Pyramiden Heliport
Pyramiden Heliport | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Private | ||||||||||
| Operator | Arktikugol | ||||||||||
| Serves | Pyramiden,Svalbard,Norway | ||||||||||
| ElevationAMSL | 2 m / 6 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 78°39′08″N16°20′13″E/ 78.65222°N 16.33694°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  ENPY Location withinSvalbard | |||||||||||
| Helipads | |||||||||||
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Pyramiden Heliport(Norwegian:Pyramiden helikopterhavn;ICAO:ENPY) is aheliportlocated atPyramideninSvalbard,Norway.The airport is owned and operated byArktikugol,who owns the mining town. Theairportconsists of a gravelrunwayand apron measuring 90 by 40 meters (300 by 130 ft) and a small terminal building. There is capacity for up to three helicopters on the apron. Flights are carried out bySpark+using twoMil Mi-8helicopters. Flights are flown toBarentsburg Heliport, HeeroddenandSvalbard Airport, Longyearat irregular intervals.
The airport opened in 1961 to allowAeroflotto commence flights between Barentsburg and Pyramiden usingMil Mi-4aircraft. An upgrade was carried out in the late 1970s after the airport in Longyearbyen opened. By then fiveMil Mi-8were stationed on Svalbard. A crash during landing on 27 March 1991 killed two people. Flights were reduced during the 1990s and from 1998 Pyramiden was abandoned, reducing use of the heliport to a minimum.
History
[edit]Arktikugol commenced flights on Svalbard in 1961, at first operating a shuttle service between their two remaining mining towns, Barentsburg and Pyramiden. Barentsburg received a larger facility and was the base of operations. Flights were initially carried out by Aeroflot using two Mil Mi-4 helicopters with a capacity for eleven passengers.[1]TheAviation Actapplies to Svalbard and from 1961 to 1974 Arktikugol followed this by applying for and receiving a helicopter operating concession from theMinistry of Transport and Communications.After 1974 the Soviet Union stated that the regulations were in violation of theSvalbard Treatyallowing free shipping.[2]
The Soviet Union agreed in 1971 to allow the construction of Svalbard Airport, Longyear. The condition was that the airport be built with capacity to allow Aeroflot to operate flights toMoscow.This would again increase the need for the heliport in Pyramiden, as it would be used to fly passengers from Barentsburg to Longyearbyen. Svalbard Airport, Longyear opened in 1975.[3]In 1977 theCivil Aviation Administrationinstalled seven navigational lights aroundBillefjorden,aiding navigation through thepolar night.This was met with some controversy, as one of the lights was placed inGåsøyane Bird Sanctuary.[4]Arktikugol increased its fleet to five Mil Mi-8 helicopters, all with Aeroflot markings.[5]Each helicopter has a capacity of 28 passengers and a range of 375 kilometers (233 mi).[1]
Following thedissolution of the Soviet Unionin 1991, subsidies and resources allocated to Svalbard and Arktikugol were diminished. By 1993 there were only two remaining helicopters, and all crew and airport employees were relocated to live in Barentsburg.[6]During the early 1990s, there were about 40 to 60 aircraft movements per month at Pyramiden, with higher frequency during the summer.[7]Operation were reduced from 1998 when Arktikugol closed Pyramiden.[8]However, Arktikugol retains an operational heliport and continues irregular flights to Pyramiden.[9]
Facilities
[edit]The heliport is located on the southwestern part of Pyramiden. Situated at an elevation of 2 meters (6 ft 7 in)above mean sea level,it is about 200 meters (660 ft) from Billefjorden. The airport features a gravel runway and apron measuring 90 by 40 meters (300 by 130 ft). This allows for two helicopters to land during winter and three during winter. There is a small terminal building which also acts as a control tower. It is staffed during flight operations by a representative for the airline and providesaerodrome flight information service.The terminal building has capacity for both crew and passengers. The heliport is lit to allow for night flights.[10]
Airlines and destinations
[edit]
Arktikugol has two Mil Mi-8 aircraft which are operated bySpark+.[11]They are based at Barentsburg and provide transport services for Arktikugol and theConsulate-General of Russia in Barentsburgfor flights to Barentsburg and to Longyearbyen.[9]
Accidents and incidents
[edit]On 27 March 1991 an Aeroflot Mi-8 helicopter crashed Mimerbukta, 800 meters (2,600 ft) from the airport.[12]The helicopter was en route from Longyearbyen to Pyramiden with a crew of three and no passengers with the intent of flying employees to catch an Aeroflot flight to Moscow.[13]The pilot lost visual references during the landing, which was carried out during difficult weather conditions.[14]Two of the three people on board were killed.[15]
References
[edit]- ^abRisanger: 319
- ^Risanger: 317
- ^Risanger: 260
- ^Risanger: 330
- ^Risanger: 316
- ^Holm: 18
- ^Accident Investigation Board Norway (1991): 23
- ^Holm: 108
- ^abAccident Investigation Board Norway (2013): 4
- ^Accident Investigation Board Norway (1991): 12
- ^Accident Investigation Board Norway (2013): 14
- ^Accident Investigation Board Norway (1991): 1
- ^Accident Investigation Board Norway (1991): 2
- ^Accident Investigation Board Norway (1991): 3
- ^Accident Investigation Board Norway (1991): 5
Bibliography
[edit]
- Accident Investigation Board Norway(1991)."Rapport om luftfartsulykke den 27. mars 1991 på isen i Mimerbukta 800 m sydøst for landingsplassen ved Pyramiden Svalbard, med helikopter Aeroflot 06155"(in Norwegian).Retrieved7 April2014.
- Accident Investigation Board Norway(2013)."Report concerning aviation accident on the Cape Heer Heliport, Svalbard, Norway, 30 March 2008 with Mil Mi-8MT, RA-06152, operated by Spark+ Airline Ltd".Retrieved7 April2014.
- Holm, Kari (1999).Longyearbyen – Svalbard: historisk veiviser(in Norwegian). K. Holm.ISBN82-992142-4-6.
- Risanger, Otto (1978).Russerne på Svalbard(in Norwegian). Longyearbyen: Sampress.ISBN82-90210-03-5.
