Yuen Long, HK 🇭🇰 Closed Airport
HK-0132
-
- ft
HK-NT
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 22.44279° N, 114.02126° E
Continent: AS
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: TL09
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The exact date is unknown as this was not a formal, continuously operating airport. The designation as an emergency landing site was likely removed administratively from official logs, possibly in the late 1990s or 2000s. The 'closed' status primarily exists in third-party aviation databases that once cataloged such landing zones, and it does not reflect a specific, publicly announced closure event.
The site was not 'closed' in the traditional sense of an airport ceasing operations. It was an athletic field designated as an emergency landing zone. The designation was likely rescinded for administrative and operational reasons by the Hong Kong Government Flying Service (GFS). Potential reasons include:
1. **Development of Dedicated Facilities:** The construction of purpose-built heliports in the region reduced the need for ad-hoc landing zones.
2. **Changes in Operational Procedures:** GFS may have updated its list of preferred landing sites based on modern helicopter requirements and safety protocols.
3. **Safety Reassessment:** A review may have found the site less suitable due to new surrounding construction, stadium lighting poles, or other potential hazards that emerged over time.
The site is, and has always been, the Yuen Long Stadium (元朗大球場). It is an active and popular public sports facility managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong government. Its primary use is for hosting football (soccer) matches for teams in the Hong Kong Premier League and for other community athletic events. While it is no longer officially designated as an emergency heliport, in a dire, life-or-death emergency, it could potentially still be used for a helicopter landing at the discretion of the pilot-in-command if it were the only viable option available.
The Yuen Long Stadium pitch was never a commercial or military airport. Its sole function was to serve as a pre-designated emergency helicopter landing zone, identified by the unofficial ICAO code HK-0132 in some databases. Its historical significance lies in its role within Hong Kong's emergency response infrastructure. For many years, it provided a vital, centrally located open space in the Yuen Long district for helicopters from the Government Flying Service (and its predecessor, the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force) to conduct critical missions. These operations included medical evacuations, transporting emergency personnel, and supporting police or firefighting efforts in an area that, at the time, lacked dedicated aviation facilities.
There are zero plans or prospects to 'reopen' this site as a heliport. Its function as a designated emergency landing zone has been superseded by other sites and dedicated facilities. The Yuen Long Stadium will continue to serve its primary purpose as a public sports and recreation venue for the foreseeable future.
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