Originally Posted by
tartare
An interesting story has surfaced over here (no pun intended).
From the ABC - which will be geoblocked for you lot up in Pomgolia and in the Excited States.
One of China's largest defence and aerospace companies promised to upgrade almost three dozen airstrips in Solomon Islands as part of an ambitious plan to transform the Pacific Islands country into an "aeronautical hub" for the region.
In return, the Solomon Islands government said it would purchase six aircraft from AVIC Commercial Aircraft, a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned defence behemoth which has built small and medium-sized aeroplanes to be sold to developing countries.
The proposed exchange was laid out two-and-a-half years ago in a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which has been obtained by the ABC.
So, I wonder what the runway length and PCN number of those upgraded airstrips would have been...?!!!
The actual document itself is on the ABC website - thank you Australian Intelligence Agencies.
The speculation is COVID scuttled this from going ahead.
Sneaky Chinese.
Anyone would think there's an election going on in Australia at the moment...
3 dozen airports, Solomons? Wow, aren't drugs illegal in China?
Only if they bring really big bulldozers, or build up more artificial islands as they did in the SCS.
In the Solomon FIR there are 2 jet capable airports of any use. Of all of the others, about a dozen can take a king air, the rest are good for helicopters. Floatplanes work but the water I can be pretty choppy. Perhaps AVIC are planning to send a bunch of AN-2 clones.
ICAO IATA Location
AGGH HIR Honiara [Honiara Intl (Henderson Intl)], Guadalcanal, SB
AGGI MBU Mbambanakira [Mbambanakira Airport (Babanakira Airfield)], Guadalcanal, SB (23 nm / 43 km SW)
AGGJ AVU Avu Avu [Haimaru Airport], Guadalcanal, SB (34 nm / 62 km SE)
AGGU RUS Marau [Paruru Airport], Guadalcanal, SB (52 nm / 97 km SE)
AGGY XYA Yandina [Yandina Airport], Central, SB (54 nm / 99 km W)
AGAF AFT Afutara [Afutara Airport], Malaita Island, Malaita, SB (55 nm / 102 km E)
AGGA AKS Auki [Auki Gwaunaru'u Airport], Malaita Island, Malaita, SB (57 nm / 106 km NE)
AGAT ATD Atoifi [Uru Harbour Airport], Malaita Island, Malaita, SB (66 nm / 122 km NE)
AGOB MHM Malaita [Manaoba Island Baenalu Airport (Mana'oba)], Manaoba Island, Malaita, SB (79 nm / 147 km NE)
AGGP PRS Parasi [Marau Sound Airport], Marau Sound Island, Guadalcanal, SB (82 nm / 152 km E)
AGGF FRE Fera Island [Fera Airport (Fera/Maringe Airport)], Santa Isabel Islands, Isabel, SB (84 nm / 155 km N)
AGJO JJA Jajao [Jajao Airport], Santa Isabel Island, Isabel, SB (86 nm / 160 km NW)
AGGB BNY Anua [Bellona/Anua Airport], Bellona Island, Rennell and Bellona, SB (113 nm / 209 km S)
AGAR RNA Arona [Ulawa Airport (Arona Airport)], Ulawa Island, Malaita, SB (117 nm / 216 km E)
AGOK GTA Gatokae [Gatokae Airport], Nggatokae Island, Western, SB (118 nm / 218 km W)
AGGK IRA Kirakira [Ngorangora], Makira Island, Makira-Ulawa, SB (125 nm / 232 km SE)
AGGR RNL Tingoa [Rennell/Tingoa Airport], Rennell Island, Rennell and Bellona, SB (126 nm / 233 km S)
AGBT BPF Batuna [Batuna Airport], Vangunu Island, Western, SB (126 nm / 233 km NW)
AGGV VAO Suavanao [Suavanao Airport], Santa Isabel Island, Isabel, SB (135 nm / 251 km NW)
AGGS EGM Seghe (Sege) [Seghe Airport], New Georgia Island, Western, SB (139 nm / 257 km W)
etc...