Eindhoven Airport
Eindhoven Airport Eindhoven Air Base Vliegbasis Eindhoven (Advanced Landing Ground B-78) | |||||||||||
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| Airport type | Public / Military | ||||||||||
| Operator | Eindhoven Airport N.V. RNLAF Vliegbasis Eindhoven | ||||||||||
| Serves | Eindhoven, Netherlands | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 74 ft / 23 m | ||||||||||
| Website | eindhovenairport.nl | ||||||||||
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  EHEH Location of Eindhoven Airport | |||||||||||
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Eindhoven Airport (IATA: EIN, ICAO: EHEH) is an airport located 4 NM (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) west[1] of Eindhoven, the Netherlands. In terms of the number of served passengers it is the second largest airport in the Netherlands, with 3.4 million passengers in 2013 (well behind Schiphol, which serves more than 52 million passengers).[3] The airport is used by both civilian and military traffic.
History
Early years
The airport was founded in 1932 as a grass strip under the name Vliegveld Welschap (Welschap Airfield). In 1939 the airfield was acquired for use by the Air Force, as concerns over a military conflict with Germany increased. The airfield was captured quickly by German forces during the Battle of the Netherlands and re-used by them under the name Fliegerhorst Eindhoven. The airfield was expanded and improved by the Germans, with three paved runways and numerous hangars and support buildings being constructed. The airfield was captured by American paratroopers during Operation Market Garden. Damage to the airfield was repaired and the airfield was re-used as an Advanced Landing Ground by both US and British forces under the designation B-78.
The airfield was returned to the Royal Netherlands Air Force in 1952. It was home to Republic F-84G Thunderjet, Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, Northrop NF-5A/B and finally the General Dynamics F-16A/B Fighting Falcon. 316 Squadron flew the F-16 and was inactivated in April 1994.
Development since the 1980s
In 1984 a terminal building for civilian air traffic is constructed. After the end of the Cold War, Eindhoven was transformed into a military transport base. Initially it was home to F27-300M Troopship aircraft. Over the years to come, Fokker 50, Fokker 60, McDonnell Douglas KDC-10, Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Gulfstream IV aircraft were stationed at the air base. The Fokker aircraft have been retired.
On 15 July 1996, a Belgian Air Force C-130 Hercules crashed at the airport - known as the Herculesramp (Hercules disaster). The plane caught fire and in the intense heat, 34 people died. As a result of communication problems within the emergency services the fire services were not aware that the C130 carried many passengers, which likely caused more people to die than if the emergency services had known about this.[4]
On the civilian side, the airport has continued to grow and is now the second largest airport in the Netherlands. To accommodate this, in early 2012 work to further expand Eindhoven airport was started.[5] Now, there is a 120 room Tulip Inn Hotel.
Facilities
Passenger facilities available include: Exchange office, Lost property office, Luggage lockers, Baby changing area and a Health centre. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge throughout the airport. A business centre is available too. Major car rental companies have their offices here: Avis Rent a Car System, Europcar, Hertz, and Sixt. There are 1,500 parking spaces for long and short term parking.[6]
Military
- 334 Squadron with McDonnell Douglas KDC-10, McDonnell Douglas DC-10, Gulfstream IV
- 336 Squadron with Lockheed C-130
- 940 Maintenance Support Squadron
- 941 Miscellaneous Support Squadron
- Movement Coordination Centre Europe
- European Air Transport Command
From 1 July 2007, Eindhoven, is the location of the Movement Coordination Centre Europe (MCCE), a merger of the former European Airlift Centre (EAC), established by the European Air Group, and the Sealift Coordination Centre (SCC). MCCE is a non NATO/non European military organization. MCCE is an organization open to all Governments whose membership is accepted by all the others participant nations, regulated by a specific legal technical agreement. The Mission of the MCCE is to coordinate the use of Air Transport, Surface Transport (sea and land) and Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) capabilities between participating Nations and thereby improve the overall efficiency of the use of owned or leased assets of the national military organisations. The Centre’s main focus will be on strategic movements, but not excluding operational and tactical movements.
From September 2010 Eindhoven Airport is also hosting the European Air Transport Command, composed of six European nations who share aerial military assets in a single operative command.
Airlines and destinations
Ground transport
Eindhoven Airport is located just off the A2 motorway which offers direct connections to the west and south of the country, including the cities of Amsterdam, Utrecht and Maastricht. The airport is also served by two of Eindhoven's bus routes.
- Line 400 is a shuttle bus service line that connects the airport to its main railway station. The service frequency ranges from twice an hour in late evenings and early mornings to four times an hour during the day.[7]
- Line 401 is a bus rapid transit line (see: Phileas) that connects the airport to Eindhoven's city centre and its main railway station. The service frequency ranges from twice an hour late in the evenings to eight times an hour during the day.[8]
- Line 145 connects Best railway station and the town of Best with Eindhoven Airport.
- Line 103 connects Eindhoven railway station via the northern district of Woensel with the airport, and connects the airport with the town of Veldhoven.
See also
References
- ^ a b c EHEH – EINDHOVEN/Eindhoven. AIP from AIS the Netherlands, effective 26 December 2024
- ^ Eindhoven Airport, Facts & Figures (Dutch; English data is not up to date)
- ^ "Schiphol Transport and Traffic statistics". Schiphol Group. 13 June 2014.
- ^ Template:Nl icon"Hercules ramp Eindhoven". Zwaailichten disaster website. 15 July 1996. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
- ^ Template:Nl icon"Construction terminal extension and hotel Eindhoven Airport has started". kcap.eu. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
- ^ "Eindhoven Airport Facilities". Eindhoven Airport. Retrieved 2014-06-14.
- ^ Timetable of line 400 from Eindhoven Airport to Eindhoven Station NS – OVEindhoven.nl
- ^ Timetable of line 401 from Eindhoven Airport to Eindhoven Station NS – OVEindhoven.nl
External links
Media related to Eindhoven Airport at Wikimedia Commons