Programs: Qantas (WP)(now LTGwohhhh), Singapore, United, AIRNZ,SPG corporate member, ShangriLa Golden circle
Posts: 65
PLO-Port Lincoln, single runway, terminal that has checkin and seating for about 50, cropdusters, firefighting aircraft,flying doctor,oil rigs, light planes all use. No security. 3 planes can sit on the apron.All manual baggage handling.
Fantastic forum...1st post
I flew out of Lake Hood, AK a few years ago. We flew out of Lake Hood on a fly-in fishing trip to the Kenai River. I guess Lake Hood could be a small airport, or one with a really large landing area, depending on how you look at it.
As far as a commercial airport, I'd have to say TBU - Tongapatu airport in Tonga. We landed in an Air Pacific 737 and took the entire length of the runway! There was no taxiway, we ended up making a U-turn to get to the terminal. There's are no jetways, or push back tractors, so we ended up parking parallel to the terminal like at a bus station.
I think the one Air Pacific flight is the only regularly scheduled commercial jet flight into TBU.
Steve
I was also wondering about float-planes.
NZ also flies to TBU from AKL, APW and LAX so plenty of flights, even wide bodies (767).
Several have mentioned FAT and then argued whether it was considered a small airport. My first flight in the mid 60's was on UA out of FAT. At the time I believe it had 2 gates and we walked onto the ramp and up the stairs. I don't recall the aircraft type, but we did fly all the way to Burbank.
Bimini has two great airports. The "North" airport is acutally for Chalk's Sea Planes, which no longer flies. They had a cement pad about 100x100 feet where the plane came up out of the water and turned around on. Baggage/ticketing/checkin/everything else was handled in a small building adjacent.
BIM is the south airport. Real runway and everything, but the same small house idea is used for everything, including customs/immigration.
YPW (Powell River, British Columbia) was pretty small in the 70s, when I lived there. My sister got into some trouble with the police because she liked to chase the planes along the runway on horseback.
Some of those Gulf Island docks with regularly scheduled service are small but the view on a clear day more than makes up for the lack of amenities. Of course, one of the "amenities" lacking is security screening.
For me, it is TGM (Targu Mures/Marosvasarhely) in Romania. I came in on a WizzAir A320, deplaned on roller stairs. We waited on the ramp in the "customs" line which was on the signed "international" side of the airport. Luggage was piled high atop a miniature truck and driven into the "terminal" where the bags were distributed across the floor.
As for security, the paved access from the parking area to the ramp (for moving equipment, cargo) is not fenced or anything, so there were armed border control people keeeping an eye the area.
YWWA, Wee Waa New South Wales Cotton country. Gravel strip, motel manager the GA. Had to help pilot refuel from 44 gallon drum. GA had to drive down the runway to scare off the cockatoos and away we were off to SYD.
Thank G for FT so we can remember these episodes of our lives. No FFP.
Have fun, Ray
There was no taxiway, we ended up making a U-turn to get to the terminal. There's are no jetways, or push back tractors, so we ended up parking parallel to the terminal like at a bus station.
