Ratmalana Airport

Ratmalana Airport Ratmalana Airport කොළඹ ගුවන්තොටුපළ රත්මලාන கொழும்பு விமான நிலையம் இரத்மலானை
IATA: RML – ICAO: VCCC RML Location of airport in Sri Lanka
Summary
Airport type	Civil
Owner	Sri Lankan Government
Operator	Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited
Serves	Colombo
Location	Ratmalana, Sri Lanka
Hub for	FitsAir Helitours Lankan Cargo Millennium Airlines
Elevation AMSL	16 ft / 5 m
Coordinates
Website	http://www.airport.lk/rma
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 04/22 6,014 1,833 Asphalt

Ratmalana Airport (IATA: RML, ICAO: VCCC), is the first International Airport in Sri Lanka. Colombo Airport Ratmalana was the only international airport in Sri Lanka until the inauguration of Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake in 1967. This is a Civil Airport which is operating as the domestic aviation hub and the aviation training hub in Sri Lanka. There are 08 domestic airlines based at Ratmalana with hangar facilities and operating scheduled & Charter passenger operations. Also this aerodrome use to train all aviation students in Sri Lanka since 1960's.

From August 2012, Colombo Airport Ratmalana declared to handle International Corporate jets to provide more efficient and exclusive passenger experience. Therefore this airport is currently operate international corporate jets in addition to Domestic Civil flights and Training flights. Though this airport started in the year 1935, at present it is having more pleasant appearance with modernized terminal building with exclusive lounges, all services including Customs, Immigration & Emigration and more professional & friendly staff. Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited is the airport operator of this airport.

Unique feature of the Colombo Airport, Ratmalana is that, it is conveniently located 15 km South of the Colombo City. Both International and Domestic passengers could experience authentic hospitality rendered and speedy clear through in all airport terminal process handled by passionate and professional team. Colombo Airport, Ratmalana is surrounded with cozy star class hotels, shopping arcades, tranquility of dine out places and areas for sightseeing. One who wish to travel coastal line to relax and unwind to the gentle breeze or taking a long walk on the sun kissed beach, can make their journey via Southern Expressway by entering either from Kottawa or Kahathuduwa embarking points within 30 minutes drive from Colombo Airport, Ratmalana.

History

Launch

In 1934 the State Council of Ceylon made a decision to construct an aerodrome within reach of the capital city of Colombo and decided on Ratmalana as the best site. On 27 November 1935 a De Havilland Puss Moth flown by Tyndalle Bisco, Chief flying instructor of the Madras Flying Club, was the first aircraft to land at the new airport.

Second World War

RAF Aircraft at the airport

During the Second World War it was used as a Royal Air Force base, with No 30 Squadron flying Hawker Hurricanes from there against Japanese Navy aircraft. QEA flew civilianised Consolidated B-24 Liberator and Avro Lancastrian aeroplanes there from Perth, Western Australia, on what was at the time the world's longest non-stop air route. The flight continued after the war with an intermediate re-fueling stop at the Cocos Islands.

Peak of civilian service

Ratmalana airport at one time had the country's main air terminal, with the Douglas DC-3 Dakota and Lockheed Constellation aeroplanes of Air Ceylon flying out of it. In 1947, KLM flew Douglas DC-4 Skymasters through the airport on the route from the Netherlands to the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia)

In the 1950s, BOAC flew Canadair Argonauts (DC4 with Rolls Royce Merlin engines) from Ratmalana to London.

On 11 August 1952, 3 months after the inaugural service of a passenger jet aircraft, BOAC began its Comet service between Colombo and London. Later (March 1962 - March 1971) Air Ceylon operated a Comet service on this route to London. The airport was also a Trans World Airlines (TWA) destination for a short time in the 1950s.

Domestic-only era

In 1964, the government decided to build the new Bandaranaike International Airport north of the city, to replace Ratmalana. The new airport was completed in 1967 and Ratmalana handed over all international services to the new airport. Ratmalana was left with the relatively small market for domestic air travel in the country.

Return to international service

In 2012, plans were drawn to relaunch Ratmalana as an international airport, to act as a secondary airport for the city.

Ratmalana airport was declared open for small international commercial flights. The airport is available for commercial jet operations from August 2012.

Expansion and upgrade

The airport is only 20 km from the Colombo city center compared to the larger Bandaranaike International Airport which is 32 km north of the city. The airport aims to attract private international flights and Low-cost airlines. Helitours, an airline operated by the Sri Lankan Airforce is based at the airport. There are a few industrial facilities such as the Bata shoe factory within a close proximity of the airport. The Government is developing the Ratmalana airport into an international city airport, which would provide services to private jets and small aircraft. In addition facilities at the Ampara, Batticaloa, Jaffna, and Koggala airports will be also upgraded. Repair to the runway and reconfiguration to the aerodrome for the use of corporate jet traffic would be done as a short-term development project of the Ratmalana airport. Improvements to the existing terminal building, repair to the runway, taxiway and apron, reconfiguration to the aerodrome for the use of corporate jet traffic would be done as a short-term development project of the Ratmalana airport.

Under the medium-term of the Ratmalana airport development project:

• Improvements to the existing terminal building
• Control tower
• Taxiway
• Runway development and extension to 2000m
• Road network improvements
• Navigational equipment installations
• Constructing a terminal for civil movements and apron also implemented

Current Facilities at the Airport

• Ground Handling
• Immigration Service
• Baggage and Passenger screening as per ICAO Standards
• Quarantine
• Re-fueling
• VIP Lounge

Terminals

There are currently 2 terminals at the airport.

• Terminal 1: Domestic
• Terminal 2: Cargo

Airlines And destinations

Passenger flights

Airlines	Destinations	Terminal
FitsAir	Jaffna, Trincomalee Charter: Ampara, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Hambantota-Mattala, Hambantota-Weerawila, Hingurakgoda, Kalutara, Koggala, Sigiriya, Vavuniya	1
Helitours	Ampara, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Hambantota-Mattala, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Vavuniya	1
Millennium Airlines	Charter: Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Kalutara, Koggala, Minneriya, Sigiriya, Trincomalee	1

Cargo flights

Airlines	Destinations	Terminal
FitsAir	Jaffna	2
Lankan Cargo	Jaffna, Trincomalee	2

Lodger Squadrons

• No. 2 Heavy Transport Squadron
• No. 8 Light Transport Squadron

Accidents and incidents

1960s

• On 15 November 1961, Vickers Viscount VT-DIH of Indian Airlines was damaged beyond economic repair when the co-pilot retracted the undercarriage during landing.

1970s

• On 7 September 1978, an Air Ceylon Hawker Siddeley HS 748 (registered 4R-ACJ) was destroyed in a fire while parked at Ratmalana Airport. Two pilots had been carrying out pre-departure checkups, when the fire started by the explosion of a bomb in the aircraft cargo hold.

1990s

• 29 September 1998 - Lionair Flight 602, operated by an Antonov An-24RV, fell into the sea off the north-western coast of Sri Lanka under mysterious circumstances after departing Jaffna Airport bound for Ratmalana Airport. All 55 passengers and crew members died, including the four member Ukrainian cockpit crew.

2010s

• 11 December 2014 - An military ferry flight from Bandaranaike International Airport, operated by an Antonov An-32, crashed into an suburb (Athurugiriya) within close proximity of the runway under poor visibility. The exact cause is still under investigation.

See also

• Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo's other international airport
• Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport
• Sri Lanka Air Force Museum
• List of airports in Sri Lanka

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

External links

• Sri Lanka Air Force Base Ratmalana