Hingurakgoda Airport

Hingurakgoda Airport SLAF Hingurakgoda හිඟුරක්ගොඩ ගුවන්තොටුපළ
IATA: HIM ICAO: VCCH
Summary
Airport type	Military / Public
Owner	Government of Sri Lanka
Operator	Sri Lanka Air Force
Serves	Minneriya
Location	Hingurakgoda, Sri Lanka
Elevation AMSL	46 m / 151 ft
Coordinates	08°02′59″N 080°58′53″E
Map
HIM Location of airport in Sri Lanka
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 07/25 2,287 7,503 Bitumen

Hingurakgoda Airport (Sinhala: හිඟුරක්ගොඩ ගුවන්තොටුපළ Hingurakgoda Guwanthotupala, IATA: HIM[1], ICAO: VCCH), also known as Minneriya Airport, is a domestic airport in Hingurakgoda, Sri Lanka.[2] It is also a military airbase known as Sri Lanka Air Force Base Hingurakgoda.[3]

The facility is located 6.4 nautical miles (11.9 km) north of the town of Polonnaruwa[2] at an elevation of 46 metres (151 ft) and has one runway designated 07/25 with a bitumen surface measuring 2,287 by 46 metres (7,503 ft × 151 ft).[2]

History

This base was an RAF airfield, RAF Minneriya during World War II from 1942 to 1946, which was renovated and re-established by the Sri Lanka Air Force in 1978.

Facilities

SLAF Hingurakgoda is the fourth-largest airport in Sri Lanka and has the fourth-longest runway in Sri Lanka. The runway can easily accommodate narrow-body aircraft like Airbus A320 family, Boeing 737 and Boeing 757. It can also tightly handle wide-body aircraft like Airbus A300, Airbus A330, Boeing 767, Boeing 777 or even at emergencies a Boeing 747.^[citation needed]

The airport's sole runway is not equipped with ILS (Instrument Landing System), thus all approaches and takeoffs are performed visually.

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
FitsAir	Charter: Colombo-Ratmalana

Lodger Squadrons

• No. 7 Helicopter Squadron
• No. 9 Attack Helicopter Squadron

References

1. "Airline and Airport Code Search (HIM: Hingurakgoda / Minneriya)". International Air Transport Association (IATA). Retrieved 2016-01-26.
2. "VCCH – HINGURAKGODA / Minneriya". AIP Sri Lanka. Aeronautical Information Services of the Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. 23 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-01-24.
3. "Sri Lanka Air Force Base Hingurakgoda". AirForce.lk. Sri Lanka Air Force. Archived from the original on 2016-01-26.

External links

• Sri Lanka Air Force Base Hingurakgoda