Tamworth Regional Airport

Tamworth Airport (IATA: TMW[5], ICAO: YSTW) is a regional airport serving Tamworth, a city in the Australian state of New South Wales.[1] It is located 10 km (6.2 mi) from the town centre, on New Winton Road.[6] The airport is owned and operated by the Tamworth Regional Council and is listed as being 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) west of the city.[1][7] It is also known as Tamworth Regional Airport.[7]

Tamworth Airport

Tamworth Regional Airport
passenger terminal in October 2019
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorTamworth Regional Council
ServesTamworth, New South Wales, Australia
Elevation AMSL1,334 ft / 407 m
Coordinates31°05′02″S 150°50′58″E
Websitetamworth.nsw.gov.au
Map
YSTW is located in New South Wales
YSTW
YSTW
Location in New South Wales
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
12L/30R 2,200 7,218 Asphalt
12R/30L 1,110 3,642 Asphalt
18/36 1,020 3,346 Grass/clay
06/24 842 2,762 Grass/clay
Statistics (2016–17)
Revenue passengers189,628
Aircraft movements77,426
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart.[1] Passengers (financial year[2]) from BITRE.[3] Aircraft movements (calendar year) from Airservices Australia.[4]

Tamworth Airport is the northern base of the Hunter Region Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service and the location for IFTT Flight Training College, and CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Tamworth.[8]

History

No. 6 Elementary Flying Training School of the Royal Australian Air Force was formed in 1940, during the Second World War, at the original airfield (located in what is now the Taminda industrial area) as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme.[9] Training included 50 hours of basic aviation instruction on a simple trainer like the Tiger Moth. Pilots who showed promise went on to advanced training at a Service Flying Training School. Others went on to different specialties, such as Wireless Schools, Air Observer Schools or Bombing and Gunnery Schools. The RAAF airfield went on to become the original home of East West Airlines after WW2.

In 1951 a decision was taken to relocate the aerodrome with the council commencing construction in 1952 and the official opening of the new airport in 1956. The airport received a further upgrade to medium jet standard in 1982. The addition of the 1,110 m (3,642 ft) parallel runway and associated facility expansion was undertaken between 1990 and 1993 as part of the establishment of the British Aerospace/Ansett pilot training joint venture which has evolved into the Bae systems college. Bae systems withdrew from Tamworth Airport in 2020 and the college facilities were re-branded as International Flight Training Tamworth (IFTT), under the ownership of Tamworth Regional Council, with CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Tamworth remaining on site.

The Tamworth Airport terminal expansion was completed in June 2012, to facilitate the commencement of passenger screening. A further expansion was carried out in 2014 to accommodate operations by additional carriers.

During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic the Flight training school, was converted into accommodation for the Local boarding school Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School to comply with social distancing regulations.

In February 2022, Bonza announced that the airport would become one of its 17 destinations with the airline planning to fly to the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne from Tamworth.[10]

Facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of 1,334 ft (407 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt paved runways: 12L/30R measuring 2,200 m × 45 m (7,218 ft × 148 ft) and 12R/30L measuring 1,110 m × 18 m (3,642 ft × 59 ft). It also has two runways with a grassed brown clay surface: 18/36 measuring 1,020 m × 30 m (3,346 ft × 98 ft) and 06/24 measuring 842 m × 30 m (2,762 ft × 98 ft).[1] The latest terminal upgrade was completed in 2019 with an enlarged departure lounge, new cafe and hire car facilities, relocated and enlarged Qantas lounge in addition to a multipurpose function room and airport administration office.

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
BonzaMelbourne[11]
Link AirwaysBrisbane,[12] Sydney[13]
QantasLinkBrisbane,[14] Sydney

Statistics

Tamworth Airport was ranked 39th in Australia for the number of revenue passengers served in financial year 2010–2011.[2][3]

Annual passenger and aircraft statistics for Tamworth[3]
Year[2] Revenue passengersRPT movements
2001–02
80,984
6,169
2002–03
68,029
4,859
2003–04
75,274
4,717
2004–05
86,503
5,040
2005–06
92,634
4,979
2006–07
98,199
3,510
2007–08
107,312
3,185
2008–09
116,669
2,911
2009–10
134,972
4,041
2010–11
153,680
4,566
2016–17
189,628
5,309

See also

References
  1. YSTW – Tamworth (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 2023-09-07, Aeronautical Chart Archived 11 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June
  3. "Airport Traffic Data 1985-86 to 2010-12". Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE). May 2013. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2013. Refers to "Regular Public Transport (RPT) operations only"
  4. "Movements at Australian Airports" (PDF). Airservices Australia. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  5. "Tamworth Airport (TMW / YSTW)". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  6. "Airport Guide: Tamworth Airport". Qantas. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  7. "Tamworth Regional Airport". Tamworth Regional Council. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  8. "IndiGo Cadet Pilot Programme - International Pathway". Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  9. "Elementary Flying Training Schools". RAAF Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  10. "Bonza Announces New Destinations". Bay939Radio. Bay939. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  11. "Bonza April/May 2023 Melbourne Network Additions". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  12. "FlyCorporate adds Brisbane – Tamworth service from Nov 2016". routesonline. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  13. "Announcement of new direct flights between Tamworth and Sydney". Tamworth Regional Council. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  14. "Qantas Link adds Brisbane – Tamworth service from late-March 2020".
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