Stornoway Airport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stornoway Airport
Port-Adhair Steòrnabhagh
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Runway 36 at Stornoway Airport
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Private | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Highlands and Islands Airports Limited | ||||||||||||||
| Serves | Stornoway, Outer Hebrides | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Isle of Lewis | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 26 ft / 8 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 58°12′56″N 006°19′52″W / 58.21556°N 6.33111°W | ||||||||||||||
| Website | Stornoway Airport | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
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Location in Outer Hebrides
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| Runway | |||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (2018) | |||||||||||||||
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Stornoway Airport is an airfield located on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. It is about 3.7 kilometers (2.2 miles) east of Stornoway, which is the largest town on the island.
Contents
History of Stornoway Airport
Stornoway Airport first opened in 1937. It was mainly used for military purposes back then. The Royal Air Force (RAF) had an airbase at this location until 1998.
Military Operations
During its military years, the airport was very important. NATO aircraft used it for missions over the North Atlantic. They also used it as a stopover point for flights heading to Greenland and the United States.
What Stornoway Airport Does Today
Today, Stornoway Airport is mostly used for flights that carry passengers. These are usually domestic flights, meaning they fly within the country.
Daily Mail Flights
The Royal Mail also uses the airport. They operate a daily flight to carry mail to and from the island.
Search and Rescue Services
One of the most important jobs at the airport is done by CHC Helicopters. They operate two Sikorsky S-92 helicopters. These helicopters are specially equipped for search and rescue missions. They work on behalf of the Coastguard. The brave helicopter crews have responded to over 3,100 emergency calls since their service started in May 1987.
Private Aircraft
Besides commercial flights and rescue helicopters, several privately owned light aircraft are also based at Stornoway Airport.
Interesting Event at the Airport
Stornoway Airport was once the site of an emergency landing. In 1981, an American Airlines Boeing 767 jet had to land there. The plane was flying from Sweden to Chicago when a medical emergency happened on board. The large jet stayed at the airport for two days.
Who Owns and Runs the Airport
Stornoway Airport is owned by HIAL. This company is controlled by the Scottish Government.
Regular Flight Destinations
You can catch regular flights from Stornoway Airport to several other airports. These include Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, and Benbecula.
