U-Tapao to become Bangkok's 3rd commercial airport

[webfact]

Agreement signed over development of U-Tapao Airport as 3rd airport serving Bangkok


File photo: U-Tapao Airport

CHONBURI, 4 June 2015 (NNT) – The Royal Thai Navy and the Ministry of Transport have signed a collaboration agreement to develop U-Tapao Airport into the third commercial airport serving the capital city.

Minister of Transport Prajin Juntong and Navy Commander-in-Chief Kraisorn Chansuvanich on Wednesday signed an agreement on the development of U-Tapao Airport, in preparation for increased air transport activities in the future.

Full commercial service is expected to be available at U-Tapao Airport by 2017.

Under the agreement, the first phase of improvements to the airport will involve a renovation of the existing passenger terminal and the construction of a new terminal. Supporting infrastructures at the airport will also be improved, to allow the airport to accommodate 3 million passengers per year. Highway no. 331 will be expanded to encompass four traffic lanes, and a motorway will be constructed to link Pattaya, Map Ta Phut and U-Tapao Airport.

The new motorway will link up to the existing Motorway no. 7 to facilitate road traffic between Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports.

The 2nd phase of the development, spanning 2018-2020, would see passenger capacity expanded to 5 million persons per year and an increase in commercial activities.

-- NNT 2015-06-04

[jaidam]

And the only one with properly built runways, thanks to the <deleted>. Nearly 50 year old runways with nary a crack to be found, contrasted to Swampy whose runways were closed for major repairs before its 2nd birthday.

[Dannyboy666]

Who Built Those Runways ?

[ignis]

1st thing that comes to mind, will need more Mini Buses and buses to service 3 million passangers = even more accidents

[geriatrickid]

And the only one with properly built runways, thanks to the <deleted>. Nearly 50 year old runways with nary a crack to be found, contrasted to Swampy whose runways were closed for major repairs before its 2nd birthday.

Maybe that has something to do with the amount of traffic and the weight of the loads the runways receive?

How many AB 380 AB340, AB 330, B777, B767, B787, B747 land at Utapao on any given day? UTP had 10 commercial jet arrivals/departures today, all Cessna or ATR 72. In contrast BKK has approximately 800 flights a day, of mostly heavy jets.

Yes, BKK had some serious problems, but they were addressed. Show me any airport surface that can withstand a daily pounding year in, year out without surface fatigue.

Yes, I know your point was to show that the US engineered airport stood up etc. However, even US airports have their problems over time.

You know Andrews AFB in Maryland? It developed a significant dip (2" deep) on Runway 1L/19R . It was caused by water infiltrating the pavement system and transporting soil particles through a leaking culvert underlying the runway. It was fixed.

Edited June 4, 2015 by Rimmer

[geriatrickid]

Who Built Those Runways ?

Thai construction workers under the supervision and guidance of USAF contractors and engineers.

[Rimmer]

U-Tapao runways were designed to take fully loaded B52 bombers

They have already started widening the 331 highway at the northern end from highway 36 junction

The proposed new N S motorway will finish right next to it

[BKKBrit]

Well that's a cozy little deal involving tax payers' money. And of course, it's completely transparent.

[longstebe]

That highway 331 from highway 7 is one horrible road.

[JB300]

Air Asia will fly KL - U-Tapao from 16th July... http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/05/14/airasia-adds-kuala-lumpur-pattaya-route-to-its-network/

[h90]

And the only one with properly built runways, thanks to the <deleted>. Nearly 50 year old runways with nary a crack to be found, contrasted to Swampy whose runways were closed for major repairs before its 2nd birthday.

yes that is bad....how many money lost in these 50 years.....If the runway would need repair every 5 years and 30% can get into the pocket of a politician it would be a big amount by now. That is all lost and politicians starve.

[ratcatcher]

Who Built Those Runways ?

Thai construction workers under the supervision and guidance of USAF contractors and engineers.

".....under the supervision and guidance of USAF contractors and engineers."

And that is why it is still as good as it was 50 years ago.

[webfact]

Navy airbase to become Bangkok's third commercial airport
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A longtime military airbase southeast of Bangkok will become the capital’s third commercial airport.

The U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield will enter into commercial service by 2017, according to transportation and navy officials, who agreed yesterday to develop the single-runway facility to meet future air transport needs.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/06/04/navy-airbase-become-bangkoks-third-commercial-airport


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2015-06-04

[Naam]

Who Built Those Runways ?

the Vietnamese

[webfact]

U-Tapao military airbase to become commercial airport



BANGKOK: -- The Transport Ministry has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Royal Thai Navy to upgrade the military U-Tapao air base in Rayong province into the country’s third commercial airport.

Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong and Navy chief Admiral Kraisorn Jansuwanit signed the agreement yesterday.

Under the agreement, two panels, formed by each party, will jointly draw a three-stage upgrade plan for the navy’s airport.

The first phase aims to increase the U-Tapao Airport’s handling capacity to 3 million passengers per year.

A new passenger terminal will be built to serve the purpose and its construction is scheduled to be completed in 2016.

In the second phase, the handling capacity will be increased to 5 million passengers per year.

The third phase from 2020 onward will focus on development of airport facilities to support growth in the aviation industry in future.

The agreement between the Transport Ministry and the Royal Thai Navy also covers plans to upgrade the Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok and to expand the Airport Rail Link services from the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to the Don Mueang Airport and the U-Tapao Airport.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/u-tapao-military-airbase-to-become-commercial-airport


-- Thai PBS 2015-06-04

[Pib]

Who Built Those Runways ?

Thai construction workers under the supervision and guidance of USAF contractors and engineers.

Yeap....funded and designed by the U.S. around 1965 to handle fully loaded B-52 bombers, KC-135 air refueling tankers, C-130 cargo acft, U-2 surveillance acft, fighters acft, etc.., during the Vietnam War era. I've got memories from being stationed there. But the U.S. Air Force use was primarily from 1965 to 1975...I expect there has been runaway maintenance work done since 1975 to keep it in good shape.

American use of U-Tapao during the Vietnam War[edit]

Prior to 1965, U-Tapao was a small Royal Thai Navy airfield. At Don Muang Air Base near Bangkok the USAF had stationed KC-135 air refueling tankers fromStrategic Air Command (SAC) for refueling tactical combat aircraft over the skies of Indochina. Although Thailand was an active participant in the war, with a token ground force deployed to the Republic of Vietnam and a more substantial involvement in Laos, the visibility of the large US Air Force tankers in its capital was causing political embarrassment to the Thai government.

In June 1965, the B-52F was first used in the Vietnam War. B-52F aircraft taken from the 7th and 320th Bomb Wings were sent to bomb suspected Viet Cong enclaves in South Vietnam. The B-52Fs were stationed at Andersen AFB on Guam, the operation being supported by KC-135As stationed at Kadena AB on Okinawa. By November 1965, the B-52s were able to support the 1st Air Cavalry Division in mopping up operations near Pleiku.

The Seventh Air Force (PACAF) wanted to have additional B-52s missions flown into the war zone; however, the B-52 missions from Andersen, as well as from Kadena AB, Okinawa, required long mission times and air refueling. Concerns about base security with having the aircraft based in South Vietnam led to the change of mission at Tuy Hoa Air Base from that of basing B-52s there to one of a tactical air base. It was decided that, as the base at U-Tapao was being established as a KC-135 tanker base to move them out of Don Muang, to also base the B-52s there where they could fly unrefuelled throughout both North and South Vietnam.

The construction of U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield began in October 1965; the runway was built in eight months^[8] and the base was completed slightly more than two years later.^[9][10][11] The 11,500-foot (3,505 m) runway was opened on 6 July 1966 and the first aircraft to land was a Royal Thai Air Force HH-16 Helicopter, then a USAF C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft.

With the completion of U-Tapao, most American forces were transferred from Don Muang, and U-Tapao RTNAF became a front-line facility of the United States Air Force in Thailand during the Vietnam War from 1966 through 1975.

[manarak]

what they need to do ASAP is push the construction of a high speed skytrain linking Don Muang, Bangkok Central locations, Suvarnabhumi, Pattaya and U-Tapao, with some useful stops in between

[trainman]

Why does the Thai navy own an airport?

[manarak]

Why does the Thai navy own an airport?

Is that a serious question?

U-Tapao is a military airport.

[Tywais]

Yeap....funded and designed by the U.S. around 1965 to handle fully loaded B-52 bombers, KC-135 air refueling tankers, C-130 cargo acft, U-2 surveillance acft, fighters acft, etc.., during the Vietnam War era. I've got memories from being stationed there. But the U.S. Air Force use was primarily from 1965 to 1975...I expect there has been runaway maintenance work done since 1975 to keep it in good shape.

Didn't know you were stationed there also, or it slipped my mind. B52s fully loaded 1968 outside my office window. Base was not fully completed yet.

[Fookhaht]

Why does the Thai navy own an airport?

Because they can't get a submarine?

[Lite Beer]

New commercial airport near Thai capital to open by 2017

Bangkok (dpa) - Thailand's military government plans to open a new commercial airport near Bangkok by 2017, officials said Thursday.

The government plans to redevelop U-Tapao, a former Vietnam War-era Air Force base located near the tourist resort of Pattaya, around 140 kilometres from Bangkok.

It would be the third airport to serve the capital, along with Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports.

U-Tapao currently receives chartered flights from Russia and China, but Transport Minister Prajin Juntong told reporters he wants to make it a low-cost carrier hub.

Tourism accounts for 10 per cent of Thailand’s economy.

A report by Master Card earlier this month revealed that Bangkok was the world’s second-most visited city in 2014, with 18.24 million arrivals. It followed London, which had 18.82 million visitors.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/New-commercial-airport-near-Thai-capital-to-open-b-30261579.html

-- The Nation 2015-06-04

[Pib]

Yeap....funded and designed by the U.S. around 1965 to handle fully loaded B-52 bombers, KC-135 air refueling tankers, C-130 cargo acft, U-2 surveillance acft, fighters acft, etc.., during the Vietnam War era. I've got memories from being stationed there. But the U.S. Air Force use was primarily from 1965 to 1975...I expect there has been runaway maintenance work done since 1975 to keep it in good shape.

Didn't know you were stationed there also, or it slipped my mind. B52s fully loaded 1968 outside my office window. Base was not fully completed yet.

Good ol' memories...I was there in 73...after moving from Ubon AB where they had F-4s and C-130 Spectre gunships during my stay....before that at Takhil with the FB-111s when I was there. Thailand was a big part of my early military career. Yeap, fully loaded B-52s and KC-135s (water injected engines) talking off from the Utapao runnway would really interrupt movie viewing at the outdoor theater on the beach...and what a sight to see the U-2s circling down out of the sky directly above the runway, landing, and a Chey El Comino chasing them down the runway to insert the wing tip wheels before they were rolled away in a hanger. Yeap, memories, memories.

Quite a few Thai military base runway constructions, lengthenings, upgrades, etc., is due to U.S. Air Force design and money from the Vietnam War era...preaching to the choir I know.

Having Utapao as a major commercial airport should be a good economy boost for that part of Thailand.

Edited June 4, 2015 by Pib

[animalmagic]

Why does the Thai navy own an airport?

it's next to the sea, therefore it's an aircraft carrier!

[cumgranosalum]

So what will the Airforce and the Navy do with their planes? - or will we have to wait whilst they carry out their important military flights without notice?

I see no mention of a rail link - just the prospect of another 3 to 4 years of road works as local routes are upgraded.

Development - big hotels, air planes landing all right next to the Thai military arsenals and the Petro-Chemical Industries biggest installations - boy they really know how to get all the ingredients together for a major air disaster!

It would be ironic if Laos airlines were to use the place - At least they will have a lovely long runway, built with the aid of the US so that B52s could take off with a full bomb payload and drop them indiscriminately upon the Plain of Jars and other scenic parts of Laos....

[h90]

Who Built Those Runways ?

the Vietnamese

I think they got the Orange powder on their head.......

[Pib]

So what will the Airforce and the Navy do with their planes? - or will we have to wait whilst they carry out their important military flights without notice?

I see no mention of a rail link - just the prospect of another 3 to 4 years of road works as local routes are upgraded.

Development - big hotels, air planes landing all right next to the Thai military arsenals and the Petro-Chemical Industries biggest installations - boy they really know how to get all the ingredients together for a major air disaster!

It would be ironic if Laos airlines were to use the place - At least they will have a lovely long runway, built with the aid of the US so that B52s could take off with a full bomb payload and drop them indiscriminately upon the Plain of Jars and other scenic parts of Laos....

It will just be a joint-use (military and commercial) airport like it already is, but the commercial share will increase. Military and commercial aircraft will use the runaway but there will be different aircraft ramp parking and hangars. Lots of major and minor joint-use airports around the world. Heck, Don Muaeng Airport Bangkok has been like that forever.

Edited June 4, 2015 by Pib

[X pat]

Who Built Those Runways ?

U.S. Military if I am not mistaken.

[aussiandrew]

Hi fello's many thanks for the good quality pictures and in site into that part of Thailands recent history.

[X pat]

1st thing that comes to mind, will need more Mini Buses and buses to service 3 million passangers = even more accidents

What they need is a high speed rail line. Time to get into the 21st century.