Katukurunda Airport

(Redirected from HMS Ukussa)

Katukurunda Airport (Sinhala: කටුකුරුන්ද ගුවන්තොටුපළ Katukurunda Guwanthotupala, IATA: KTY[1], ICAO: VCCN) is a domestic airport located near the town of Kalutara in Sri Lanka.[2] It is also a military airbase known as Sri Lanka Air Force Katukurunda or SLAF Katukurunda.[3]

Katukurunda Airport
SLAF Katukurunda

කටුකුරුන්ද ගුවන්තොටුපළ
Summary
Airport typeMilitary / Public
OwnerGovernment of Sri Lanka
OperatorSri Lanka Air Force
LocationKalutara, Sri Lanka
Elevation AMSL3 m / 10 ft
Coordinates06°33′07″N 079°58′43″E / 6.55194°N 79.97861°E / 6.55194; 79.97861
Map
KTY is located in Sri Lanka
KTY
KTY
Location of airport in Sri Lanka
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
11/29 1,006 3,301 Bitumen

The airport is located 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) southeast of the town of Kalutara.[2] It is at an elevation of 3 metres (10 ft) and has one runway designated 11/29 with a bitumen surface measuring 1,006 by 46 metres (3,301 ft × 151 ft).[2]

History

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Originally established as the Royal Naval Air Station HMS Ukussa, it was reactivated in 1984 by the Sri Lanka Air Force. It has been the venue for many motor races conducted in association with the Air Force Sports Board and with Sports Ministry approval.

Established in 1944 by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy at its peak it was the largest Royal Naval Air Station, staffed by 300 Officers, 3000 sailors and 100 women from the Women's Royal Naval Service. It serviced more than 100 aircraft at any given time whilst maintaining an aircraft repair yard.

Local civil flying schools provide flight training facilities from the aerodrome.

Airlines and destinations

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AirlinesDestinations
Simplifly Colombo-Bandaranaike, Colombo-Ratmalana
Open Skies Katukurunda-Ratmalana-Koggala-Katunayake-Dondra
Skyline Colombo-Ratmalana-Katukurunda-Koggala-Dondra
Richy Sky lark Bentota (Commercial operator)
Asian Aviation Colombo-Ratmalana

References

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  1. ^ "Airline and Airport Code Search (KTY: Katukurunda)". International Air Transport Association (IATA). Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  2. ^ a b c "VCCN – KATUKURUNDA". AIP Sri Lanka. Aeronautical Information Services of the Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. 17 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2016-01-24.
  3. ^ "Sri Lanka Air Force Katukurunda". AirForce.lk. Sri Lanka Air Force. Archived from the original on 2016-01-26.