From 25 January to 26 April, the Polderbaan Runway will not be available for air traffic due to major maintenance. Aircraft will make more use of Zwanenburgbaan Runway and Buitenveldertbaan Runway during this period. This has consequences for aircraft noise in the local area.
Published on: 7 January 2021
Adjusted runway use
Throughout this period, air traffic coming from the north will land day and night on the Zwanenburgbaan Runway when there’s a southerly wind. While this maintenance is being carried out, the Zwanenburgbaan Runway will not always be available as a runway for take-off in a northerly direction. This is because the taxiways and entry routes to the south of this runway are unavailable. During the day, air traffic will therefore, if possible, take-off from the Zwanenburgbaan Runway in the event of a northerly wind - this depends on circumstances such as air traffic volume, the characteristics of the air traffic and the weather - or from Buitenveldertbaan Runway. For night flights during this period an exemption has been requested for take-off from the Zwanenburgbaan Runway.
Preperations
Due to preparatory activities for major maintenance, the Polderbaan Runway will be out of use from Monday morning 18 January 7:00 until Wednesday morning 20 January 7:00. Following the Polderban Runway, the Zwanenburgbaan Runway will not be available from Wednesday morning 20 January 07.00 to Friday evening 22 January 18.00. Click here for more information about runway use during this period.
Maintenance works
During the major maintenance period, we will replace the asphalt on the Polderbaan Runway and the surrounding taxiways. 60% of the asphalt that is removed and recycled in the same batch of maintenance work will be reused. In addition to surface renewal, other activities include installing 70 kilometres of cabling and replacing 2,100 runway lights with a more sustainable LED variant with a longer service life. The work will be carried out in collaboration with Heijmans.
Replacing ILS
Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) will replace the Polderbaan Runway’s Instrument Landing System (ILS) as part of this major maintenance. An ILS assists airplanes in making a gradual descent towards the runways. By using the ILS, aircraft can also land on the autopilot. This is safe and practical when visibility is reduced. Some of the maintenance that needs to be done on the ILS can only be carried out once the main works have been completed. For up to six weeks after the completion of this maintenance, the Polderbaan Runway and the Zwanenburgbaan Runway cannot be used as runways for landing in all visibility conditions.
Information session for local residents
Would you like to know more about the maintenance and what this means for you as a neighbour? Then sign up for the online information session of Schiphol and LVNL on Thursday morning 21 January 11:00 – 12:00. Mail to buren@schiphol.nl and we will send you a link to attend the session.
Local Community Contact Centre Schiphol
For more information or questions about the air traffic during the maintenance period, please go to bezoekbas.nl (Dutch only).
Watch the video here: