The Aalsmeerbaan Runway is due to undergo major maintenance. As a result, the runway will be unavailable to air traffic between 4 April and mid-July. Aircraft that would usually take off from or land on the Aalsmeerbaan will make use of the Buitenveldertbaan, Schiphol-Oostbaan and Kaagbaan runways during this period. This maintenance will not affect night flights seeing as the Aalsmeerbaan is not used at night anyway.
Published on: 10 March 2022
Works on Buitenveldertbaan junction
The Aalsmeerbaan and Buitenveldertbaan runways intersect. During the period of maintenance on the Aalsmeerbaan, there will be works on the Buitenveldertbaan junction from 19 to 26 April, on Wednesday 22 June, Thursday 23 June and Monday 4 July. This means that both runways will be unavailable on these dates. Air traffic that would usually land on the Buitenveldertbaan will make use of the Schiphol-Oostbaan and Zwanenburgbaan runways. Departing air traffic will take off from the Zwanenburgbaan and Kaagbaan runways. Aircraft may land on the Schiphol-Oostbaan Runway if there’s a strong south-westerly wind.
Limited availability of Kaagbaan
While these maintenance works are going on, work will also be done on the taxiway between the Kaagbaan and Aalsmeerbaan. The Kaagbaan will be available in the week of 16 to 23 May, but this runway cannot be deployed for landing in poor visibility conditions. There will also be limited availability between 23 May and 6 June because aircraft won’t be able to make use of the head of the Kaagbaan Runway. During this period, only take-offs can take place (on a shorter section of runway). Planes requiring the full length of the runway will take off from the Buitenveldertbaan. Landing air traffic will make use of the Zwanenburgbaan and Buitenveldertbaan runways.
Works
This period of maintenance will see the asphalt being replaced on the Aalsmeerbaan Runway and surrounding taxiways. This is equal to the surface of more than 50 football pitches. There will be 1.650 new LED lights and 50 kilometres of cabling in the asphalt. On the surface, we’ll be painting 17 kilometres of markings. Furthermore, we’re going to clean, repair and partially replace the rainwater drains and pipes around the runway, and replace the runway lighting. The works are being carried out in collaboration with construction company Heijmans.
Replacement of landing system
During this period of maintenance, Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) will be replacing the Aalsmeerbaan’s Instrument Landing System (ILS). An ILS helps aircraft make a gradual curved approach towards the runway. Several works on the ILS can only be carried out after the major maintenance is complete. As a result, the Aalsmeerbaan Runway won’t be available for landing in all visibility conditions for six weeks after the major maintenance has finished. Consequently, the Buitenveldertbaan and Zwanenburgbaan runways may be used more often when there’s a northerly wind.
Questions?
If you have any questions about air traffic during this period of maintenance on the Aalsmeerbaan, please see bezoekbas.nl for more information (in Dutch). Or follow air traffic and runway use in the Notifly app.