Airport Profile

 

The Mthatha Airport Profile provides pertinent general information, such as Airport location, ownership, and overall size in instances where data is available. What is important about this airport is the scarcity of data regarding airport’s infrastructure, operations and air cargo/airline activity). This airport shares a similar historic development as Bisho Airport its counter-part for a lack of a better word, located in East London (Buffalo City Municipality) – see Bisho Airport Section as well information on the Blue Skyway Aviation Strategy.  

 

Airport development worth between R 15 million to 30 million has been earmarked to upgrade facilities, runway capacity and develop land in the surrounding areas to promote the agricultural sector for opportunities to export to an international market. 

 

The airport is further categorised as a Civilian Airport with the following World Aviation Code: 

 

            IATA Code:  UTT 

 

 Airport Location

 

Mthatha airport is located in proximity of Mthatha City which used to be part of the former Black Homeland of Transkei in the Eastern Cape Province. Mthatha is located on the N2, the direct route to Durban in KwaZulu Natal Province. The geographical coordinates are: 

 

-                 Latitude:                31 degrees 35’ 0” S 

-                 Longitude:             28 degrees 47’ 0” E 

-                 Elevation:              2,400 feet or 732 meters 

 

  Airport Ownership

 

The airport is owned and operated by Government (DoT – Eastern Cape – see Bisho profile). Government appoints all administrative staff and approves plans and expenditures for all Airport facilities. Numerous packages have been proposed in order to help facilitate “rehabilitation” of the basic airside and landside facilities. 

 

Day to day administrations is the responsibility of the Airport Manager. 

 

 Size of the Airport

 

The airport has a good portion of land for growth/expansions. Land surrounding it will be appropriately zoned if agricultural uses are promoted. These will be the best compatible land-uses in proximity to Airport land. 

 

Airport Activity  

 

Air passenger Activity

 

There is limited activity in this category. The data is not available, but will be updated in due course. 

 

Air Cargo Activity

 

There is limited cargo activity at the airport. No data available to analyse. 

 

General Aviation Activity

 

There is limited activity in GA. The majority is assumed to stem from the Training of students and other private/business jets using the facility for ease and convenience. There no quantifiable data to make further statements. 

 

Military Activity

 

No data was available. 

 

Airspace and Air Traffic Control 

 

Logic dictates that a rudimentary instrumental system or even a radar system is in place at the airport to facilitate flight landing. Data to support the systems in place will be updated in due course. 

 

Airport Facilities 

 

The airport lacks scale and scope to handle cargo freight or passenger enplanements of more than 1, 000 per month at this time. 

Runways

 

Runway length:                       6650 ft 

Runway Elevation:                  2,400 ft 

 

Taxiways and Aprons

 

 

 

 

Passenger Terminal Facilities

 

 

Support services located in the passenger terminal are a curio shop; restaurant upstairs.  

There is a small baggage handling area (inbound and outbound) passenger processing. 

 

 

Automobile Parking Facilities

 

There are parking facilities on-site. Data to quantify capacity and actual location via an Airport Layout plan will be updated in due course. 

 

Rental Car Facilities

 

The airport has numerous rental stations and facilities located at the administrative/passenger facilities. These are:

 

·          Budget 

·          Avis 

·          Hertz 

·          Imperial 

 

 

Air Cargo Facilities

 

No dedicated cargo facilities. 

 

 

General Aviation Facilities

 

No data to quantify scale, scope and location (via Airport layout plans or site plan) 

 

Support Facilities 

 

There are basic support facilities such as Fuel Depot, parking, Administrative Buildings, etc. No data on the scope and scale or location. Information will be update in due course. 

 

 

Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF)

 

Logic dictates that the facility will be complaint to all Security and Safety Protocols and legislation. Data to analyse scale and scope, sitting of facility is not available. Data will be updated in due course. 

 

 

Fuel Storage and Delivery

 

Fuselage equipment is available. No data available to analyse siting, capacity and projections to accommodate growth or scale of activity. 

 

Airport Maintenance

 

No data available. 

 

 

Flight Kitchens

 

No data available 

 

 

Airport Administration

 

There are basic administrative buildings where day to day operations are managed. 

 

Ground Transportation 

 

Basic ground transportation is found via taxis, private tour busses, etc.  

 

 

Roadway and Circulation

 

No data available to quantify traffic distribution, characteristics and pattern.