Whyalla Airport

Whyalla Airport
IATA: WYA ICAO: YWHA
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Corporation of the City of Whyalla
Serves	Whyalla
Location	Mullaquana
Elevation AMSL	41 ft / 12 m
Coordinates	33°03′32″S 137°30′52″E / 33.05889°S 137.51444°E / -33.05889; 137.51444Coordinates: 33°03′32″S 137°30′52″E / 33.05889°S 137.51444°E / -33.05889; 137.51444
Map
YWHA Location in South Australia
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 05/23 1,408 4,619 Gravel 17/35 1,686 5,531 Concrete
Statistics (2010/11)
Passengers 66,539 Aircraft movements 2,845
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart, passenger and aircraft movements from the BITRE

Whyalla Airport (IATA: WYA, ICAO: YWHA) is an airport located 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) southwest of Whyalla, South Australia.

The Corporation of the City of Whyalla has operated the airport since 1991 when it was handed over by the Australian government. Unfortunately for the City of Whyalla, the main runway's Pavement Classification Number (PCN) has deteriorated from 13 to the current PCN of 8. This has put a stop to all heavy aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, using the airport. Although such aircraft never operated on a RPT (Regular Passenger Transport) basis, they were a fairly common sight at Whyalla Airport due to charters.

The airport remained open for use by the Department of Defence C-130 Hercules transport aircraft until the late 1990s. The City of Whyalla, aware of the accelerating damage caused by C-130 operations, asked the Federal Government for financial assistance in upgrading the main runway to accommodate unrestricted C-130 operations. The idea was for the airport to accommodate medium-sized commercial jets as well as the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft. The government declined to offer the City of Whyalla financial assistance to upgrade the main runway. John Smith (then the Mayor of Whyalla) immediately put a stop to all C-130 operations in Whyalla, causing the RAAF to use either RAAF Woomera Airfield or RAAF Base Edinburgh to fly in troops and supplies for the nearby Cultana Training Area. This restriction is still in place today.