🇩🇪 Ingolstadt Manching Airport

Ingolstadt Manching Airport (ETSI/IGS) is a joint civil and military airfield located in Manching, near Ingolstadt, Germany.

Type of facility and operations: The airport serves as a military airbase and is home to the Bundeswehr Technical and Airworthiness Center for Aircraft. It is also a key center for Airbus' military air systems activity in Germany, supporting Luftwaffe aircraft, and performing overhauls and maintenance on military aircraft such as AWACS, A400M, and Eurofighter, as well as conducting flight tests. For civil operations, Ingolstadt Manching Airport caters to general aviation and business jet traffic, with charter flights, including those by Private Wings for business on-demand, seasonal leisure flights, and personnel transfers for the Volkswagen Group (Audi).

Notable features or history: Established prior to World War II in the late 1930s for military use, the construction of the airfield led to the destruction of significant portions of the ancient Celtic Manching Redoubt (Oppidum of Manching). During WWII, it hosted various flying and fighter schools. Historically, it was a testing ground for aircraft like the F-104G Starfighter and F-4 Phantom II in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, and it was the site of the first flights for both the Panavia Tornado and Eurofighter prototypes. The airport was also considered a Transoceanic Abort Landing site for Space Shuttle missions. In 1961, Messerschmitt AG relocated its plant to Manching. The airfield features two runways, with the southern runway (06R/24L) measuring 2,940 meters (9,646 feet), making it one of the longest runways in Germany. The Flugmuseum Messerschmitt is also located at the airfield.

Current status: Ingolstadt Manching Airport continues its joint civil and military operations. It operates with specific hours for civil use, typically Monday to Thursday from 0800-1600Z (09:00 AM - 05:00 PM local) and Friday from 0800-1300Z (09:00 AM - 02:00 PM local), with operations outside these times requiring Prior Permission Required (PPR). Customs services are available, with prior notification (PNR) necessary for non-Schengen flights. IMA GmbH manages the civil co-use, offering various services such as fuel (JET A1 and AVGAS), ground handling, catering, and rental cars.