Harar Meda Airport
Harar Meda Airport | |||||||||||
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| IATA: QHR – ICAO: HAHM | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||
| Owner | Ethiopian National Defense Force | ||||||||||
| Operator | Ethiopian Air Force | ||||||||||
| Location | Debre Zeyit | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 6,201 ft / 1,890 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 8°42′59″N 39°00′21″E / 8.7163°N 39.0059°ECoordinates: 8°42′59″N 39°00′21″E / 8.7163°N 39.0059°E | ||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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Harar Meda Airport (Ha'rar Me'da: አባጤናደጃ ደጃደጃ) (IATA: QHR, ICAO: HAHM) is an airport in Debre Zeyit, Ethiopia. It serves as the main base for the Ethiopian Air Force.
History
In 1946, the beginnings of what would become the Ethiopian Air Force were moved from Lideta Airfield in Addis Ababa to Debre Zeyit. The former facility was instead utilized by Ethiopian Airlines. The initial group of 19 Swedes under Count Carl Gustaf von Rosen, who were to train the pilots and support personal, arrived there after leaving Sweden between 9 January and 16 July 1946. Both Ethiopian cadets and the Swedish instructors took part in constructing the first buildings on the base. Six Saab 91 Safir training airplanes were bought in Sweden and flown to the new airbase 24 December 1946. On 10 November 1947, a fleet of 16 Saab-built B-17s were landed at Bishoftu by Swedish pilots.
The airport has been used for civilian operations in the past, mainly when Bole airport was unservicable due to construction works. In 2005, the airport served 101,839 passengers.
Current use
As of 2012 satellite imagery shows a number of helicopters, fighters and transport aircraft are based here.