Flight Simulator Flights at FOON M'vengue

M'Vengue El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba International Airport serves the city of Franceville in Gabon's Haut-Ogooué Province, lying some 16 kilometres west of the city near the village of M'Vengue. It is a dual civil/military field with a single long, hard-surfaced runway equipped with ILS, making it a notable stop for pilots operating in this part of central Africa.

Overview

M'Vengue El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba International Airport is a civil/military aerodrome serving Franceville, the principal city of Gabon's Haut-Ogooué Province. Named for the former Gabonese president, it lies in relatively remote, forested terrain of southeastern Gabon and offers scheduled links to the capital, Libreville, making it of interest to sim pilots exploring the region's shorter regional routes.

Airspace & Location

The airport sits near the village of M'Vengue, about 16 kilometres west of Franceville, in Haut-Ogooué Province in southeastern Gabon. It is positioned at coordinates 01°39'22"S 13°26'17"E, at an elevation of around 1,424 to 1,450 feet depending on source.

Runways

The airport has a single physical runway, 15/33, some 10,291 feet long with a hard surface and runway lighting. An ILS is available on runway 15, giving instrument approach capability into this otherwise remote strip.

Radio & Navigation

Air-to-ground communications are available on 655.9 MHz (A/G voice). Tower services are provided by Mvengue Tower on 118.2 MHz. The field's ILS on runway 15 provides a precision approach aid for pilots arriving from that direction.

History

The airport takes its full name from El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, the long-serving former president of Gabon, and functions as a combined civil and military facility serving Franceville. It has historically hosted scheduled services connecting the city to Libreville, operated by carriers including Afrijet and Nationale Régionale Transport.

The Airfield Today

The airport continues to serve Franceville with scheduled airline links to Libreville, historically flown by Afrijet and Nationale Régionale Transport. As a civil/military aerodrome, pilots should be aware of its dual-use status when planning a visit.