Orange Regional Airport (IATA: OAG, ICAO: YORG) is located in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales between the city of Orange[1] and the town of Blayney. It is located in the area known as Huntley, near Spring Hill and approximately 11 km (6.8 mi) from Orange's business district.
At an elevation of 3,115 ft (949 m) above sea level, the airport is Australia's third-highest airport, behind Mount Hotham Airport and Armidale Airport. It has two runways: 11/29 with an asphalt surface measuring 2,213 m × 30 m (7,260 ft × 98 ft) and 04/22 with a grassed red clay surface measuring 783 m × 30 m (2,569 ft × 98 ft).[1] In April 1976, it became the first airport in Australia to have a pilot-controlled lighting system installed.[2]
As part of a larger upgrade to the airport, the old terminal building was closed on 21 September 2013 and demolished in the following weeks. Construction of the new terminal was estimated to cost A$3.3 million.[3][4] A two-year project to extend the airport's main runway by 538 metres (1,765 feet) commenced around the same time, and was completed in 2015.[5]
In August 2014, the airport's new terminal opened, which featured dedicated departures and arrivals areas; room for facilities for three airlines; a cafe and a conveyor belt system. Additionally, the terminal has secured long term car parking (which is currently free), free unsecured long term parking, and short term/drop off parking. The terminal has no security screening, meaning that despite the improvements to the airport's runways, aircraft with over 50 seats remain unable to offer services from the airport.
Originally established in the 1930s, the Orange Aero Club is a social and flying club based at the airport. The club hosts regular flying competitions and fly-aways from its new building, the Max Hazelton Aero Centre, named after the founder of Hazelton Airlines.[10]
Aviation
