Botopasi Airstrip

Botopasi Airstrip (IATA: BTO, ICAO: SMBO), is an airstrip serving Botopasi, Suriname.

Botopasi Airstrip

Botopassi Airstrip
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorLuchtvaartdienst Suriname
LocationBotopasi, Suriname
Elevation AMSL242 ft / 74 m
Coordinates4°13′03″N 55°26′49″W
Map
SMBO
Location in Suriname
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05/23 550 1,804 grass
Sources: GCM[1] Google Maps[2]

History of the airstrip

The Botopasi Airstrip was constructed by the Surinamese Medical Missionary Service, the "Surinaamse Medische Zendings Vliegdienst", also called the “Medische Zending Suriname” and was frequently visited by the Mission Aviation Fellowship. It was the first airstrip at the Upper Surinam River and was destined to facilitate transport to Paramaribo from the clinics Pokigron, Ladoani, Debikè and Dyumu. The first landing took place on 14 January 1963 by the American pilot Ted Lepper in his Piper Cub N 5406H. For many years the MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) remained the main user of the airstrip. Nowadays multiple flights are available by many charter companies.

Charters and destinations

Charter Airlines serving this airport are:

AirlinesDestinations
Blue Wing AirlinesParamaribo, Zorg en Hoop Airport[3]
Caricom AirwaysParamaribo, Zorg en Hoop Airport[4]
Gum AirParamaribo, Zorg en Hoop Airport[5]
Surinaamse Medische Zendings Vliegdienst / Mission Aviation FellowshipParamaribo, Zorg en Hoop Airport
Hi-Jet Helicopter ServicesParamaribo, Zorg en Hoop Airport
Suriname Air Force/
Surinaamse Luchtmacht		Paramaribo, Zorg en Hoop Airport
United Air Services (UAS)Paramaribo, Zorg en Hoop Airport
Vortex Aviation Suriname(VAS)Paramaribo, Zorg en Hoop Airport

Accidents and incidents
  • On 23 August 1986 a Cessna 172L Skyhawk with registration PZ-NAN from the Aero Club Suriname was damaged landing at Botopasi, the pilot was J. Jaeger. The plane was repaired and returned to its home-base at Zorg en Hoop Airport.[6]
  • On 25 September 1986 a Cessna U206G Stationair 6, registration PZ-TAC from Gonini Air Service was hijacked at Apetina kondre airstrip by rebels of the "Jungle Commando" of Ronnie Brunswijk. The pilot (O. van Amson jr.) was forced to fly the aircraft to an unknown location. In May 1988 the airplane was at the Botopasi Airstrip in Suriname with a flat tire; apparently at that time in use by the jungle commando. The aircraft never returned to the owner and was canceled from the Surinamese Aviation register in 1993.[7][8]

See also

References
  1. Airport information for BTO at Great Circle Mapper.
  2. Google Maps - Botopasi
  3. "Scheduled Flights". Bluewing Airlines. 2013-02-18. Archived from the original on 2013-05-22. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  4. "Where we fly". Caricom Airways. Archived from the original on March 15, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  5. "Destinations". Gum Air. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  6. http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=170939
  7. "Updates : September 25, 2013". Landewers.net. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  8. ASN


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