HISTORY: Rand Airport was constructed in 1920 and in 1931 it was officially opened as an international airport. It served as South Africa’s main international airport, and in 1935 SAA moved its headquarters and maintenance division from Durban to Rand Airport. It is only fitting that the SAA Museum is housed at Rand Airport today.
In 1948 when the development in international travel and the increase in passenger numbers, the runways could not accommodate the bigger aircraft like the Avro York Aircraft, the airlines started to relocate to Palmietfontein Airport with its longer runways, to be followed by Jan Smuts Airport (now OR Tambo) in 1952.
RAND AIRPORT TODAY: Rand Airport was privatised in October 2000. A consortium was formed consisting of the Operators at the airport, Mayondi (a black empowerment investment company) and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council. Rand Airport’s role has changed over time but it continues to play an important part in aviation despite no longer having international status.
The beacon light at Rand Airport is on at night from 18.00 until 06.00 and is visible from 70 miles out at 7500 feet. It has been and still is a welcome sight and beacon for any pilot finding himself confused at night by the lights over Johannesburg and guides many pilots into the safety of the airport. Some airline pilots use the light as a check point on their finals into OR Tambo airport.
Movements at the airport have been on the up year-on-year and increasing steadily since 2015 and currently stands at over 8000 per month. The airport provides refuelling facilities and is one of the cheapest suppliers of Avgas in Gauteng. Safety is an important aspect at Rand Airport and one of the services provided to pilots and aircraft owners are the extensive fire fighting facilities available which are on standby from 6 am until 21.00 pm daily, except for weekends when it stops at 18:00. The airport carries a Category 6 rating and the associated services.
Rand Airport provides job opportunities to hundreds of workers whether highly skilled or only in the basic skills category because of the business ventures based there and because of its central location the airport provides easy access and relatively cheap travel to the employees.
Rand also is a busy heliport, and the well know Harvard Restaurant is located in the terminal building. All in all Rand Airport is worth a visit and has many more facets than what looks like merely an airport with runways and planes taking off.
HISTORY: Rand Airport was constructed in 1920 and in 1931 it was officially opened as an international airport. It served as South Africa’s main international airport, and in 1935 SAA moved its headquarters and maintenance division from Durban to Rand Airport. It is only fitting that the SAA Museum is housed at Rand Airport today.
In 1948 when the development in international travel and the increase in passenger numbers, the runways could not accommodate the bigger aircraft like the Avro York Aircraft, the airlines started to relocate to Palmietfontein Airport with its longer runways, to be followed by Jan Smuts Airport (now OR Tambo) in 1952.
RAND AIRPORT TODAY: Rand Airport was privatised in October 2000. A consortium was formed consisting of the Operators at the airport, Mayondi (a black empowerment investment company) and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council. Rand Airport’s role has changed over time but it continues to play an important part in aviation despite no longer having international status.
The beacon light at Rand Airport is on at night from 18.00 until 06.00 and is visible from 70 miles out at 7500 feet. It has been and still is a welcome sight and beacon for any pilot finding himself confused at night by the lights over Johannesburg and guides many pilots into the safety of the airport. Some airline pilots use the light as a check point on their finals into OR Tambo airport.
Movements at the airport have been on the up year-on-year and increasing steadily since 2015 and currently stands at over 8000 per month. The airport provides refuelling facilities and is one of the cheapest suppliers of Avgas in Gauteng. Safety is an important aspect at Rand Airport and one of the services provided to pilots and aircraft owners are the extensive fire fighting facilities available which are on standby from 6 am until 21.00 pm daily, except for weekends when it stops at 18:00. The airport carries a Category 6 rating and the associated services.
Rand Airport provides job opportunities to hundreds of workers whether highly skilled or only in the basic skills category because of the business ventures based there and because of its central location the airport provides easy access and relatively cheap travel to the employees.
Rand also is a busy heliport, and the well know Harvard Restaurant is located in the terminal building. All in all Rand Airport is worth a visit and has many more facets than what looks like merely an airport with runways and planes taking off.
