Cooma–Polo Flat Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCooma Polo Flat Holdings Pty Ltd
ServesCooma, New South Wales
LocationPolo Flat, New South Wales
Elevation AMSL2,701 ft / 823 m
Coordinates36°13′48″S 149°09′00″E / 36.23000°S 149.15000°E / -36.23000; 149.15000
Map
YPFT is located in New South Wales
YPFT
YPFT
Location in New South Wales
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
12/30 663 2,175 Grass
18/36 663 2,175 Asphalt
Sources: AIP[1]

Cooma–Polo Flat Airport (ICAO: YPFT) is an unlicensed airfield located in Polo Flat, an industrial area of Cooma, New South Wales, Australia. The airfield is used primarily for recreational flying. Polo Flat is at a lower elevation than the nearby Cooma–Snowy Mountains Airport and is less prone to closure during bad weather and fog.[2]

History

Polo Flat airfield was established by 1921, when the aviation pioneer Charles Kingsford Smith arrived at the landing ground on a barnstorming visit to the region.[3] In the 1950s and 60s, the airfield was further developed to service the Snowy Mountains Scheme and the original hangars and terminal building are still in use today.[4]

In 1998, the 57 ha (140 acres) site was sold by the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority for private use. In 2001, the facilities were adapted by the new owners to provide facilities for training pilots with disabilities through the "Wheelies with Wings" charity organisation.[4] In 2003 a flying school, Snowy Aviation Academy, was established at the site.[5]

Current operations

Polo Flat airport is currently closed to fixed wing aircraft.

Accidents and incidents

  • On 20 May 1976, a Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter aircraft, registration VH-SMB owned by the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority struck a radio tower and crashed on approach to Polo Flat, killing all four on board.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ YPFT – Polo Flat (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 2023-11-30
  2. ↑ Parliament of New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 2002, Third Session of the Fifty-Second Parliament – Questions and Answers Archived 10 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ "Weekly Bulletin – The Rotary Club of Cooma Inc" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  4. 1 2 High Flyers – People with disabilities take to the air
  5. ↑ "Cooma a Centre for Recreational Flying" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  6. ↑ Pilatus PC/6B1 Series H2 'Porter' VH-SMB, Polo Flat, New South Wales, 20 May 1976
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