Airport type Public Elevation AMSL 2,701 ft / 823 m | 12/30 663 | |
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Owner Cooma Polo Flat Holdings Pty Ltd Location Polo Flat, New South Wales Similar Snowy Mountains Airport, Cromwell House, Snowy Monaro Regional, Alkira Motel, Cooma Country Club Mot | ||
Cooma–Polo Flat Airport (ICAO: YPFT) is an unlicensed airfield located in Polo Flat, an industrial area of Cooma, New South Wales, Australia. The airfield is used primarily for recreational flying. Polo Flat is at a lower elevation than the nearby Cooma–Snowy Mountains Airport and is less prone to closure during bad weather and fog.
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History
Polo Flat airfield was established by 1921, when the aviation pioneer Charles Kingsford Smith arrived at the landing ground on a barnstorming visit to the region. In the 1950s and 60s, the airfield was further developed to service the Snowy Mountains Scheme and the original hangars and terminal building are still in use today.
In 1998, the 57 ha (140 acres) site was sold by the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority for private use. In 2001, the facilities were adapted by the new owners to provide facilities for training pilots with disabilities through the "Wheelies with Wings" charity organisation. In 2003 a flying school, Snowy Aviation Academy, was established at the site.
Current operations
Polo Flat airport and the Snowy Aviation Academy constitute an approved Recreational Aviation Australia flight training facility. It offers training and aircraft hire as well as secure hangarage for private aircraft and a friendly community of aviation enthusiasts.