Sumburgh Airport is the main airport serving Shetland in Scotland. It is located on the southern tip of the mainland, in the parish of Dunrossness, 20 miles south of Lerwick.
The airport is owned by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) and served by Loganair. Other tenants include the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Bristow Helicopters and Babcock Mission Critical Services Offshore.
The airport is unusual in that it has a 1,804ft helicopter runway as opposed to a usual helipad.
Sumburgh Airport Map
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Live Trackers
Arrivals/Departures & Scanner Frequencies
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Sumburgh Airport Scanner Frequencies:
Radar - 123.155, 131.300
Tower - 118.255
ATIS - 118.255, 125.855
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History
Sumburgh Links was surveyed and the grass strips laid out by Captain E. E. Fresson of Highland Airways in 1936: the airport was opened on 3 June of that year with the inaugural flight from Aberdeen (Kintore) by the De Havilland Dragon Rapide G-ACPN piloted by Fresson himself.
The runways were built at the instigation of Capt. Fresson, who had proved to the Navy at Hatston (Orkney) that to maintain all-round landing facilities over the winter months runways were essential. This was taken up by the RAF after the obvious success of the Hatston experiment.
The former RAF Sumburgh airfield had three runways, two of which, although extended, remain in use by the present airport. No. 404 Squadron operated Beaufighter Mark VI and X aircraft from this station on coastal raids against Axis shipping off the coast of Norway and in the North Sea.
The western end of runway 09/27 crosses the A970 road between Sumburgh (including the airport) and the northern mainland; access is controlled by a level crossing with barriers closed whenever a flight is taking off or landing.
Getting to Sumburgh Airport
Sumburgh Airport,
ZE3 9JP, is located on the southern tip of the Shetland Mainland, nearly 25 miles south of the Lerwick.
An hourly bus to Lerwick (Service 6) operates directly opposite the main terminal front and Taxis can usually be found right outside the terminal front door.
Car Parking
Car parking is free for the first two hours then charged for every 24 hours thereafter. There are exemptions for inter-island and NHS passengers, as well as Blue Badge holders.
• More information on the official website.
Accommodation:
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