Minamidaito Airport

Airport Profile

Minami Daito Airport was built as a Naval airport by the imperial Japanese Army in September 1934. The runway was repaired in June 1963 and expanded to 1,200m in December 1968 in order to accommodate YS11 aircraft.
The approach-way did not conform to the Aviation law, which applied to Okinawa from 1972 when Okinawa reverted to Japanese Administration, so it was treated as if it were shorter than its actual size. Construction of an 800m runway was in service completed in August, 1974.
DHC-6 aircraft flew between Naha and Minami Daito by then, although they were frequently cancelled due to frequent bad weather and wind conditions. The airport was consequently moved and upgraded to accommodate larger flights in July 1997.

Specifics of the Airport

Item	Description
Classification	Local airport
Administrative body	Government of Okinawa Prefecture
Location	Shimajiri-gun,Minamidaito-son,Okinawa Prefecture
Reference point	25⁰50'48"N , 131⁰15'49"E
Elevation	48.3m
Site area	359,308m²
Runway strip	length:1,620m width:150m, Class D
Runway	length:1,500m width:45m N15⁰39'14"
Taxiway	length:77.5m width:18m
Apron	7,700m², 2berths for propeller-type aircraft
Lighting facilities	PAPI and RWYTIL
Aeronautical aid facilities	VOR/DME
Servicehours	08:00through18:00(10hours)

History

1934/ 9	Established by the prewar Japanese Navy as a naval airfield
1961/ 3	Operation of civil aviation started
1972/11/14	Notification of Airport specifications (Runway length 1,232m)
1973/ 1/25	Permission for the establishment of Minamidaito Airport was granted (runway 800m)
1973/ 2/27	Appointed as Third class airport by Cabinet Ordinance
1974/ 8/20	Commercial services commenced (runway 800m)
1995/11/20	Permission for the establishment of Shin Minamidaito Airport was granted (runway 1,500m, establishment:Government of Okinawa prefecture)
1997/ 7/20	Commercial services of Minamidaito Airport were discontinued.
1997/ 7/20	Commercial services of Shin Minamidaito Airport commenced (runway 1,500m)
1998/ 3/27	The new airport was renamed(from Shin Minamidaito Airport to Minamidaito Airport)
2008/ 6/18	Appointed as Local airport by Cabinet Ordinance

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