STOLports in Norway

File:Mosjøen_lufthavn_-_MJF-2006-07-17.JPG is part of the Norwegian kortbanenett.]]

File:Hammerfest_Airport_runway.jpg is part of the Norwegian kortbanenett.]]

The Norwegian STOLport network ({{langx|nn|kortbanenettet i Noreg}} or {{langx|nb|kortbanenettet i Norge}}) is a network of STOLports, meaning that they are airports with short runways. The standard length of these runways is {{convert|800|m}}, compared to around {{convert|2500|m}} for a normal airport with 6-seat wide jetliners. In addition to shorter length, these airports are also narrower, with a standard width of {{convert|30|m}} compared to that of {{convert|60|m}}, respectively. They can only be used with small propeller aircraft. As of 2020, 26 of these airports are in use and 4 have been closed.

The Norwegian STOLport network is a result of political decisions in the 1960s and start of the 1970s. The goal was to meet the requirement for better infrastructure out in the countryside, where there was a great desire for the establishment of airports. The network was officially opened 30 June 1968 by minister of transport Håkon Kyllingmark together with mayors, county governors and representatives of the airlines.{{Cite web|date=2018-06-19|title=50 år siden kortbanenettet ble åpnet: – Det første året ble både saueflokker og skoleklasser observert langs rullebanen|url=https://www.helg.no/nyheter/luftfart/kortbanenett/50-ar-siden-kortbanenettet-ble-apnet-det-forste-aret-ble-bade-saueflokker-og-skoleklasser-observert-langs-rullebanen/s/5-24-310328|access-date=2020-09-13|language=no}} Together they flew the route Trondheim–Namsos–Brønnøysund–Sandnessjøen–Mo i Rana–Bodø, with ribbon-cutting opening ceremonies at each stop.{{Cite encyclopedia|title=kortbaneflyplass|url=http://snl.no/kortbaneflyplass|date=2020-03-23|language=nb}} Most of the airports were subsequently built in the period 1968–1975.

Background

The ministry of transport with Håkon Kyllingmark from the Conservative Party was a promoter for the work of developing new airports, especially in the northernmost counties of Norway. By the start of the 1970s, oil revenues had not yet taken hold in the Norwegian economy, so it was important to keep costs down. The result of this work was a standard for short airports, where the runway, approach equipment, terminal buildings, et cetera, was standardized and simple.

In Sweden, a network of regional {{convert|1500|m|adj=on}} long runways was built during the same time.

Remote control towers

On 20 October 2020, Avinor opened a remote control tower situated in Bodø as a cost effective solution intended for STOLports in Norway with little traffic.[https://www.avionews.it/item/1232730-the-world-s-largest-remote-towers-centre-opens-in-norway.html AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency - The world’s largest remote towers centre opens in Norway] The remote tower technology is planned to be rolled out to a total of 15 airports in Norway by the end of 2022.[https://kommunikasjon.ntb.no/pressemelding/the-worlds-largest-remote-towers-centre-opens-in-norway The World’s largest Remote Towers Centre opens in Norway | The Avinor Group]

Airplanes

The largest airplanes utilizing the Norwegian STOLport network today are Bombardier DHC-8 Dash-8 and ATR 42. During the first years, airlines such as Widerøe mostly used the DHC-6 Twin Otter with 13 seats.

Future

Avinor, the Norwegian airport authority worries about the future availability of aircraft for {{convert|800|m|ft|abbr=on}} runway, in future when older aircraft currently used retires. Currently, DHC-8-100 aircraft, manufactured in the early 1990s, are used. Avinor has found that after 2010, no new aircraft can be bought which has more than 20 seats and is able to use such short runways. For this reason there are plans to extend runways to {{convert|1199|m|ft|abbr=on}}1199 metres is chosen because from 1200 metres higher costly requirements take effect, especially width to the side of the runway being free from buildings. or in some cases to build new airports, and to close some combined with road improvements.[http://www.vg.no/forbruker/reise/reiseliv/avinor-vil-legge-ned-fire-flyplasser/a/10053012/ Avinor vil legge ned fire flyplasser] (in Norwegian) To extend them to above {{convert|1200|m|ft|abbr=on}} requires wider runway and greater space between the runway and buildings. This means a much higher cost, probably totally new runway, or new airport buildings. The least used will not be extended, but will have to be flown with very small aircraft. In 2022 ATR will launch a modification of its 48-seat ATR 42 which will be able to use 800 meter runways.{{cn|date=June 2024}} In the national plan for transportation 2022–2033 is however only Mo i Rana selected for a major project, a new airport.

List of current STOLports in Norway

The following is a list of the 26 STOLports in Norway which are currently in use per 2020:{{cite web|title=Nasjonal transportplan 2014–2023: Framtidsrettet utvikling av lufthavnstrukturen|url=http://www.ntp.dep.no/Nasjonale+Transportplaner/2014-2023/Planforslag/_attachment/501391/binary/812582?_ts=13ff62eed70|publisher=Avinor|date=15 February 2012|accessdate=14 January 2015}}

class="wikitable"

!Airport

!County

!Runway length (m)

Berlevåg Airport

|Finnmark

|889

Brønnøysund Airport, Brønnøy

|Nordland

|1 199

Båtsfjord Airport

|Finnmark