Oban Airport

Oban Airport North Connel Airport
Oban Airport from 600 ft (180 m)
IATA: OBN – ICAO: EGEO
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		Argyll and Bute Council
Serves		Oban
Location		North Connel, Argyll and Bute
Elevation AMSL		24 ft / 7 m
Coordinates		56°27′49″N 005°24′00″W / 56.46361°N 5.4°W / 56.46361; -5.4Coordinates: 56°27′49″N 005°24′00″W / 56.46361°N 5.4°W / 56.46361; -5.4
Website		http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/.../obanairport
Map
EGEO Location in Argyll and Bute
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	m	ft
01/19	1,266	4,154	Porous Asphalt
Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]

Oban Airport (IATA: OBN, ICAO: EGEO) is located 5 NM (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) northeast^[1] of Oban, near the village of North Connel, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Operated by Argyll and Bute council, it has a CAA licence as a commercial airport following recent upgrading. Currently^[when?] Hebridean Air Services^[2] is the only airline based at Oban. It operates scheduled flights on two routes, to the Isles of Colonsay and Islay return and to the Isles of Coll and Tiree return.

The airstrips^[3] on the Islands of Coll and Colonsay, also operated by Argyll and Bute council, have benefitted from extensive upgrading to enable them to attain CAA licensing to allow for commercial traffic.

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
Hebridean Air Services	Coll, Colonsay, Islay, Tiree

Incidents

In April 2007, three people were killed after their light aircraft crashed after take-off from the airport. Their destination was Andrewsfield Aerodrome.^[4]

Controversy

There has been controversy about the running of the airport by Argyll and Bute Council, mainly in the letters and news pages of The Oban Times. It is claimed that costs have soared and the amount of traffic dropped since the takeover.^[5] There have been additional claims that the airport fire appliance has been sabotaged.^[6]

There was more controversy in July 2009 when Argyll Aero Club PK erected a fence around the land that they lease from the airport. The council claims this reduces the length of the runway so fixed wing ambulance flights cannot land.^[7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Oban - EGEO
2. ^ Hebridean Air Services
3. ^ airstrips
4. ^ Air Accident investigation
5. ^ Oban Times
6. ^ Police probe fire engine sabotage BBC News Thursday, 6 March 2008, 19:53 GMT
7. ^ Press and Journal, 2 July 2009, Furious row between council and aero club after runway shortened

External links

• First Scheduled Flight