Departure
98%
vs 95% ▲ 3
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Udon Thani International Airport (VTUD) is a joint civil-military aerodrome in northeastern Thailand, serving the city of Udon Thani and acting as a common gateway for travellers crossing into Vientiane, Laos. Home to a single long, ILS-equipped runway and a Royal Thai Air Force fighter wing, it offers a straightforward VFR or IFR destination for simulator pilots exploring the Isaan region.
Udon Thani International Airport, ICAO code VTUD and IATA code UTH, lies near the city of Udon Thani in Udon Thani Province, in Thailand's northeastern Isaan region. It is a dual-use facility, combining scheduled domestic airline traffic with an active Royal Thai Air Force base, which makes it an interesting stop for the simulator pilot wanting a mix of civil and military atmosphere. The field is a long-established transit point for travellers heading across the Mekong River to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, via the Nong Khai Friendship Bridge.
The airport sits in the Nong Khon Kwang subdistrict of Mueang Udon Thani district, roughly 450 kilometres (280 miles) northeast of Bangkok. It lies close to Thailand's northern border with Laos, with Vientiane around ninety minutes away across the Mekong. As both a commercial international airport and an active fighter base, the field warrants careful attention to published airspace and any military activity in the area when planning a flight.
Udon Thani has a single physical runway, 12/30, aligned northwest-southeast. It is 9,978 feet (3,048 metres) long, has a hard asphalt surface, and is lit along its full length. An ILS is available for runway 30. Field elevation is 577 feet.
Traffic at Udon Thani is worked by Approach on 126.2 MHz, Tower on 122.5 MHz, and Ground on 121.9 MHz, with ATIS broadcast on 23.6 MHz and a radio (RDO) frequency of 659.5 MHz also listed. An ILS is provided for runway 30, supporting instrument approaches to that end of the runway.
During the Vietnam War the airfield was known as Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, serving as a front-line installation for the United States Air Force and as the Asian headquarters for Air America. The airport was refurbished in 2006 and subsequently expanded its domestic route network to include Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Loei. On 8 February 2006, an international group of skydivers from 31 countries, calling themselves the World Team, set a world record for the largest freefall formation, a 400-way, flown over Udon Thani airport.
Udon Thani International Airport is operated by the Government of Thailand and remains a dual civil-military facility. As well as handling scheduled domestic airline services, it is home to Wing 23 of the Royal Thai Air Force's 2nd Air Division Air Combat Command, whose 231 Squadron flies Alpha Jet aircraft acquired second-hand from the German Air Force. Given its active military role, prior permission is required for visiting flights.