyplassvirksomhet/Z0I406SM/ |title=Notodden Lufthavn AS |publisher=Proff |access-date=26 October 2011 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Tuven is dominated by general aviation, in part organized by Notodden flyklubb and Kongsberg flyklubb.{{cite web |url=http://www.notodden-flyplass.no/index.php?page=om-flyplassen |title=Om flyplassen |publisher=Notodden Airport |access-date=26 October 2011 |language=no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929104520/http://www.notodden-flyplass.no/index.php?page=om-flyplassen |archive-date=29 September 2011 }} In 2010, the airport had 5,078 aircraft movements{{cite web |url=http://www.avinor.no/tridionimages/2010.12_korr.%C3%A5rsstat_flybev_tcm181-126644.xls |publisher=Avinor |year=2011 |access-date=26 October 2011 |title=Civil Aircraft Movements |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106173648/http://www.avinor.no/tridionimages/2010.12_korr.%C3%A5rsstat_flybev_tcm181-126644.xls |archive-date=6 January 2012 }} and 3,423 passengers, making it the scheduled airport in Norway the fewest passengers.{{cite web |url=http://www.avinor.no/tridionimages/2010%20Passasjerer_tcm181-126648.xls |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516072218/http://www.avinor.no/tridionimages/2010%20Passasjerer_tcm181-126648.xls |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 May 2011 |publisher=Avinor |year=2011 |access-date=26 October 2011 |title=Passengers }} Flyteknisk, a retailer and maintainer of Cessna aircraft, including seaplanes, is based at the airport.{{cite web |url=http://www.flyteknisk.no/ |title=About us |publisher=Flyteknisk |access-date=26 October 2011}}

{{As of|2022|June|24}}, there are no regularly scheduled flights.{{Cn|date=March 2025}}

{{Airport-Statistics|iata=NTB}}

{{commons category|Notodden Airport, Tuven}}

;Bibliography

• {{cite book |title=Telemark i norsk luftfarts historie |last=Olsen |first=Bjørn |year=1999 |publisher=Skau |language=no |isbn=82-7976-002-4}}
• {{cite book| last1=Tjomsland |first1=Audun |last2=Wilsberg |first2=Kjell |year=1995 |title=Braathens SAFE 50 år: Mot alle odds |location=Oslo |isbn=82-990400-1-9 |language=no}}

;Notes

{{reflist|2}}

{{Airports in Norway}}

{{Portal bar|Aviation|Norway}}

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Category:Airports in Telemark

Category:Notodden

Category:Airports established in 1955

Category:1955 establishments in Norway

Category:Water aerodromes in Norway