Toraccia Helipad and Airfield

Aviosuperficie ed elisuperficie di Torraccia
Aeroclub San Marino's hangar, November 2006
Summary
Airport typePrivate
Owner/OperatorAeroclub San Marino
ServesSan Marino
LocationTorraccia, San Marino
Opened1985 (1985)
Time zoneCET (UTC+01:00)
 • Summer (DST)CEST (UTC+02:00)
Elevation AMSL240 m / 790 ft
Coordinates43°57′00″N 12°30′40″E / 43.95000°N 12.51111°E / 43.95000; 12.51111
Websiteaeroclubsanmarino.com
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
16/34 650 2,130 Grass
Helipads
Number Length Surface
m ft
H1

Torraccia Airfield (Italian: Aviosuperficie di Torraccia), also known as Toraccia Helipad and Airfield (Italian: Aviosuperficie ed elisuperficie di Torraccia) or Toraccia Airport (Italian: Aeroporto di Torraccia), is a small general aviation aerodrome in Torraccia, a village east of the castello of Domagnano, Republic of San Marino, less than 200 metres (660 feet) from the Italian border.[1]

Torraccia is the only airfield in San Marino. Its only grass runway was first used in 1981, but the airfield's structure was opened in 1985.[2][3] In July 2012, the runway was extended to 650 metres (2,130 feet).[1]

The airfield is owned and operated by Aeroclub San Marino,[1][2][4] a flying club with approximately 100 members.[3] In the summer, between ten and fifteen planes typically land at the airfield per day.[2][5] The airfield hosts a flight school, recreational flights and sports, and some tourist flights in small aircraft.[1][3][4]

Torraccia's past users have included Pope Benedict XVI and the Frecce Tricolori,[6][7] who, since 2014, have organised an annual sightseeing flight for disabled children over San Marino and the Province of Rimini.[8][9][10] The airfield is also used for historic automobile exhibitions.[11][12]

History

Prior to the airfield's construction, San Marino's only heliport was next to Borgo Maggiore's cablecar terminus, which inaugurated its first postal flights in 1950.[13] From 1961, Compagnia Italiana Elicotteri operated several daily flights from Borgo Maggiore to Rimini and, from 1964, to San Leo. The service closed in 1969,[14][15] and the heliport has since been replaced by a parking lot.[16][17]

Torraccia's runway was built in 1981, but the airfield's structure was opened in 1985. The maiden flight was a postal flight to Italy.[2][3] Aeroclub San Marino was founded in 1985, and its flight school opened in 1986.[3]

On 19 June 2011, Pope Benedict XVI landed at Torraccia's helipad on a pastoral visit to the Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro.[7]

Between May and July 2012,[18] the runway was extended to its present length of 650 metres (2,130 feet), accentuating its slope.[19][20] The extension added approximately 200 metres (660 feet), at a cost of 450,000 euros.[21][18] In February 2013, the Sammarinese government was grappling with a civil case by landowners seeking higher compensation for the land that was expropriated to extend the runway.[19][20]

Features

Map of the airfield

Torracia has one 650-metre (2,130-foot) grass runway, which has a 16-34 orientation. The airfield is located 240 metres (790 feet) above mean sea level.[22]

Due to the sloping terrain, the preferred orientation is runway 16 for takeoffs and runway 34 for landings.[22] A circuit leads up to the runway to the airfield's east, over Italy. The runway's difficulty requires pilots to have made five takeoffs and landings within the past 90 days, and to have made at least five takeoff from small Italian airfields.[1]

The airfield has no customs and border control facilities, and departures and arrivals are only allowed to countries in the Schengen Area.[22] Italy does not recognise the validity of ultralight pilot certificates issued by San Marino, and Sammarinese aircraft must be authorised by the Aero Club d'Italia to circulate in Italian skies for up to 90 days.[23]

Future expansion

The Sammarinese government has expressed interest in extending Torraccia's runway, to a maximum of 950 metres (3,120 feet).[2][5][24] The extension is opposed by local residents.[2][24] Such an extension would require repositioning the runway to avoid entering Italian territory, and could allow shuttle flights to Federico Fellini International Airport, San Marino's closest international airport in the Miramare frazione of Rimini,[25] only 20 minutes drive from the border.

In autumn 2023, the Sammarinese government allocated 3.9 million euros for the fencing of the airfield and the asphalting of its runway.[26]

In September 2023, the Saudi Arabian government signed a letter of intent to invest 29 million dollars into the airfield's expansion.[27][28] On 28 October 2023,[29] over 100 Sammarinese citizens formed the Torraccia Civic Committee to oppose the airfield's expansion, citing concerns over safety, local health, the environment, and the expansion's public cost.[27] On 27 December 2023, it was confirmed that the Saudi loan had been approved by both governments.[30]

Incidents

A 2009 memorandum of understanding between Italy's National Agency for Flight Safety and San Marino's Civil Aviation and Maritime Navigation Authority means that technical investigations of incidents in Torraccia are conducted by Italy's agency.[31]

In July 2007, an ultralight aircraft carrying Italian tourists, arriving from Castiglione del Lago, fell off the runway during an attempt to abort a landing with strong winds. The pilot, who was landing without warning, was unfamiliar with the airfield. His wife sustained light injuries.[32]

On 11 June 2010, a Cessna 172 (registered I-SVFD) from Aeroclub Fano did not stop at the end of runway 34 after a failure in its braking system and a gust of wind from the south-west. The aircraft's two occupants were injured, and the aircraft was completely destroyed after catching fire.[1][31][33]

On 22 May 2017, a Cessna 172 (F-HAPT) of French Aéroclub Paul Tissandier flipped over on the runway during landing. The aircraft's two occupants were lightly injured, but the aircraft was severely damaged.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Torraccia". forgottenairfields.com. 20 August 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bollini, Marco (5 July 2015). "San Marino avrà un aeroporto?" [Will San Marino have an airport?]. giornalesm.com (in Italian). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chi Siamo" [Who we are]. Aeroclub San Marino (in Italian). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Eliporto Torraccia - Aeroclub San Marino | Rimini turismo" [Torraccia heliport - Aeroclub San Marino]. riminiturismo.it (in Italian). 13 October 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Torraccia: da aerodromo ad aeroporto" [Torraccia: From aerodrome to airport]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). 3 July 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  6. ↑ Marzi, William (15 July 2023). "L'atterraggio del Papa e la bandiera sullo Shuttle, "In volo sul Titano" celebra 40 anni di Aeroclub" [The Pope's landing and the flag on the Shuttle: "In flight on the Titan" celebrates 40 years of the Aeroclub]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Visita Pastorale del Santo Padre Benedetto XVI alla Diocesi di San Marino-Montefeltro (19 giunio 2011) - Programma, 23.02.2011" [Pastoral visit of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI to the Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro (19 June 2011) - Programme, 23.02.2011]. Holy See (in Italian). 23 February 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  8. ↑ "Il cielo per tutti, a Torraccia la manifestazione Libera Le ali" [Heaven for everyone: The Libera Le Ali demonstration in Torraccia]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). 21 August 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "All'Aeroclub di Torraccia un volo pieno di libertà per i ragazzi disabili" [A flight full of freedom for disabled children at the Torraccia Aeroclub]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). 14 July 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  10. ↑ "I ragazzi di Cuore21 prendono il volo con il Club Frecce" [The guys from Cuore21 take flight with the Frecce Club]. Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). 26 May 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "Rievocazione storica e sfilata mezzi bellici al campo volo di Torraccia" [Historical re-enactment and parade of war vehicles at the Torraccia airfield]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). 19 September 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  12. ↑ "Aeroclub San Marino: festa del volo a Torraccia" [Aeroclub San Marino: Flying festival in Torraccia]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). 3 June 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  13. ↑ "La storia del servizio elicottero a San Marino, legato alla crescita del turismo di massa" [The history of the helicopter service in San Marino, linked to the growth of mass tourism]. www.titanpostsm.com (in Italian). 5 April 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "30 giugno 1961 - Inaugurata la linea di elicotteri Rimini - San Marino - San Leo" [30 June 1961 – The Rimini – San Marino – San Leo helicopter line is inaugurated]. Chiamami Città (in Italian). 29 June 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  15. ↑ Gambetti, Nicola (5 August 2023). "Rimini - San Marino - San Leo in elicottero" [Rimini – San Marino – San Leo by helicopter]. Rimini Sparita (in Italian). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  16. ↑ "Borgo Maggiore: concerto della banda "Queen Victoria" per rinnovare il gemellaggio con Zurrieq" [Borgo Maggiore: Concert by the "Queen Victoria" band to renew the twinning with Zurrieq]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). 30 August 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  17. ↑ "Ordinanza n.189/2023" (PDF). State Secretariat for Internal Affairs. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  18. 1 2 "Ultimato l'ampliamento dell'avio superficie di Torraccia" [The expansion of the Torraccia Airfield has been completed]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). 31 July 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  19. 1 2 "San Marino. Ampliamento aviosuperficie Torraccia: per l'esproprio c'e' la causa civile" [San Marino. Expansion of the Torraccia airfield: There is a civil case for the expropriation.]. libertas.sm (in Italian). 19 February 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  20. 1 2 "San Marino. Aeroporto di Torraccia si va verso l'esproprio e la causa civile" [San Marino: Torraccia Airport is moving towards expropriation and civil action]. giornalesm.com (in Italian). 19 February 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  21. ↑ "San Marino. L'aviosuperficie di Torraccia è stata "allungata" sino ad arrivare ai 700 metri" [San Marino: The Torraccia airfield has been "stretched" to 700 metres]. giornalesm.com (in Italian). 31 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  22. 1 2 3 "Come arrivare in volo" [How to arrive by flight]. Aeroclub San Marino (in Italian). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  23. ↑ "Voli sull'Italia. Per l'Aeroclub di San Marino ali tarpate dalla burocrazia" [Flights over Italy. For Aeroclub San Marino, wings clipped by bureaucracy]. newsrimini.it (in Italian). 4 May 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  24. 1 2 Rtv, San Marino (24 December 2014). "Aerodromo Torraccia: progetto di trasformazione in Aeroporto di interesse nazionale" [Torraccia Aerodrome: Transformation project into an airport of national interest]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  25. ↑ Carli, Alessandro (12 May 2015). "L'aerodromo di Torraccia, aeroporto di interesse nazionale per San Marino" [The Torraccia aerodrome: An airport of national interest for San Marino]. San Marino Fixing (in Italian). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  26. ↑ "Comitato Civico Torraccia sull'Aviosuperficie: c'è una gran confusione a Palazzo Pubblico" [Torraccia Civic Committee on the Airfield: There is a lot of confusion at the Palazzo Pubblico]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). 1 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  27. 1 2 Salvatori, Luca (3 November 2023). "No all'ampliamento dell'aviosuperficie: nasce il "Comitato Civico Torraccia"" [No to the expansion of the airfield: the "Torraccia Civic Committee" is born]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  28. ↑ "San Marino, prestito da 29 milioni dall'Arabia Saudita per il nuovo aeroporto di Torraccia" [San Marino: 29 million loan from Saudi Arabia for the new Torraccia airport]. Corriere Romagna (in Italian). 28 September 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  29. ↑ Rtv, San Marino (3 November 2023). "Si costituisce il Comitato Civico Torraccia" [The Torraccia Civic Committee is formed]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  30. ↑ "È ufficiale: ci indebitiamo per 29 milioni di dollari per accontentare l'Aeroclub!" [It's official: we're going into debt for 29 million dollars to satisfy the Aeroclub!]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). 28 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  31. 1 2 "Incidente a San Marino. Inchiesta ANSV" [Accident in San Marino: ANSV investigation]. National Agency for Flight Safety (in Italian). 11 June 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  32. ↑ "Incidente aereo sulla pista di Torraccia" [Plane incident on the Torraccia runway]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). 3 July 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  33. ↑ "San Marino. Riaperta la pista di Torraccia" [San Marino: The Torraccia runway reopens]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). 14 June 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
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