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Barra Airport

Coordinates: 57°01′22″N 07°26′35″W / 57.02278°N 7.44306°W / 57.02278; -7.44306
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For the airport in Brazil, see Barra Airport (Brazil).

Barra Airport

Port-adhair Bharraigh
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorHIAL
LocationBarra
Na h-Eileanan Siar
Elevation AMSL1−4 ft / 0–1 m
Coordinates57°01′22″N 07°26′35″W / 57.02278°N 7.44306°W / 57.02278; -7.44306
WebsiteBarra Airport
Map
EGPR is located in Outer Hebrides
EGPR
EGPR
Location of airport in Scotland
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
07/25 799 2,621 Sand
11/29 680 2,231 Sand
15/33 846 2,776 Sand
Statistics (2022)
Passengers13,102
Passenger change 21-22Increase32%
Aircraft Movements1,456
Movements change 21-22Increase17%
Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]
Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2]

Barra Airport (Scottish Gaelic: Port-adhair Bharraigh) (IATA: BRR, ICAO: EGPR) (also known as Barra Eoligarry Airport) is a short-runway airport (or STOLport) situated in the wide shallow bay of Traigh Mhòr at the northern tip of the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The airport is unique, believed to be the only one in the world where scheduled flights use a tidal beach as the runway.[3][4] The airport is operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, which owns most of the regional airports in mainland Scotland and the outlying islands. Barra Airport opened in 1936.[5] The airport's only destination is Glasgow.[6]

The beach is also popular with visitors and cockle pickers, who are asked to observe the windsock to see if the airport is in operation. In 2011, Barra Airport was voted No.1 in the world's top airport approaches by a poll conducted by PrivateFly.com, up from 10th place in 2010.[7]

Infrastructure

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The beach is set out with three runways in a triangle, marked by permanent wooden poles at their ends, in directions 07/25, 11/29, 15/33. This almost always allows the DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft that serve the airport to land into the wind. At high tide these runways are under the sea; flight times vary with the tide. Emergency flights occasionally operate at night from the airport, with vehicle lights used to illuminate the runway and reflective strips laid on to the beach.[8]

Barra Airport also has a Civil Aviation Authority Ordinary Licence (Number P792) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Highlands & Islands Airports Limited). The aerodrome is not licensed for night use.[9]

In 2024 the HIAL invested £1.5 million into Barra Airport to receive a refurbishment which included the installation of external wall insulation, paving, decking, and made efforts to modernising the café and lobby.[10]

Airline and destination

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AirlinesDestinations
Loganair[5] Glasgow[5]

Statistics

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Annual passenger traffic at BRR airport. See Wikidata query.
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  • Plane taxiing on arrival
    Plane taxiing on arrival
  • The airport runway – An Tràigh Mhòr ("The Great Beach")
    The airport runway – An Tràigh Mhòr ("The Great Beach")
  • Barra Airport, with plane on final approach
    Barra Airport, with plane on final approach
  • Twin Otter landing at Barra Airport
    Twin Otter landing at Barra Airport
  • Twin Otter at Barra airport, ground crew preparing for takeoff
    Twin Otter at Barra airport, ground crew preparing for takeoff

References

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  1. ^ "Wick – EGPC". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  2. ^ "Data and analysis | Civil Aviation Authority".
  3. ^ "Barra Airport". Highlands and Islands Airports Limited. Archived from the original on 22 March 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2009.
  4. ^ "Island airport offers dream job working on the beach". BBC News. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Arnaud, Stan (21 July 2021). "£2 million makeover planned for Barra Airport – but 'bucket list' beach runways will stay". Press and Journal. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Barra airport destinations". Barra Airport – HIAL. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Top 10 Airport Approaches 2011". PrivateFly.com. November 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  8. ^ Khan, Stephen (10 November 2002). "Dogfight over Barra to keep air link open". The Observer. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
  9. ^ Civil Aviation Authority Aerodrome Ordinary Licences Archived 28 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "Barra Airport: a remote refurbishment". www.airportsinternational.com. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
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Further reading

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