Kiewit Airfield

Kiewit Airfield
IATA: none ICAO: EBZH
Summary
Airport type	Private
Operator	Aeroclub Kiewit
Serves	Hasselt
Location	Belgium
Opened	May 15, 1910 (1910-05-15) [1]
Elevation  AMSL	133 ft / 41 m
Coordinates	50°58′12″N005°22′30″E / 50.97000°N 5.37500°E / 50.97000; 5.37500
Website	www.aero-kiewit.be
Map
EBZH Location in Belgium
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 09/27 600 1,969 Grass
Sources: Belgian AIP [2]

Kiewit Airfield( ICAO : EBZH) is a recreational airfield located near Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium. It has a single grass runway of 600 m length. It is operated by Aeroclub Kiewit. There is mixed activity of airplanes and gliders. ^[2]

It is also home to gliding club Albatros. ^[3]

History

The field was first identified as a good location for aviation activities by Alfred Lanser in 1909. At the time, it was 8 km long and 3 km wide. ^[1]

After Aero Club Liège Spa signed a deal with the owner of the field, it was inaugurated on May 15, 1910. It became the first public airport in Belgium. ^[4] Later that year, it was subrented to the ministry of War which used it for training, making it the first military airfield in Belgium. ^[1]

After World War I, the field was used for artillery shooting exercises. Aviation activities resumed in 1933, led by the newly formed Limburg Aviation Club. ^[1]

During World War II, the field was used as a decoy airfield by German occupiers. After the war, there were several attempts to restart flying activities. In 1969, flying club Aero-Kiewit was founded and flying activities gradually resumed. ^[5] In 1973, they were joined by the glider club Albatros. ^[6]

See also

• List of airports in Belgium

References

1. "Kiewit - vliegveld" [Kiewit - airfield]. luchtvaartgeschiedenis.be (in Dutch). 30 March 2013. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
2. EBZH – HASSELT / Kiewit (also PDF). Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) from AIM Belgium via skeyes.
3. "Zweefvliegclub Albatros". zweefvliegen-hasselt.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2020-08-07.
4. "100 ans au service de l'aviation civile - Les aéroports belges" [100 years of civil aviation service - The Belgian airports]. mobilit.belgium.be (in French). Archived from the original on 2020-08-08. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
5. "Aero Kiewit Geschiedenis" [Aero Kiewit History]. aero-kiewit.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2020-08-07.
6. "Albatros Historiek" [Albatros History]. zweefvliegen-hasselt.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2020-08-07.

External links

• Aeroclub Kiewit
• Zweefvliegclub Albatros