Military Airfields and Air Bases in Belgium
For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
Content
Map
Airfield Directory
Additional Information
All data for historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
Map
Airfield Directory
Beauvechain
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N5046 E00446, 363', EBBE, BAF
Runways: Data for the year 1990: 04L/22R: 3074 m x 45 m Asphalt/Concrete, 04R/22L: 2377 m x 22 m Radio navigation: Data for the year 1990: TACAN CH107 BBE am Platz Links: Google Maps http://maps.google.de/maps?hl=de&ie=UTF8&ll=50.756495,4.76635&spn=0.03... Aerial picture http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8036607
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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N4954 E00513, 1514', EBBX, BAF
Current usage: Reserve airfield. Runways: Data for the year 1990: 06/24: 2400 m x 45 m Concrete
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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Brasschaat
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N5120 E00430, 76', EBAT, BAR
Usage during the Cold War: Beglian army aviation airfield. Links: Google Maps http://maps.google.de/maps?hl=de&ie=UTF8&ll=51.341953,4.503236&spn=0.0... Timeline http://www.baha.be/Webpages/Navigator/News/Special%20Features/brasscha...
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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Brussel National
(Zaventem, Melsbroek)
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N5054 E00430, EBBR/EBMB, civ/BAF
Usage during the Cold War: Airport with military use. Runways: Data for the year 1990: 02/20: 2984 m x 50 m Concrete/Asphalt, 07L/25R: 3638 m x 45 m Asphalt, 07R/25L: 3211 m x 45 m Concrete/Asphalt
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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Casteau SHAPE Pad
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N5030 E00359, 299', EBCH
Usage during the Cold War: Military Helipad. Links: Google Maps http://maps.google.de/maps?hl=de&ie=UTF8&ll=50.50328,3.982179&spn=0.00... Airfields in the vicinity: Chièvres: 310°/14 km
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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Chièvres
(Chievres)
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N5035 E00350, 201', EBCV, USAF/US Army
Runways: Data for the year 1990: 08/26: 2497 m x 50 m Asphalt/Concrete, 02/20 (closed) Radio navigation: Data for the year 1990: TACAN CH79 CIV at field, VOR 113.2 CIV at field, ILS26 108.55 ICV Links: Google Maps http://maps.google.de/maps?hl=de&ie=UTF8&ll=50.577786,3.836031&spn=0.0... Chièvres http://www.baha.be/Webpages/Navigator/Photos/MilltaryPics/airfields/ch...
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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Elsenborn
(Butgenbach, Bütgenbach, Rauhe Knipp) Map
N5029 E00611, 1830'
Links: Google Maps http://maps.google.de/maps?hl=de&ie=UTF8&ll=50.48348,6.183801&spn=0.02... History http://www.baha.be/Webpages/Navigator/Photos/MilltaryPics/airfields/el...
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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Florennes
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N5014 E00439, 935', EBFS, BAF
Runways: Data for the year 1990: 08/26: 3384 m x 45 m Asphalt, 08R/26L: 1800 m x 50 m (closed) Radio navigation: Data for the year 1990: TACAN CH52 BFS at field, ILS26 108.35 IBFS
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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Goetsenhoven
(Gossoncourt, Tienen)
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N5047 E00457, EBTN
Runways: Data for the year 1990: Radio navigation: Data for the year 1978: NDB 212 TN at field
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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N5110 E00528, 199', EBBL, BAF
Usage during the Cold War: Belgian Airforce airbase. Current usage: Belgian Airforce airbase. Runways: Data for the year 1990: 05/23: 3096 m x 45 m Asphalt Radio navigation: Data for the year 1990: NDB 448.5 ONT 231° 3.5NM to field, TACAN CH35 BBL at field Links: Google Maps http://maps.google.de/maps?hl=de&ie=UTF8&ll=51.167504,5.470333&spn=0.0...
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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Koksijde
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N5105 E00239, 20', EBFN, BAF
Runways: Data for the year 1990: 02/20: 2016 m x 52 m Asphalt, 11/29: 2678 m x 50 m Asphalt/Concrete Radio navigation: Data for the year 1978: NDB 325.5 KOK , VORTAC 114.5 CH92 KOK ; Data for the year 1990: DVOR 114.5 KOK at field, TACAN CH92 KOK at field
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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Liège Bierset
(Liege Bierset) Map
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N5038 E00527, 658', EBLH/EBLG, BAF/BAR
Runways: Data for the year 1990: 05R/23L: 3286 m x 45 m Asphalt/Beton, 05L/23R: 2272 m x 23 m (primary use as TWY), 05/23 Gras (emergency) Radio navigation: Data for the year 1990: TACAN CH31 BLG , ILS23L 110.5 ILG , LOM23L 290 ONL , LMM23L 348.5 LG
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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St. Hubert
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N5002 E00526, 1930', EBSU
Runways: 07/25: 2600 m x 45 m Links: Google Maps http://maps.google.de/maps?hl=de&ie=UTF8&ll=50.031122,5.438318&spn=0.0... Aerial Picture http://www.panoramio.com/photo/27591908
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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St. Truiden
(Bevingen, Sint Truiden, Brustem) Map
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N5047 E00512, 246', EBST, BAF
Runways: Data for the year 1973: 06/24: 2368 m x 50 m, 10/28: 1435 m x 20 m; Data for the year 1990: 06/24: 2993 m x 50 m Asphalt Radio navigation: Data for the year 1990: NDB 510 ST 068° 1.4NM to field, TACAN CH33 BVG at field
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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Ursel
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N5109 E00328, 95', EBUL, mil/civ
Runways: 07/25: 2430 m x 45 m Concrete
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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Weelde
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N5124 E00458, 105', EBWE
Usage during the Cold War: Reserve airfield. Runways: 07/25: 2980 m x 45 m Concrete
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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Zoersel
(Oostmalle)
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N5116 E00445, 53', EBZR
Usage during the Cold War: Reserve airfield. Runways: 05/23: 2980 m x 45 m Concrete Links: Google Maps http://maps.google.de/maps?hl=de&ie=UTF8&ll=51.263795,4.756308&spn=0.0... Aerial Picture http://www.panoramio.com/photo/18693559 Aerial Picture 2003 http://www.airliners.net/photo/Vliegclub-Hoevenen/Reims-F152/0455035/L... Aerial Picture 2004 http://www.airliners.net/photo/Vliegclub-Hoevenen/Cessna-152-II/051130...
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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N5057 E00536, 312', EBSL
Usage during the Cold War: Reserve airfield Current usage: Military Storage Site Runways: 06/24: 2980 m x 45 m Asphalt Links: Google Maps http://maps.google.de/maps?hl=de&ie=UTF8&ll=50.94307,5.589638&spn=0.07...
Important: For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
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Additional Information
Short History
After WW II, Belgium was co-founder of the Western Defense Union (1946, precursor of NATO) and of NATO (1949). Within these organizations Belgium committed itself to build 15 airbases, partly for its own use and partly to provide facilities for allied forces in case of war.
The bases to be used by the Belgian Air Force (8) were: Beauvechain, Brustem, Florennes, Chievres, Koksijde and Melsbroek (all ex-Luftwaffe fields), together with 2 brand new bases: Kleine-Brogel and Bierset (Liege). The so-called reserve bases (6) are: Zutendaal, Weelde, Zoersel-Oostmalle, Ursel, Bertrix and Saint-Hubert. Intended for deployments of both BAF units and allied units.
All airfields were extended (existing bases) or newly built to NATO standards between 1950 and 1955. Runway length tobe 2400 meter with preference for an emergency parallel runway (23 meter width) of also 2400 meter. NATO minimum for the back-up runway was 2000 meter. Airfields with an existing cross runway (Chievres, Koksijde, Melsbroek) did have indeed a secondary runway of 2000 meter.
Later, between 1958 and 1961, the main runways of all bases were lengthened to 10.000 ft class (3000+ meter) with the addition of so called overruns. These overruns could be used for additional takeoff distance but in practice they were mainly used as stopway in case of emergency, when using an emergency brake system like a cable arresting gear and a net arresting system. Both type of systems were(are) used by the Belgian Air Force on active bases.
The 15th airfield was canceled before being built. It was planned at Sart-les-Saint-Vith (North of the city of Saint-Vith in the Ardennes area). But later another 15th airbase Kitona airbase was built (1957-1960) in Congo (present Democratic Republic of Congo) to house a fleet of Neptunes anti-submarine warplanes. But the sudden independence of Congo in 1960 prevented the actual use of the airbase.
(Text courtesy of Jean-Pierre Pulinx, thanks a lot!)
