Airport Operations
DARWIN INTERNATIONAL
ICAO CODE: YPDN
IATA CODE: DRW
S 12 24.9 E 130 52.6 ELEV 103
Darwin International Airport is operated by Northern Territory Airports Pty Ltd and is a joint-user facility shared with the Department of Defence. The entire site covers 1526 hectares. The airport-leased area of 311 hectares is to the north of Runway 11/29 out to Rapid Creek and including commercial land along McMillans and Bagot Roads. RAAF Base Darwin is established south of Runway 11/29.
RAAF Base Darwin was established on the present site in 1940 and civil operations commenced on a joint-user basis in 1945. The terminal building was a converted RAAF hangar and operated until the new terminal on the northern side opened in 1991.
The airport operates 24 hours a day and can accommodate the largest aircraft in operation. The main runway (11/29) is 3,354 metres long by 60 metres wide with grooving to 45 metres; the second runway (18/36) is 1,524 metres long by 30 metres wide. In addition both have a full length parallel taxiway. Runway 29 is equipped with a Category 1 Instrument Landing System, High Intensity Approach Lighting (HIAL) and Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) is available on Runway 11 and 29.
Runway 18/36 is unlit.
Air Traffic Control within 40 nautical miles is provided by 44 Wing, Royal Australian Air Force. The ATC Tower is alongside the RPT Apron. Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting is provided by Airservices Australia from the fire station west of the RPT Apron.
Detailed aeronautical information is available on the Airservices Australia Pilot Centre website.
http://airservicesaustralia.com/publications
The high strength Regular Public Transport (RPT) apron can accommodate up to A380 aircraft. There are 12 aircraft bays, 4 serviced by aerobridge facilities. Bay 1 can accommodate B747/A380, Bay 2 B747, Bay 3 A330 and Bays 4 to 12, B737-800/A320. Eight bays are equipped with Jet-A1 refuelling hydrants operated by Joint Aviation Fuelling Services, a joint venture of Air BP and Shell.
The General Aviation (GA) area consists of two GA aprons with parking for approximately 100 aircraft in the northern apron. Light aircraft hangars and maintenance organisations adjoin the GA apron. Avgas is available from a bowser at the Shell facility in the southern GA Area. Avgas and Jet A1 are also available by tanker through this facility. The Southern apron accommodates heavier GA aircraft and operators such as Pearl Aviation, Northern Territory Aerial Medical Service and Surveillance Australia.
A helipad, associated apron and hangars are located at the eastern end of the airport. Nearby, private aprons and maintenance facilities are operated by Pel-Air and Airnorth.
Facilities landside of the airport include the Northern Territory Airports Pty Ltd Management Centre, mechanical workshop, The Aviation Institute, rental car storage, boarding kennels, fuel farm, Australian Air Express, Toll and TNT freight facilities, Darwin Airport Resort, Airservices Australia, AQIS, Department of Environment and Heritage and CASA office buildings, ABC Childcare, Bunnings Warehouse, air charter, flying training and joy flight offices.