Kenya Airports Authority Handbook 2011-12
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Wajir military airbase adapts well to handling civil flights Located in Wajir County, in north-eastern Kenya, Wajir Airport began life as a military airbase, constructed by an Israeli company and completed in 1978.
represented at the airport. They include the KAA, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Customs, Immigration, Port Health and the National Security Intelligence Service.
The airport is situated about 5 km east of Wajir Town. It remained a purely military facility until 7 September 2007 when it was commissioned by President Mwai Kibaki to handle passenger and cargo flights. Meanwhile, it continues to handle military jets.
Owing to its proximity to war-ravaged Somalia, the airport is currently handling both domestic and international flights. Flights to and from Somalia are required to land at Wajir for security screening before continuing to their final destinations. In this context, the airport is equipped to handle international and domestic, arriving and departing, passenger and cargo aircraft.
According to Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the government has plans to transform Wajir into an international airport.
expansion Wajir Airport currently stands on 566.48 hectares. There are plans to acquire more land to bring the total airport area to 801.77 hectares. This will provide room for future expansion. The airport has a 2.8 km runway (designated 15/33) and eight taxiways (A to H). The longest taxiway is A (Alpha) which runs parallel to the runway and is of the same length. The airport is open daily for operations between 06.30 and 18.30 hours. Owing to loose chips on the runways, taxiways and apron, the airport is used only by propeller-driven aircraft. There is a terminal building which houses the arrival and departure lounges, check-in, screening and transit areas as well as an administration wing, a police station, and the Customs, Immigration and Port Health services. The control tower, crash gate and fire station are 50 metres south of the terminal building. The airport contains two military camps (one air force, one army) within its perimeter fence. The airport is entered via a single gate manned by armed military personnel to ensure a high standard of security. Wajir Airport employs about 100 workers. Most of these are with the police department, but several other agencies are
No passenger airline currently operates at Wajir Airport apart from Echo Flight, which calls twice a week to drop off or pick up special passengers, mostly NGO staff. The other flights are charter, cargo or military. The airport handles an average of seven flights a day, most of which are cargo.
facts and figures Airport Identification: HKWJ Longitude:
40°5’29.477E
Latitude:
1°43’59.93N
Elevation:
770 ft ASL
Transitional Altitude: 3,000 ft QNH Run Way and Apron: • The runway goes from north-west to south-east. It has eight taxiways and an apron with three parking areas. • Parking area No 1 can accommodate up to four Fokker 50s. Area No 2 can accommodate two Fokker 50s and area No 3 one Fokker 50 • Apron surface: Asphalt and concrete. Strength: PCN 5 OIF IB/W /T
• 2,800 metres long
Magnetic Variation:
1W
Taxiways:
25 metres wide
Facilities:
• 2,800 metre long by 30 metre wide runway (15/33)
• Parallel taxiway 2,800 metres long by 25 metres wide
• Apron with three parking areas
• Terminal building
• Control tower
• Fire station
• Police station
Services provided by KAA:
• Air navigational services • Airport lounges
Navigational aids:
• Aviation fuel uplifts (supplied in drums) • VOR/DME (WAV) • Radar station
• NDB (WA)