Misplaced Pages

Goma Airport Aéroport international de Goma
Mount Nyiragongo in the background
IATA: GOM ICAO: FZNA
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Government
Location	Karisimbi, Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Opened	1978; 47 years ago (1978)
Elevation AMSL	5,046 ft / 1,538 m
Coordinates	01°40′15.08″S 29°14′18.25″E / 1.6708556°S 29.2384028°E / -1.6708556; 29.2384028
Map
GOMLocation of Goma International Airport in DRC
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 17/35 2,000 6,562 Asphalt
Source: Regie des Voies Aériennes Operable runway length per national aviation authority

Goma International Airport (IATA: GOM, ICAO: FZNA) (French: Aéroport International de Goma), colloquially known by its acronym AIG based on its French name, is the primary international airport serving Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Located in the Karisimbi commune, the airport lies approximately 2 kilometers from Goma's city center, strategically positioned between the active Nyiragongo volcano to the north and the gas-laden Lake Kivu. The airport is situated along the road to Rutshuru and is bordered by Murara, Virunga, and Majengo neighborhoods to the east and west, Mikeno (Birere) to the south, and Majengo to the north.

History

In 1948, the colonial authorities conceptualized the idea of building an unpaved runway capable of accommodating light aircraft with a maximum weight of 5.7 tonnes, marking the initial phase of the airport's infrastructural evolution. In 1959, the runway underwent redevelopment and asphalting, allowing the aerodrome to handle small and medium-haul aircraft like the DC3 and DC4. Seven years later, in 1966, the runway was extended by an additional 300 meters, increasing its length from 1,500 to 2,000 meters, thus allowing the accommodation of larger aircraft like the DC6. In the following years, plans were made to construct an international airport in the former Kivu region, with the Rutshuru area initially chosen to house the airport's facilities. However, this initiative encountered delays due to Rutshuru's topographical characteristics, particularly its location within a basin that posed substantial risks to air traffic operations. Moreover, environmental concerns, notably the disturbance caused by aircraft noise in proximity to a nearby Virunga National Park, necessitated the relocation of the project to Goma.

In March 1976, the work was entrusted to a consortium of three French construction companies: Dumez Afrique, Société Générale d'Entreprises (now Vinci SA), and Spie Batignolles. However, the work was significantly disrupted by the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano on 10 January 1977, which resulted in lava flows halting just north of the Munigi groupement in the Bukumu Chiefdom, only about three kilometers from the northern end of the airport's runway. Construction resumed after the population, who had taken refuge in neighboring Rwanda, returned to Goma.

By March 1978, the airport had been fully completed and modernized to conform with international civil aviation standards. The runway was further extended to a length of 3,000 meters and equipped with advanced lighting and navigational aids, including the PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicator) situated at the southern end. The airport was officially inaugurated as Goma International Airport, capable of handling large aircraft such as DC-10s, DC-8s, and Boeing 707s. Due to the proximity of the Nyiragongo volcano, takeoffs and landings were restricted to the southerly approach (runway 35), which remains unimpeded and secure, flying over the town and the adjacent Lake Kivu.

In 2002, AIG was severely affected by the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano, which ravaged the runway with lava. The eruption destroyed approximately 1,532 meters of the runway, with 200,000 cubic meters of lava covering half of it. This left the terminal and apron isolated, as a 200-meter-wide lava flow extended through the city center and toward Lake Kivu. Despite these challenges, a renovated runway was reopened to the Congolese authorities by July 2002, although only smaller aircraft could operate, primarily for freight missions by relief agencies and the United Nations.

Following the eruption, efforts were made to rehabilitate AIG. In December 2012, work began on cleaning and securing the site, and in September 2014, the Congolese government sought funding from the World Bank for further renovations. On 2 April 2015, a $52 million grant agreement was signed, with additional support from United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). In August 2015, President Joseph Kabila inaugurated the refurbished runway, which was extended to 2,665 meters, funded by the German aid organization Agro Action Allemande (AAA) at a cost of €16 million. Kabila also launched an extension project to increase the runway's length by 400 meters to accommodate larger aircraft.

Work on this extension was delayed, but in March 2019, the Chinese company China First Highway Engineering Co (CFHEC) began construction on the runway expansion. By July 2020, a $3.78 million project to expand the AIG's tarmac from 16,000 to 24,000 square meters was completed, allowing the airport to accommodate up to seven Airbus A320 aircraft. AIG also recovered the full 3,000-meter length of its runway. News reports first indicated that lava from the 2021 Mount Nyiragongo eruption reached the airport. It was later confirmed that AIG was unaffected. Further work continued, and on 30 November 2021, AIG inaugurated a new 26-meter-high control tower as part of the broader modernization project.

Facilities

AIG complex includes eight key buildings: the electric power plant building, fire-fighting building, weather building, general means building, passenger terminal, small carrier hangar, and the administrative block. Additionally, the airport is supported by a water tower and several radio navigation stations, including VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range), DME (Distance Measuring Equipment), and NDB (Non-Directional Beacon). Outside the main airport premises, the Congolese air transport authority, Régie des Voies Aériennes (RVA), operates workers' housing camps, such as Camp Dumez, which provides accommodations for its staff.

Airlines and destinations

Military use

Goma International Airport is used by both the Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and MONUSCO peacekeeping forces.

Accidents and incidents

• On 15 April 2008, 2008 Hewa Bora Airways crash, a Hewa Bora Airways McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 (registration 9Q-CHN) overshot the runway during an aborted takeoff and crashed into the marketplace immediately to the south of the airport, killing 3 passengers and 37 people on the ground.

• On 19 November 2009, Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation Flight 3711, operated by McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (registration 9Q-CAB) bound from Kinshasa overran the runway on landing, suffering substantial damage. The overrun area was contaminated by solidified lava.

• On 4 March 2013, 2013 Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation crash, a Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation Fokker 50 (registration 9Q-CBD) from Lodja crashed into a residential area short of landing in heavy rain at 17:55 local time. Among the 9 crew and passengers, 6 were killed.

• On 24 November 2019, 2019 Busy Bee crash, a 19-seat airplane from local carrier Busy Bee en route to Beni Airport crashed shortly after takeoff around 9:10 a.m. At least 27 died, including some on the ground.

See also

• Transport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• List of airports in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

References

1. "Informations sur les 54 Aérports et Aérodromes Gérés par la RVA" [Information about the 54 Airports and Aerodromes operated by the RVA] (PDF) (in French). Regie des Voies Aériennes. 30 September 2009. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
2. Postpone, Evelyne Kavira Mathe (27 July 2017). "Rénovation d'un aéroport en RDC: espoirs pour le développement et inquiétudes de relocalisation" [DRC Airport Renovation: Hopes for Development and Relocation Concerns]. Global Press Journal (in French). Retrieved 30 December 2024.
3. ^ Kitwanda, Samuel Habamungu (2015). "L'internet et son impact dans les organisations de Goma, cas spécifique de la RVA Goma" [The Internet and its impact on Goma organizations, specific case of RVA Goma] (in French). Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Université du CEPROMAD (UNIC–GOMA). Retrieved 30 December 2024.
4. ^ Cosmas, Germain Kambale (2016). "Rapport de stage effectué à la rva/goma" [Internship report carried out at RVA/Goma] (in French). Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Institut Supérieur de Commerce de Goma. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
5. ^ Mpoyo, Gael (9 February 2022). "RDC: Comment la Chine modernise l'aéroport de Goma" [DRC: How China is modernizing Goma airport]. The Museba Project (in French). Retrieved 30 December 2024.
6. ^ Mpoyo, Gael (9 February 2022). "RDC: Comment la Chine modernise l'aéroport de Goma" [DRC: How China is modernizing Goma airport]. The Museba Project (in French). Retrieved 30 December 2024.
7. "L'éruption majeure de 2002 du volcan Nyiragongo (Goma, RD Congo)" [The major 2002 eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano (Goma, DR Congo)]. Georiska.africamuseum.be (in French). 17 January 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
8. Kayser, Christiane (15 November 2012). "Les Gomatraciens entre le volcan et l'humanitaire" [The Gomatracians between the volcano and humanitarianism]. Politique africaine (in French). 85 (1): 152–154. doi:10.3917/polaf.085.0152. ISSN 0244-7827.
9. "Nord-Kivu: l'aéroport international de Goma doté d'une nouvelle tour de contrôle" [North Kivu: Goma International Airport to Get New Control Tower]. Radio Okapi (in French). 1 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
10. ^ "À Goma, Joseph Kabila a inauguré la piste réhabilitée de l'aéroport" [In Goma, Joseph Kabila inaugurated the rehabilitated runway of the airport]. Radio Okapi (in French). 3 August 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
11. Kombi, Jonathan (10 July 2020). "RDC: la piste d'atterrissage de l'aéroport de Goma prolongé et son tarmac élargi" [DRC: Goma airport runway extended and tarmac widened]. Actualite.cd (in French). Retrieved 30 December 2024.
12. "Volcano erupts in eastern Congo, thousands flee Goma". Reuters. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
13. "DR Congo's Goma volcano: 'I couldn't save my sick husband from the lava'". BBC News. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
14. "Nord-Kivu: l'aéroport international de Goma doté d'une nouvelle tour de contrôle" [North Kivu: Goma International Airport to Get New Control Tower]. Radio Okapi (in French). 1 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
15. Lupemba, David (2 December 2021). "RDC: la tour de contrôle de l'aéroport international de Goma réhabilitée, déjà opérationnelle Actu7.cd" [DRC: Goma International Airport Control Tower Rehabilitated, Already Operational]. Actu7.cd (in French). Retrieved 30 December 2024.
16. "Air Congo/Ethiopian Airlines Outlines Planned Network From Dec 2024". Aeroroutes. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
17. HORAIRE AVEC 1 Q400 DU 06/06 AU 10/07/2016 (Heures locales), http://www.congoairways.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/HORAIRE-1-Q400-2016-V2.0-ok.pdf
18. "Ethiopian Airlines Delays Goma Launch to August 2015". Airline Route. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
19. "Jambojet destinations Goma". Jambojet. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
20. Fittarelli, Alberto (26 June 2017). "The Strange Tale of the Georgians in Congo". bellingcat. Retrieved 26 June 2017. However, a list published in October 2007 by the Dutch aviation magazine Scramble appears to show that on 19 July 2007, two Mi-24V helicopters with registration number 9T-HM11 and, more importantly, 9T-HM12 were registered, again by the FAC (here named "DR Congo Air Force"), as based at an airport with IATA code GOM – a.k.a. Goma International Airport No evidence of affiliation with the MONUSCO operations under UNSC resolution 2098 was located, despite the pilots clearly operating from the same facilities – most notably, Goma International Airport.
21. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Aviation Safety Network.
22. David Kaminsky-Morrow (19 November 2009). "Congolese MD-82 badly damaged in Goma overrun". Flight Global.
23. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
24. "Dozens killed in DRC plane crash". News24. 4 March 2013.
25. "RDC : un avion de la compagnie CAA s'est écrasé à Goma" (in French). Radio Okapi. 4 March 2013.
26. "Plane crash in the city of Goma, MONUSCO comes to the rescue". MONUSCO. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
27. "Plane Crash in Congo Kills at Least 27". The New York Times. 24 November 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.

External links

• Accident history for Goma International Airport at Aviation Safety Network

• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Aviation

• Airports in North Kivu
• Goma