INNSBRUCK

16 // Extreme Airports

A

ustria’s fi fth largest city is at the heart

of the Inn valley, close to its junction

with the Wipptal and around 19 miles

(30km) from Brenner Pass on the Italian

border. The peaks of the Karwendel Alps

to the north and Patscherkofel to the south

dominate the skyline; both pose signifi cant

challenges to pilots fl ying into the airport

just 2.5 miles (4km) from downtown.

Innsbruck is the Tyrolean capital and a

university city. A fascinating history and

the Alpine scenery have made it a tourist

destination in its own right, but snow sports

bring swathes of visitors to the slopes

between December and April. The Winter

Olympics were held in the area in 1964 and

1976, while the Winter Paralympics of 1984

and 1988 and the fi rst Winter Youth Olympic

Games in 2012 also drew masses of visitors

to the region. Unsurprisingly then, the local

airport has become an important gateway

to the ski resorts, and in the colder months it

records intense bouts of aerial activity.

The mountains dictate that both arriving

and departing aircraft are fl own on some of

the most complex fl ight paths in Europe, and

the air traffi c procedures keep both pilots

and controllers on their toes at all times. It

is a testimony to all that Innsbruck has an

excellent safety record.

Innsbruck Airport (INN) opened in

January 1948 with a 2,953ft (900m) tarmac

and concrete runway which was extended

to 4,265ft (1,300m) in 1953. Another 984ft

(300m) were added in 1956, and the

present length of 6,562ft (2,000m) was

laid 1959. The terminal – which is still in

use today – was built for the 1964 Winter

Olympics. The tourism and sporting

markets dictate that its busiest days have

always been at weekends. And with winter

being what it is, airport staff have had to rise

to the challenges posed by these periods

coinciding with unpredictable weather and

adverse conditions. Not only that, but the

proximity of the city also imposes conditions

that restrict fl exibility and curtail activity.

Armin Sto er, Director of Traffi c and

Handling, and Michael Wieser, Tower

Control Manager, outlined the intricacies

of fl ying into INN and the work involved in

keeping its air traffi c moving, particularly

when conditions are suboptimal.

TYROLEAN

TRYST

The Alpine peaks surrounding

Innsbruck make fl ying its

approaches very demanding,

especially in inclement

weather. Kevan James

sampled the Wiener Schnitzel

and Apfelstrudel while fi nding

out what it takes to keep this

busy li le airport running

smoothly and effi ciently.

AIRPORT STATISTICS

IATA code: INN

ICAO code: LOWI

Location: N47°15.62’ E11°20.63’

Elevation: 1,907ft (581m)

Runway: 08/26 6,562 x 148ft

(2,000 x 45m)

Frequencies: Radar 119.

Tower 120.

Website: http://www.innsbruck-airport.

com/en

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