Newspaper La DH reports that this Wednesday 20 December, Namur Aerodrome (ICAO code: EBNM) and Sonaca Aircraft have signed a 20-year contract: Sonaca Aircraft will move to Namur to assemble the Sonaca 200, the only Belgian aircraft.
This arrival means that the company will file a building permit for an assembly hall for the Sonaca 200 and for the creation of an asphalt runway in replacement of one of the two current grass runways. The second runway will remain as it is. This asphalt runway will be 10 metres shorter and 5 metres narrower than the existing runway. The main advantage of this new runway will be the reduction of noise pollution for the neighbours. The planes will take off much faster which will allow them to avoid more easily the village of Temploux.
The arrival of Sonaca Aircraft in Namur is closely linked to the hard runway. Sonaca Aircraft cannot afford to operate on a frequently closed site because of the condition of the runway. The Namur Aerodrome remains a site dedicated to general aviation, so there will never be large aircraft who will be able to land in Namur. This is technically impossible with the current dimensions of the runway.
