Andøya Air Station

Andøya Air Station
A Norwegian P-3 Orion aircraft at Andøya, in 2011.
IATA: ANX ICAO: ENAN
Summary
Airport type	Military/Public
Operator	Royal Norwegian Air Force
Serves	Andenes
Elevation AMSL	43 ft / 13 m
Coordinates	69°17′33″N 016°08′39″E / 69.29250°N 16.14417°E / 69.29250; 16.14417Coordinates: 69°17′33″N 016°08′39″E / 69.29250°N 16.14417°E / 69.29250; 16.14417
Map
Andøya Location in Norway
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 03/21 5,486 1,672 Asphalt 14/32 8,097 2,468 Asphalt

Andøya Air Station (Norwegian: Andøya Flystasjon) is situated in the north of Norway, in the municipality of Andøy. 333 Squadron of the Norwegian air force is based here with P-3C Orions. The squadron is Norway's only surveillance squadron and stands as the airborne defence of northern Norway. Andøya Air Station is designed to handle fighters and should it become necessary, fighter squadrons can be deployed to protect this region. Squadron 333 is the only Norwegian squadron still in operation after its initial deployment.

The civil airport Andøya Airport, Andenes and the civilian sounding rocket launch facility Andøya Rocket Range is also located on the island.

The primary function of the six Orion aircraft is surveillance, mostly in the north and for both military and civilian functions. The planes are also the only aircraft that can provide assistance to stricken ships far from land. The aircraft frequently cooperate with the Norwegian Coast Guard.

The government has proposed that new Maritime Patrol Aircraft shall be co-located with F-35 at Evenes Air Station. Evenes will be strengthened with the establishment of dedicated base defence units and long-range air defences. Andøya air station is slated for closure.

The first idea of building a military airport was launched at a NATO meeting in Lisbon in 1951. In March 1952 the Norwegian Minister of Defence, Nils Langhelle announced that the airport was going to be built. There were multiple suggested locations, and the decision fell on the village Haugnes. The entire village with 310 residents was expropriated to give enough area for the airport. The community at Andøy only had 2000 residents at the time, and a large growth was expected.

A Douglas Dakota was the first aircraft landing on September 17, 1954. The air station was operational from the fall of 1957. The headquarters were located about 13 km away at Skarsteindalen, as part of NATOs spread tactic. In 1961 the first squadron, the 333, was moved to the air station, from Sola Air Station, with HU-16B Albatross aircraft.