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Jan Mayensfield
Aerodrome serving Olonkinbyen in Jan Mayen, Norway
Aerodrome serving Olonkinbyen in Jan Mayen, Norway
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Jan Mayensfield |
| image | File:Runway on Jan Mayen island c1968.jpg |
| caption | The runway circa 1968 |
| IATA | ZXB |
| ICAO | ENJA |
| type | Military |
| operator | Norwegian Armed Forces |
| location | Olonkinbyen, Jan Mayen, Norway |
| elevation-f | 39 |
| elevation-m | 12 |
| website | [Airfield «Jan Mayensfield»](http://jan.mayen.no/flyplass/) |
| coordinates | |
| pushpin_map | Europe |
| pushpin_relief | yes |
| pushpin_mapsize | 250 |
| pushpin_label | **ENJA** |
| pushpin_label_position | bottom |
| pushpin_map_caption | |
| metric-rwy | yes |
| r1-number | 04–22 |
| r1-length-m | 1,500 |
| r1-length-f | 4,921 |
| r1-surface | Dirt |
| elevation-f = 39 | elevation-m = 12 | metric-rwy = yes | r1-number = 04–22 | r1-length-m = 1,500 | r1-length-f = 4,921 | r1-surface = Dirt
Jan Mayensfield is an aerodrome serving Olonkinbyen in Jan Mayen, Norway. Operated by the Norwegian Armed Forces, it serves the island's only population at the combined military and meteorological station. It has a 1500 m dirt runway numbered 04–22.
The airfield was built in connection with the LORAN-C transmitter at Olonkinbyen and was completed in 1960. Jan Mayensfield is served eight times per year by Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft of the 335 Squadron from Bodø Main Air Station, which provide supplies and change crew at the outpost. The nearby Beerenberg volcano can cause a Kármán wind, which creates difficult landing conditions.
History
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Norwegian Armed Forces started construction of a military communications outpost at Olonkinbyen in 1958. At first a LORAN-A transmitter was built, followed by a LORAN-C transmitter in 1960. In August, it was announced that the island would receive an airfield to allow continual operation of the transmitter. Originally, the aerodrome consisted of a 1200 by section of the island's dirt road. This was chosen to reduce the bureaucracy of construction. The first aircraft to land was a Consolidated PBY Catalina of the Royal Norwegian Air Force on 17 September 1960.
The first civilian aircraft was a Douglas DC-4 operated by Braathens SAFE, which landed with some journalists on board on 29 October 1961. The head officer of the Norwegian military's communications division was later criticized by Chief of Defence Bjarne Øen, who concluded: "Gentlemen, I will not have any further construction of airports on Norwegian soil by the Communications Division without the plans being presented to the Central Command."
In 1970, a sudden eruption in Beerenberg forced the immediate evacuation of the station. A Hercules was dispatched to the island and successfully landed on the strip. Thereafter the Hercules became the regular military aircraft at Jan Mayen. Aircraft gradually took over more of the transport to the island, and from 1973 all supplies except diesel and special freight was transported by ship.
Facilities
Jan Mayensfield's single regular service is the Royal Norwegian Air Force's Lockheed C-130 Hercules, which operate to the island eight times per year. The aircraft are part of the 335 Squadron, based at Gardermoen Air Station, The runway is not open for commercial traffic, although it can be used for research and search and rescue operations.
The dirt runway is 1500 by being aligned 06–24. Jan Mayensfield has variable weather conditions, a lot of fog and often has a Kármán wind. The Kármán wind is created in the wake of the Beerenberg volcano, resulting in regular vortex streets and lee-waves. This can cause sudden change to the wind direction on the island.
Accidents and incidents
In 1991, a C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Royal Norwegian Air Force almost crashed after takeoff due to Kármán wind suddenly shifting.
A World War II Focke Wulf 200 C4 plane crash site is also near the airfield.
References
Bibliography
References
- Barr (1991): 236
- "Loran Station Jan Mayer".
- Barr (1991): 247
- Barr (1991): 245
- (9 April 2006). "Airfield". Jan-Mayen.no.
- Arheim (1994): 132
- (31 October 2002). "Gamle, men gode transportfly". [[Norwegian Armed Forces]].
- (1 June 2007). "Jan Mayens historie". County Governor of Nordland.
- although the flights from Jan Mayen operate from Bodø Main Air Station.Barr (1991): 254
- (9 October 2006). "How to visit Jan Mayen". Jan-Mayen.no.
- "Jan Mayen, Jan Mayensfield". Norske Flyplasser.
- "The crash site at Danielsenkrateret".
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
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