MKT Airfield

MKT Airfield

North American AT-6D Harvard III Taxiing at MKT
IATA: none – ICAO: YMKT
Summary
Airport type Private
Owner Kath and Ralph Meyering
Operator Top End Flying Club
Serves Darwin, Palmerston
Location Noonamah, Northern Territory
Elevation AMSL 75 ft / 23 m
Coordinates 12°36′31.38″S 131°03′17.24″E / 12.6087167°S 131.0547889°E / -12.6087167; 131.0547889Coordinates: 12°36′31.38″S 131°03′17.24″E / 12.6087167°S 131.0547889°E / -12.6087167; 131.0547889
Map
MKT Airfield

Location in the Northern Territory

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
07/25 1,200 3,937 Bitumen

MKT Airfield is a private airport near Noonamah, Northern Territory, Australia and approximately 40 km (25 mi) south of the city of Darwin.[1] The airfield has been operated by the Top End Flying Club since 1980. Predominately used for recreational flying by ultralight aircraft, MKT also provides flight training, aircraft maintenance and fuel supplies. The airfield has been used by the Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, customs and emergency services as a training and staging facility.[2] Based on aircraft movements MKT is the Northern Territory's second busiest after Darwin International Airport and provides an alternative destination for visiting light aircraft.

Airport facilities

The airfield has a single runway 07/25 which is 1,200 m (3,900 ft) long. This runway was sealed with a bitumen surface in 2010, opening 16 June that year and was funded through private enterprise. Along with this project, other recent upgrades include the installation of aviation fuel facilities, facelifts to hangars and the construction of new offices and training rooms for instructors and student pilots.[3] There is currently no runway lighting available. Pilots utilise a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) to safely co-ordinate arrivals and departures as there is no control tower located at this airport. MKT is listed as an approved flight training facility by Recreational Aviation Australia[4] In late 2012, an all weather tie-down area on the southern side of the airfield was sealed with bitumen.[5]

Commercial operations

In addition to the Top End Flying Club's recreational and flight training facilities, Helifish Pty Ltd, operate day trips and fishing adventure packages to remote locations around the region as well as scenic flights and charters using Robinson R22 and R44 helicopters.[6]

Future of MKT

In September 2010 the Northern Territory Government held a community conference and design forum seeking input for the proposed development of Weddell, a new satellite city south of Darwin. MKT Airfield is located within the lands allocated for this development, During this conference, a number of options were discussed regarding the future of the airport. Based on preliminary findings, a buffer zone of at least 1.35 km (0.84 mi) at either end of the runway would need to be factored into the design of the city, if the airfield is to be retained as an aviation facility.[7]

The options discussed expanding the airport to become a major general aviation hub and second airport for the Greater Darwin area, using the existing airfield and facilities as part of a business park type development, or removing the airport altogether and relocatinging the Top End Flying Club and other tenants to another airfield in the region. Some work has been undertaken by the Government to reseal the nearby Hughes Airfield, but no formal commitment has been announced for a second airport at this time. A Northern Territory Government spokesman did comment that the preferred runway alignment for such a facility would be 11/29 in a meeting with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in February 2012.[8]

Accidents and incidents

On 1 April 2013, a Cessna 210 aircraft en route from the remote Bullo Station to MKT lost radio contact after encountering thunderstorms over water approximately 100 km north of Wadeye. A search and rescue effort located some small pieces of wreckage and three bodies. There were four people on board the aircraft, including local Darwin football identity Stuart Sceney and his family.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Christie, M Top End Flying Club, Top End Flying Club Homepage, 2012
  2. ↑ "Top End Flying Club Open Day at MKT Airfield", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Darwin, August 2009
  3. ↑ Chrisite, M "MKT Airfield - Back in Black - Bitumen airstrip", Top End Flying Club Official Blog, Darwin, 16 June 2010
  4. ↑ RA-Aus May 2012 Flight Training Facilities (field listed as "Noonamah")
  5. ↑ "Meeting Minutes". Top End Flying Club. 28 October 2012.
  6. ↑ Helifish Company Website, Helifish Pty Ltd, Darwin, 2012
  7. ↑ Morris, W "Weddell Design Forum Outcomes","Northern Territory Government", Darwin, 24 November 2010
  8. ↑ "Minutes of NT RACAP Meeting", "Civil Aviation Safety Authority", Darwin, 16 February 2012
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