fter nearly 9 years of suspended flights at Pingtung Hengchun Airport, the county government has been striving to revitalize it through international charter flights. Following the recent introduction of ultra-light aircraft experiences, they are now collaborating with Apex Academy to launch “Aerial Tourism” over Kenting.
They will introduce a new type of 9-seat aircraft for its inaugural flights from the 8th to the 10th of next month. The County Tourism Department stated that enjoying the breathtaking beauty of Kenting’s mountains and seas from the air and experiencing the thrill of flying in the sky will undoubtedly become a major tourism highlight, with the hope that “Aerial Tourism” will become a regular operation.
Hengchun Airport began operations with much fanfare in 2004 and saw a gradual decline in passenger numbers. Uni Air ceased operations in September 2014 after its last flight, and in May 2019, it announced its withdrawal.
Despite the county government’s efforts to revitalize the airport, it faced challenges due to the pandemic. The airport is now only maintained for minimal staffing and operational costs and is primarily used by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology for unmanned drone takeoffs and landings, as well as by Apex Flight Academy for flight training activities.
Huang Guo-Wei 黃國維, Director of the County Travel Bureau, stated that offering tourists the opportunity for “Aerial Sightseeing” to admire the beauty of southern Taiwan from above is also a way to revitalize the airport. The county government had previously collaborated with various parties, including the Jiuhao Light Aircraft Flight Field and Hengchun Airport, to provide tandem flight experiences, limited to one person.
However, through collaboration with Apex Academy, a new 9-passenger aircraft will make its inaugural flight next month, departing from Hengchun Airport.
Passengers will enjoy a 30-minute journey, soaring over attractions such as the Hengchun Ancient Town, Nanwan Beach, Sail Rock, Eluanbi Lighthouse, and Longkeng Ecological Reserve.
“It’s not easy to promote aerial sightseeing!” Huang Guo-Wei stated that while Apex Academy was interested, various airspaces in Pingtung County, including Kenting National Park, were restricted from flight. This project has finally come to fruition through a dedicated effort involving applications to the Civil Aviation Authority, military authorities, and the Kenting Management Office.
Huang Guo-Wei expressed that there will be 14 flights conducted on September 8th to 10th, with hopes of attracting more airlines to participate and making aerial sightseeing a regular activity, thereby bringing about greater economic benefits and diversity.