Departure
96%
vs 95% ▲ 1
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
O.R. Tambo International Airport, on the eastern edge of Johannesburg near Kempton Park in Gauteng, is South Africa's principal international gateway and the busiest airport in Africa. Operated by Airports Company South Africa, it was formerly known as Johannesburg International Airport before being renamed in honour of the anti-apartheid statesman Oliver Tambo. For the simulator pilot it offers a demanding high-elevation, high-density international environment with full radar and instrument approach facilities.
O.R. Tambo International Airport serves Johannesburg and the wider Gauteng province as South Africa's largest and busiest commercial aerodrome. Operated by Airports Company South Africa, it was previously known as Johannesburg International Airport and now carries the name of Oliver Tambo, a leading figure in the struggle against apartheid. Its combination of high field elevation, long runways and dense international traffic makes it a challenging and rewarding destination for a virtual airline or long-haul flight.
The airport lies in Gauteng province, Johannesburg, South Africa, at coordinates 26 08 S, 28 14 E, within the Johannesburg terminal area. It sits at a field elevation of 5,515 feet, making it one of the higher major international airports in the world, which has a direct effect on aircraft performance and true airspeeds for arriving and departing traffic.
O.R. Tambo has two parallel hard-surfaced runway pairs, both lit and equipped with ILS. The northern pair, 03L/21R, is the longer of the two, with a published length of 14,496 feet on runway 03L and 13,048 feet on runway 21R, the difference reflecting a displaced threshold between the two directions. The southern pair, 03R/21L, measures 11,168 feet in both directions. All four runway ends are hard-surfaced, lit, and served by ILS approaches.
Arriving and departing traffic is worked by Radar West on 123.7 MHz and Radar East on 124.5 MHz, with ATIS broadcast on 126.2 MHz. Clearance Delivery operates on 121.7 MHz and Ground on 121.9 MHz, while Johannesburg Apron Control (callsign GTE) is on 122.65 MHz. Tower duties are split between Tower West on 118.1 MHz and Tower East on 118.6 MHz. The airport is fully equipped with ILS on all four runway ends.
The airport was originally established and long operated under the name Johannesburg International Airport before being renamed O.R. Tambo International Airport in honour of Oliver Tambo, a prominent leader of the African National Congress and figure in the fight against apartheid. It is described as Africa's biggest and busiest airport, reflecting its role as the continent's principal long-haul hub.
Today the airport is operated by Airports Company South Africa and functions as the country's main international gateway, handling a large volume of scheduled long-haul and regional traffic alongside general aviation movements, with full customs facilities. It is a designated large international airport with complete radar, tower and clearance delivery services as listed above, and is recorded as a home base for a number of based pilots.
