The downpour that hit the Costa del Sol on the 13th of the month not only caused delays from Málaga Airport, but it also closed down the Velez-Málaga Aerodrome.

This step was taken when Río Benamargosa broke its banks flooding the airfield of Leoni Benabú de El Trapiche, to give it its full name.

It took 15 days to put right, with the first days seeing the Consorcio de Bomberos (provincial fire service) and Infoca manning the pumps, to be later joined by volunteers from the Real Aeroclub de Málaga, flying school, itself, which is based on the aerodrome.

The flood not only covered the airstrip with water and mud but it also affected the hangers and even the undercarriages of the parked, light aircraft. In fact, the accumulated mud required heavy machinery to clear the peritrack (taxiway) and pans.

Leoni Banabú airfield has been operational since 1992. The Vélez-Málaga Town Council announced last October an agreement with the Real Aeroclub de Málaga for its expansion, with 20,000 flights a year. The Veleño Town Hall ceded a municipal plot at the northern end of the airfield, 16,599 square meters, to increase the space available for parking aircraft.

(News: El Trapiche, Velez-Malaga, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia)

Keywords: Aerodrome, Airfield, Flying Strip, Benabú, Flooded, Hangers, Perimeter track, Operational, Downpour

Reader comments: “What a shame about the expansion. More planes flying back and forth along the coast disturbing thousands of people. Flying out over the sea would be fine and acceptable, as clearly we need pilot training programmes, but their repeated passes along the inhabited coastal regions, can only be classified as noise pollution and a public nuisance.” – Nick