Tainan Airport
Tainan Airport 臺南航空站 台南機場 Táinán Hángkōngzhàn Táinán Jīchǎng | |||||||||||||||
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| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Civil Aeronautics Administration | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Tainan City | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 63 ft / 19 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 22°57′01″N 120°12′20″E / 22.95028°N 120.20556°E | ||||||||||||||
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  TNN Location of airport in Taiwan | |||||||||||||||
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Tainan Airport (Chinese: 臺南機場; formally "臺南航空站") (IATA: TNN, ICAO: RCNN) is a commercial airport located in South District, Tainan City, Taiwan. It is shared with Republic of China Air Force Tainan AFB. In January 2011, the Civil Aeronautics Administration approved the airport to handle international flights.[1]
History
In 1935 during the era of Japanese rule, Tainan Airport was proposed by the Tainan Prefecture government due to the need for civil transportation in southern Taiwan. The airport was opened on June 26, 1937 with regular flights to Matsuyama Airport (modern-day Taipei Songshan Airport) operated by Japan Air Transport. After World War II broke out, this airport was converted to a base for the Tainan Air Group. During the war this airport was named Eineisho Airport by the United States Armed Forces, to distinguish it from other two smaller airports located in now Yongkang and Guiren District.[2][3]
After the Republic of China government took over Taiwan this airport was handed over to Republic of China Air Force while still maintaining civil flights. Between 1957 and 1979 this airport was stationed by the United States Air Force, once equipped with nuclear weapon.[4] The 868th Tactical Missile Squadron stationed here from 1958 to 1962, which operated MGM-1 Matadors, probably under the ultimate control of the United States Taiwan Defense Command. Air Asia Corporation, headquartered in this airport, prospered during Vietnam War due to the need for aircraft maintenance by the United States Armed Forces.
It was the third busiest domestic airport after Taipei Songshan Airport and Kaohsiung Airport until the Taiwan High Speed Rail was inaugurated. With the passenger numbers have dropped significantly, Far Eastern Air Transport suspended its service between Tainan Airport and Taipei Songshan Airport on 1 March 2008, ending the carrier's 50-year service history at Tainan Airport. Its competitor, TransAsia Airways, also had to downgrade the aircraft it used from a jet (Airbus A320) to a turboprop (ATR 72) to maintain revenue, and finally decided to service through the airport as of 1 August 2008.
Because of the shared use with the Air Force, the airport terminal was built quite a distance away from the airfield. Passengers disembark at the apron and board shuttle buses to the terminal. The shared use with the Air Force also means some flights have to be cancelled when the Air Force conducts exercises.
International flights began on 18 July 2013 to Hong Kong, with a 3 times weekly service by China Airlines using Boeing 737-800s.[5] Since March 2014 this flight's frequency increases daily but aircraft is downgraded to smaller Embraer E-190, operated by China Airlines' subsidiary Mandarin Airlines.
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| China Airlines | Hong Kong, Osaka–Kansai[6] |
| China Eastern Airlines | Seasonal: Wuhan |
| Uni Air | Kinmen, Magong |
| VietJet Air | Ho Chi Minh City[7] |
Accidents and incidents
On 24 February 1969, Far Eastern Air Transport Flight 104, a Handley Page Dart Herald with 36 passengers and crew board, crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Tainan. Everyone on board was killed.[8]
On 16 April 1977, a FEAT Douglas C-47A B-247 was damaged beyond economic repair in a landing accident.[9]
On 21 March 2003, TransAsia Airways flight 543 (Airbus A321 registration B-22603) on a flight from Taipei Songshan Airport to Tainan Airport, collided with a truck that was on runway 36R. None of the 175 passengers and crew were killed or injured but the two occupants in the truck were injured and the aircraft was written off. [10][11]
See also
References
- ^ "Tainan Airport to open to international flights". Focus Taiwan News Channeldate=2011-01-22. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
- ^ "台南机场". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ 08、日治下臺南永康機場的時空記憶 - 國史館臺灣文獻館
- ^ 台南曾有核武基地 有人見過核彈
- ^ "China Airlines launches Tainan-Hong Kong direct flights". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ "China Airlines Confirms Tainan - Osaka Launch from late-Oct 2015". Airlineroute.net. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
- ^ "Vietjet Air Adds Tainan Service from late-June 2016". airlineroute. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
- ^ "B-247 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
- ^ Harro Ranter (21 March 2003). "ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A321-131 B-22603 Tainan Airport (TNN)". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ "Photo Search Results". Retrieved 14 April 2016.