Launceston Tower

Tower Information, Views and History Location - Launceston Airport, Launceston, Tasmania Postal Address - PO Box 103, Evandale, TAS 7212 Height - 10m Date Constructed - 1953

Airline operations at Launceston date back to the early the 1930's. Air Traffic Control was established in 1947 from a temporary tower located south of the existing Terminal. The current Tower was built in stages. It is steel framed with fibro-cement cladding. Internal cross bracing can be seen in the window below the observation deck. The cab is 8m above ground level.

The five ATC's based at Launceston provide non-radar Terminal Services in Class C and D airspace covering an area over 5000 sq km extending 40NM to the south of Launceston and 45NM to the north.

The main runway (32L/14R) is 1981m long. Two intersecting grass runways (parallel 32R/14L and 36/18), both 700m, are located to the east of the main runway.

The Tower console faces east overlooking the aerodrome with a background of undulating farmland rising to a mountainous plateau encompassing Mt Arthur, Mt Barrow and Ben Lomond. All three mountains are subject to winter snowfall.

A feature of the region is rapidly changing weather. Although the aerodrome is over 50 km from Bass Strait, sea breezes of up to 20kts, are frequently funnelled in from the Tamar River Valley during summer. Westerly gales lasting several days can occur at any time of year. The mountainous areas to the north and south-west are notorious for mountain wave activity. Fogs are possible all year round although more frequent and persistent during winter. A fog during July 1997 effectively closed the airport for three consecutive days with not one aircraft able to land.

The traffic mix at Launceston aerodrome is a diverse range from ultra-light to B767, including motor gliders to parachutists. The aerodrome serves as an air freight hub although most freighter activity occurs after the Tower closes. Launceston was the base aerodrome for pylon racing held at nearby Valley Field during the mid -1990's.

Facilities

The main runway at Launceston Airport is 32L/14R (1981M). Grass runways 32R/14L (690) and 36/18 (700) are located to the east of the main runway. A single ILS is installed on runway 32L. Runway 14R is served by non-precision approaches using VOR, DME or GPS.