Hingurakgoda Airport (Sinhala: හිඟුරක්ගොඩ ගුවන්තොටුපළ Hingurakgoda Guwanthotupala, IATA: HIM[1], ICAO: VCCH), also known as Minneriya Airport, is a domestic airport in Hingurakgoda, Sri Lanka.[2] It is also a military airbase known as Sri Lanka Air Force Base Hingurakgoda.[3]
Hingurakgoda Airport SLAF Hingurakgoda හිඟුරක්ගොඩ ගුවන්තොටුපළ | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military / Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Sri Lanka | ||||||||||
| Operator | Sri Lanka Air Force | ||||||||||
| Serves | Minneriya | ||||||||||
| Location | Hingurakgoda, Sri Lanka | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 46 m / 151 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 08°02′59″N 080°58′53″E / 8.04972°N 80.98139°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  HIM Location of airport in Sri Lanka | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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The facility is located 6.4 nautical miles (11.9 km) north of the town of Polonnaruwa[2] at an elevation of 46 metres (151 ft) and has one runway designated 07/25 with a bitumen surface measuring 2,287 by 46 metres (7,503 ft × 151 ft).[2]
History
This base was an RAF airfield, RAF Minneriya during World War II from 1942 to 1946, which was renovated and re-established by the Sri Lanka Air Force in 1978.
Facilities
SLAF Hingurakgoda is the fourth-largest airport in Sri Lanka and has the fourth-longest runway in Sri Lanka. The runway can easily accommodate narrow-body aircraft like Airbus A320 family, Boeing 737 and Boeing 757. It can also tightly handle wide-body aircraft like Airbus A300, Airbus A330, Boeing 767, Boeing 777 or even at emergencies a Boeing 747.[citation needed]
The airport's sole runway is not equipped with ILS (Instrument Landing System), thus all approaches and takeoffs are performed visually.
Airlines and destinations
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| FitsAir | Charter: Colombo-Ratmalana |