New Airport For Ubon?

[jcb2001]

Has anyone heard any rumors of a new airport being planned for Ubon?

I just heard it from a Big store manager here in Ubon recently. He told me it is being planned just outside of town on the Amnont Charlom (sp) road. I have noticed that nothing larger than a Boeing 737 or AirBus 319 can currently fly into the airport now. Maybe, AOT sees big tourism coming to Ubon and the need to accomidate larger aircraft, or the RTAF Wing 21 is tired of sharing the airport with civilian commercial airlines.

Sounds like a grand idea if this is true.

[MeMock]

gee I hope not - I love cities that have allowed the town to grow around the airport. Nothing worse then airports plonked outside of city limits.

[MeMock]

It is certainly getting busier but still manages to handle the increase well.

Year and Passenger numbers

2005 387,159

2006 372,633

2007 387,586

2008 391,772

2009 393,449

2010 452,938

2011 614,645

[thaimite]

It is certainly getting busier but still manages to handle the increase well.

Year and Passenger numbers

2005 387,159

2006 372,633

2007 387,586

2008 391,772

2009 393,449

2010 452,938

2011 614,645

There was recent talk about upgrading Ubon to international status.

I do not know what tgat would involve. Just terminal enhancements ot more

[transam]

Ubon airport could be extended, but new developments are now being built in the possible extension area.

[Farma]

If they do I hope they pick somewhere with less wind shear. I've yet to have a smooth landing there.

[MarcoH]

That would be very intresting to see where IF any areas Ubon airport can expand for, lets say for larger airlines, or longer runways

terminal has space for UP and on it's right site, but runways,, where??

Then IF they would be relocated, i was just looking around and as Mukdahan friendship bridge is busy now days and have large number lao people coming to Thailand it would be well calculated for they site as well and for cargo planes and that large Chinese build casino in there as well and all items sent to Lao also HW 9E almost direct to vietnam Dansavan Border 235Km as via Chong mek, well have not been there long time, so i have no idea how busy they are.

So lets start to check where if anywhere they are expanding as that is ONLY airport here and loosing that we have to start to use Khon kaen Airport,,,

[MeMock]

If they do I hope they pick somewhere with less wind shear. I've yet to have a smooth landing there.

I am yet to have a bumpy landing here after 50 odd flights.

[AliasJohn]

If they do I hope they pick somewhere with less wind shear. I've yet to have a smooth landing there.

I am yet to have a bumpy landing here after 50 odd flights.

Same for me...The approach from both ends is not effected by hills and is gradual so for me its been a smooth landing every time. I heard some gossip about relocating the entrance of the airport near the exit of the wing 21 near Sunee. Can you imagine the traffic in the small soi's there! As I said, I think just gossip.

[onionluke]

I hope this will not be the start high rise building development in Ubon .

[transam]

That would be very intresting to see where IF any areas Ubon airport can expand for, lets say for larger airlines, or longer runways

terminal has space for UP and on it's right site, but runways,, where??

Then IF they would be relocated, i was just looking around and as Mukdahan friendship bridge is busy now days and have large number lao people coming to Thailand it would be well calculated for they site as well and for cargo planes and that large Chinese build casino in there as well and all items sent to Lao also HW 9E almost direct to vietnam Dansavan Border 235Km as via Chong mek, well have not been there long time, so i have no idea how busy they are.

So lets start to check where if anywhere they are expanding as that is ONLY airport here and loosing that we have to start to use Khon kaen Airport,,,

Thats an old picy, lots has been built since then, my place is missing too.

[thaimite]

This is the link where I saw the expanions plans

http://www.thailand-construction.com/news/903--construction-news/1352-construction-of-10-new-northeastern-roads-endorsed-expansion-of-ubon-ratchathani-airport-is-also-planned.html

[Farma]

MeMock and AliasJohn you guys must have been lucky. I'm not complaining about the airport, my comment was an observation that its one airport where I either get newly graduated pilots or bad crosswinds. I've been flying in and out as a passenger for 11 years now and still cringe after the 2nd and 3rd bounce on landing. Failing that it would be nice to have both mainwheels touch at the same time. There's nothing worse than watching the wingtip tilt towards the runway.

It was a part time international airport in the past. I believe the international part was for charter loads of Thai workers heading to the Middle East. I'm not sure of the status now. Last time i looked it still said Ubon International airport on the pan side of the building.

[thaimite]

...I either get newly graduated pilots or bad crosswinds. I've been flying in and out as a passenger for 11 years now and still cringe after the 2nd and 3rd bounce on landing. Failing that it would be nice to have both mainwheels touch at the same time. There's nothing worse than watching the wingtip tilt towards the runway.

I too have never had a problem in 10+ years of flying to Ubon

Please let us know next time you are flying to Ubon so as we can make alternative arrangements if required

[ubonrthai]

They could easily take more passenger at the existing airport. They don't even use the upstairs but for a few offices. Perhaps the Emerald Triangle Development thing proposed would bring some tourists but it's too far away from town IMHO.

Edited January 12, 2013 by ubonrthai

[thaimite]

The money mentioned in the link I gave (360 million Bt) is not a lot (especially when us airport consultants get involved )

I suspect it would be little more than a terminal refurbishment, and added facilities if (as I read somewhere else) it is an upgrade to allow Ubon to handle international flights.

The addition of an extra air-bridge or 2, duty free shops and all the added security that goes with international passengers and flights it would soon be spent. There would not even be much left for a few 15 million Baht toilets.

(I am not sure if that price includes the 'Tea Money' or not

Edited January 12, 2013 by thaimite

[Patriot]

They could easily take more passenger at the existing airport. They don't even use the upstairs but for a few offices. Perhaps the Emerald Triangle Development thing proposed would bring some tourists but it's too far away from town IMHO.

http://www.thaivisa....velopment-plan/

Agreed.

Arrivals and Departures spread more evenly through the day would not increase the burden on the existing infrastructure. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon the place is deserted. Also 30% of the car parking facilities outside is taken up by the rental companies.

[Michael Hare]

I certainly hope that the airport is upgraded, in particular the car park. In recent months when collecting or sending friends and clients off, I haven't even been able to find a space to park. People leave their cars there for days on end as it is free. Perhaps a charge should be introduced.

To me it still is the new airport. I think it was built about 1990. Before that, we flew out of the Airforce Wing 21 terminal. In those days there was only one flight per day or maybe only three flights per week.

Someone mentioned above about the space upstairs not being utilised. The Tohsang hotel ran a restaurant there for a few years. I enjoyed going there.

For a short while a few years ago Ubon airport was International with a Thai flight going to Danang.

The OP said something about a rumour of a new airport up the Amnart road. There used to be an airfield there a long time ago. I think it was on the land that locals use for microplane flying.

I seemed to think that the Australian RAAF may have been stationed there from 1962-68, but when I looked into it they were definitely at the existing base up the northern end. You can read more about the Australians in these links. They seemed to live under tiring conditions with the noise of the American planes driving some guys nuts.

http://searchwarp.com/swa77414.htm

http://thailandaviation.blogspot.com/2010/05/bob-hope-christmas-show-1965-ubon.html

http://www.airwarvietnam.com/ubon.htm

http://www.answers.com/topic/raaf-operations-in-ubon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubon_Royal_Thai_Air_Force_Base

My late wife worked on the American airbase in Ubon for 3 years from 1971-74. She was employed as an instructor in the Ubon RTAFB Education centre through the 8th Combat Support Group (PACAF) and also as a personnel assistant with the USA Army and Air Force Exchange Service (PACEX). She said it was the happiest years of her life.

I asked her about the noise of the planes taking off every 10 minutes or so. They got used to it she said, even though the family home was close by where Charoen Sri Mazda is in front of the Radjaphat University.

[jamescollister]

They could easily take more passenger at the existing airport. They don't even use the upstairs but for a few offices. Perhaps the Emerald Triangle Development thing proposed would bring some tourists but it's too far away from town IMHO.

http://www.thaivisa....velopment-plan/

Going to be a long time before the Emerald Triangle gets much in the way of real tourism. Except for a few places that have border soldiers stationed at them, the rest of the national park is a no go zone.

Up in my little patch of the jungle there are still a lot of guys with guns up there, drug smugglers, poachers etc So don't go in the woods alone, or you maybe in for a big surprise. Jim

[ubonrthai]

True. Park rangers say the bottom half of the "thumb" in South Ubon is basically occupied by loggers and poachers. If you go to the Yod Dom Wildlife Reserve office they have a topographical map showing where military patrols are. Illegals are shot on the spot. Recent example

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/11/05/cambodian-police-say-thai-soldiers-shot-killed-3-cambodians-illegally-logging/

http://www.thethaireport.com/?p=1128

[my friend I]

I'm surprised to read that " communist helicopters approached the base " in one of those links above.

[spacemand]

No reason to build a new airport for the planes 319 and 737 both have ranges of more than 5000km so runway length shouldn't be a problem I doubt there will ever be a direct route from Ubon to the states or Europe.

Terminal and parking could use a touch up, left from there a couple of weeks ago and only one of the the 3 food places were open!

Edited January 24, 2013 by spacemand

[ubonrthai]

There's not even a direct route from Bangkok to LA anymore. The international travel talked about is regional so probably flights to Singapore or Hanoi. That would be nice.

The airport parking lot could easily expand to the East if they wanted to. It doesn't help that they won't let you parallel park on the 2nd road any more.

Did anyone ever figure out who is in control of whether or not meter taxis can pick people up at the airport? I regularly go to the airport and ever since the meter taxis started there have been more and more waiting outside the airport grounds waiting for people to walk the kilometer or so to get a meter taxi. Ridiculous.

[AliasJohn]

There's not even a direct route from Bangkok to LA anymore. The international travel talked about is regional so probably flights to Singapore or Hanoi. That would be nice.

The airport parking lot could easily expand to the East if they wanted to. It doesn't help that they won't let you parallel park on the 2nd road any more.

Did anyone ever figure out who is in control of whether or not meter taxis can pick people up at the airport? I regularly go to the airport and ever since the meter taxis started there have been more and more waiting outside the airport grounds waiting for people to walk the kilometer or so to get a meter taxi. Ridiculous.

I have been told the reason why the taxi's do not pick up is because the Taxi company refuse to pay rent at the airport for a kiosk of some sort. I deliver there every day and always see people lugging their bags out to the main gate. It is embarrassing to say the least.

[elwood]

I read in the other paper this morning that the Dept. of Civil Aviation plans to upgrade 6 airports, and that Ubon Ratchathani airport will be given 300 million baht to extend its aircraft parking area and to renovate its passenger terminal.

Elwood

[UbonOz]

Would be nice to have flights from Ubon direct to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and China direct.

Wishful thinking I think.

[MeMock]

I don't think so, only a matter of time.

[Bkkbound]

Additional flights would be of more use, the one flight a day via thai makes the LHR-BKK-Ubon trip quite a haul, especially with two toddlers!! It was easy travelling alone, spend a night or two in BKK before travelling on.

[SantiSuk]

...I either get newly graduated pilots or bad crosswinds. I've been flying in and out as a passenger for 11 years now and still cringe after the 2nd and 3rd bounce on landing. Failing that it would be nice to have both mainwheels touch at the same time. There's nothing worse than watching the wingtip tilt towards the runway.

I too have never had a problem in 10+ years of flying to Ubon

Please let us know next time you are flying to Ubon so as we can make alternative arrangements if required

+1 Six years and probably 50 landings. Never noticed it being a stand-out bad landing airport. Doesn't stop me feeling slightly queasy every time as we swoop in low over Tha Chayangkul! Why they don't land in the other direction always baffled me (given there is rarely more than a breeze)

[GarryP]

They could easily take more passenger at the existing airport. They don't even use the upstairs but for a few offices. Perhaps the Emerald Triangle Development thing proposed would bring some tourists but it's too far away from town IMHO.

http://www.thaivisa....velopment-plan/

Going to be a long time before the Emerald Triangle gets much in the way of real tourism. Except for a few places that have border soldiers stationed at them, the rest of the national park is a no go zone.

Up in my little patch of the jungle there are still a lot of guys with guns up there, drug smugglers, poachers etc So don't go in the woods alone, or you maybe in for a big surprise. Jim

Many years ago I used to enjoy my few trips up to the Laos border behind the Animal Husbandry Center in Buntarik. Met Lao nationals coming down to sell their produce in the local market and recharge their batteries (not figuratively). They also used the local health center because the one on their side of the hill was a three day trek. Enjoyed whiling away a few hours with the local border soldiers in their camp, but boy did they hit the rice juice in their down time.

I assume it is still very much a rough and ready place. I remember hiding from heavily armed Lao soldiers when over on their side looking for bamboo shoots. Happy memories.