Lakselv Airport
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Lakselv Airport, Banak (IATA: LKL, ICAO: ENNA) (Norwegian: Lakselv lufthavn, Banak) is located 5 km from the town of Lakselv in the municipality of Porsanger in Finnmark county, Norway. Apart from Lakselv, the airport also serves Karasjok, some 74 km to the south, with corresponding airport coach six days a week. It is marketed under the name North Cape Airport, and is owned and operated by Avinor. In 2005 the airport had 52 981 passengers.
The airport has daily connections to Tromsø, Kirkenes and Alta, operated by Widerøe, as well as international charter flights during the summer season. During the summer of 2006 SAS Braathens will operate a seasonal connection to Oslo Airport, Gardermoen.
In conjunction with the airport is Banak Air Station operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force. The only permanent operations at the air station are Westland Sea King search and rescue helicopters.
History
The first use of Banak as an airport was in 1938, when the military constructed a small gravel field diagonally on todays runway, about 11/29. The original runway is still partially visible the day today in areas with little vegitation.
During World War II the German invation forces expanded the airport, with hangars, workshops, hospitals in addition to defence posisions. The buildings and installations were destroyed during the German retreat in 1944.
After the war the airport was taken over by the Air Force, but the runways wooden surface was cannabalised because of material shortage during the reconstructing. From 1951 the runway was unusable, and the activities were temporarily ceased.
Lakselv Airport opened again in 1963 along with the other two primary airports in Finnmark, Alta Airport and Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen. The airport was financed through NATO and in addition to a civilan airport was host to a military air station. The airport has since been expanded several times to meet military and civilian requirements.
One of the more famous people contributing to this airport, is the well know Joakim Tangstad. Joakim Tangstad is the cousin of the Steffen Tangstad, the boxer
Airlines and destinations
Scheduled
- SAS Braathens (Oslo [summer])
- Widerøe (Alta, Kirkenes, Tromsø)
Charter
Accidents and incidents
- June 29 2005: ICP Svannah micro aircraft crashes few minutes after departure from Banak, with two flight instructors onboard. Both deceased.
- March 23 1992: F-16A looses motor power at 18 000 feets altitude. Pilot survives after aiming the aircraft at a deserted area and shooting himself out at 3000 feets altitude.
- June 12 1985: F-16B with two onboard gets control problems north of Banak. The pilot shot himself out and survived while one officer from Banak Air Station died.