Oosterhout still does not have a train station, but there is a mini airport. Aircraft or tourists are not in sight in any fields or roads. Yet the small starting and runway ensures that you can carefree on a flying holiday.
With the push of a button in the Airport Innovation Center, Erik de Leeuw turns on the lighting of the start and runway of the mini-airport on the Zeilmakerijweg in Oosterhout. A job of only fifty meters long. “We cannot put Eindhoven Airport away here, because then this runway must be 3000 meters long and 45 meters wide,” laughs the general director of Possehl Spezialbau.
His contracting company specializes in applying top layers on roads, cycle paths, bridges, roundabouts and runways. For example, the Glitter roundabout at Van Coothplein in Breda comes from the Possehl tube. “Our mission is making everything that runs, cycles, drives and flies,” says De Leeuw.
That is why there has been a mini airport at the company in Oosterhout since September last year. “This setup is unique in the world, one of a child“, De Leeuw says proudly, walking on the start and runway. The mini airport contributes to Eindhoven Airport, Breda International Airport and the Air Bases in Gilze-Rijen, Volkel and Woensdrecht, among others, operating more safely and more efficiently.
The start and runway of just fifty meters long cannot be flown. Model aircraft also do not rise on it either. Nevertheless, this mini airport in Oosterhout can guarantee the safety of international airports and airbases, De Leeuw assures.
The Dutch Aerospace Laboratory carries out various measurements with special laser scanners on the Oosterhout mini airport, to investigate the grip and water storage of runways. This does this on behalf of the US aviation authorities. The European Agency for Aviation Safety is also taking measurements.
Even space organization NASA had a finger in the porridge at Possehl, although it was in the time of the Cold War. Walter Symmangk, engineer and founder of the contractor, was then approached to develop camouflaged top layers. It eventually led to a thin asphalt and concrete coating, which can now be found at every airport in the Benelux.
“Through this upholstery, aircraft can land and take off safer and there is a greater availability of runways,” De Leeuw claims. In 2027, the contractor company will apply this upholstery during the renovation of the start and runway of Eindhoven Airport, which is then closed for five months.
In addition to the top layers, the lighting of runways is also tested on the mini airport in Oosterhout. For example, it is ensured that pilots can still see the road surface at dense fog from 350 meters, to be able to land safely. Incidentally, the installation that will be placed at Eindhoven Airport in 2027 will not come from Possehl in 2027.
“With this mini airport we offer predictability and safety at airports,” the general director concludes. And so you can get on the plane with confidence. Vamos!
