Subaj Airfield, was an airport that served the town of Subaj, Republic of Bloxjiado. It was built in 1959, and is one of the oldest airports in Bloxjiado. It was closed to all traffic as of 2013.
History
The airfield was built sometime in 1959 and was used as an airbase. In 1978, it had its first passenger flight which was operated by Rendruns Air. In 1987, JiadoAir began flights to Subaj with Bouglas BC-3 from Dahanani, and in 1989, after the Bouglas BC-3 retirement, JiadoAir began using their Twin Otters in this route. . In 2003, Montoair began flights to Subaj with Fokker F27-Friendship aircraft. In 2000, Montoair Flight 232 crashed approximately 2.3 miles away from Subaj in bad weather.
In 2001, Subaj Airport became equipped with Instrument Landing System with a Category 1/CAT-I ILS, which allowed planes in bad weather to land at the airport if the visibility was 500 meters or above.
Sometime between 2002-2004 (most sources claim 2004), JiadoAir ended Subaj flights due to complications operating to Subaj. Later, in 2008, Montoair flights at Subaj ended. The last commercial flight of Subaj Airfield was Montoair Flight 234 from Subaj to Dahanani. Subaj Airfield after 2009 till 2013 was used by general aviation flights and the Bloxjiado Air Force.
In 2014, a bomb exploded at the airport’s apron, leading to major damage to Taxiway Zulu, the airport’s main taxiway and its terminal.
In 2015, the airport’s taxiway was decomissioned and the terminal was demolished after a failed plan to revive the air field. All that remains left of the airport is some of its taxiway and its asphalt-paved Runway 13/31.
Accidents and Incidents
- Montoair Flight 232: Montoair Flight 232 was a flight from Dahanani to Subaj in March 1, 2003. At the time of the flight, the visibility at Subaj was bad. Since Subaj had Instrument Landing System, Category 1 (CAT-I ILS), the crew decided to continue to Subaj. However, CAT-I ILS only allows flights in bad weather to land if the visibility is 500m or above, but the visibility at Subaj was 350m, which is for a CAT-II ILS, which Subaj airport did not have. The aircraft crashed 5,500ft away from Runway 31. Out of the 44 occupants, only 6 survived.