MOVEMENT AREAS

The Ballarat Aerodrome has three active runways:

Runway 18/36

Runway 18/36 is the most utilised runway at Ballarat Aerodrome and was equipped with permanent night landing lights in 1976 which were upgraded in 2010. The prevailing wind ensures that the majority of aircraft use this runway, in particular runway 36.

The runway pavement was originally over 1800m long but was reduced in the late 1980s at the southern end by 570m in order to reduce the cost of maintenance. The pavement associated with this longer runway still exists and could be upgraded in the future to provide a longer runway, although there are no immediate plans for this to occur.

The runway is contained within a runway strip that is 1365m long and 90m wide.

Runway 05/23

Runway 05/23 is a southwest/northeast runway that intersects 18/36. It was originally 1385m long and 45m wide. Today it is only 1265m in length and 30m in width and is a sealed gravel runway.

The runway is contained within a runway strip that is 1385m long and 90m wide.

Runway 13/31

This runway is a grass runway, 568m long by 30m wide. The runway strip is 686m long by 90m wide.

The grass runway is periodically resurfaced using quarry dust to help overcome water logging which occurs during periods of wet weather.

Runway Strength

The 18/36 and 05/23 runways both have pavements which consist of a 200mm thick layer of gravel on a clay subgrade. The pavement strength rating of PCN 6 indicates that they are only suitable for light aircraft (not above 5,700kg Maximum Takeoff Weight - MTOW) operations.

Fokker F27 (about 20,000kg overall mass) have landed occasionally, but on a reduced weight basis.

The runways have been surfaced at regular intervals by the City of Ballarat, generally using 7mm aggregate seals.

Taxiways and Aprons

Two sealed taxiways connect the hangar areas to the runways. The eastern taxiway was reconstructed in 1983 and has night lighting installed. A new parallel taxiway has recently been installed alongside runway 18/36.

The sealed apron includes a 90m x 220m aircraft parking area.