Hingurakgoda Airport

Hingurakgoda Airport SLAF Hingurakgoda හිඟුරක්ගොඩ ගුවන්තොටුපළ
IATA: HIM – ICAO: VCCH
Summary
Airport type	Military / Public
Owner	Government of Sri Lanka
Operator	Sri Lanka Air Force
Serves	Minneriya
Location	Hingurakgoda, Sri Lanka
Elevation AMSL	46 m / 151 ft
Coordinates
Map
HIM Location of airport in Sri Lanka
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 07/25 2,287 7,503 Bitumen

Hingurakgoda Airport (Sinhalese: හිඟුරක්ගොඩ ගුවන්තොටුපළ, IATA: HIM, ICAO: VCCH), also known as Minneriya Airport, is a domestic airport in Hingurakgoda, Sri Lanka. It is also a military airbase known as Sri Lanka Air Force Base Hingurakgoda.

The facility is located 6.4 nautical miles (11.9 km) north of the town of Polonnaruwa. It resides at an elevation of 46 metres (151 ft) and has one runway designated 07/25 with a bitumen surface measuring 2,287 by 46 metres (7,503 ft × 151 ft).

History

This base was an RAF airfield, RAF Minneriya during the World War II from 1942 to 1946, which was renovated and re-established by the Sri Lanka Air Force in 1978.

Facilities

SLAF Hingurakgoda is the fourth largest airport in Sri Lanka and has the fourth longest runway in Sri Lanka. The runway can easily accommodate narrow-body aircraft like Airbus A320 family, Boeing 737 and Boeing 757. It can also tightly handle wide-body aircraft like Airbus A300, Airbus A330, Boeing 767, Boeing 777 or even at emergencies a Boeing 747.

The airport's sole runway is not equipped with ILS (Instrument Landing System), thus all approaches and takeoffs are performed visually.

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
FitsAir	Charter: Colombo-Ratmalana
Mihin Lanka (planned)

Lodger Squadrons

• No. 7 Helicopter Squadron
• No. 9 Attack Helicopter Squadron

External links

• Sri Lanka Air Force Base Hingurakgoda