Kjeller (ENKJ)

[David Viewing]

Kjeller airfield, Oslo ENKJ


Runway 12 at Kjeller

Oslo is surrounded by airports: The main one, Gardemon, and Ryanair specials Torp and Rygge. These last two are fiendishly distant from the city although they have good bus connections. Gardemon is also a good distance away, but does have a dedicted train service. None of these are really 'GA' airports and I didn't look at them too hard after noticing entries for handling etc.

Then I found Kjeller. Claimed to be one of the oldest airfields in the world, Kjeller is only 10 mi E of Oslo city centre and has good train and bus connections. It is still an active military airfield but is mainly used by based flying clubs and private owners. Fees are very modest and a large ramp offers plenty of parking. Don't count on ATC: there wasn't any when I was there although there was a certain amount of flight school traffic speaking Norweigen which clammed up when I arrived.

Fuel is available but only with a Statoil Card: the way around this is either through the airport manager or the maintenance organisation based next to the parking area. You do need to pre-arrange things at Kjeller: when I arrived it was a holiday weekend and I was lucky to have a cell phone number for one of the guys. The price (if I've calculated this correctly) was a remarkable £1.80/L.


The GA area at the E (Rwy 30) end of Kjeller. Fuel at centre: GA parking on R

ATC could not be easier, with handoffs right up to the airfield itself. I got to fly right along Oslo Fjord past Rygge at 1000' within sight of the city before turning inland to the field. There are VRP's on the Norway ICAO 1:500,000 chart (there are no jepp maps of Norway) and these VRP's and most but not all the airspace is shown on SkyDemon/iPad. The only disconcerting part was being handed off to Kjeller tower only to be greeted by silence. A quick call back to Oslo approach confirmed that it is often unnattended and to make traffic calls.

Beware an Atomic reactor 500m N of the field which must not be overflown, making an overhead join a bit dicey. Otherwise it's very straightforward, in a broad valley surrounded by mountains. The clearest approach would be from the South along the lake that extends almost to the airfield boundary. I suggest close your flight plan with Oslo approach: I foolishly declined and then had to scrabble around for a phone number.

On the ground, tie downs were in rather short supply, not quite the worry with a PA28 that it would be in a 172, but in any case the parking area is surrounded by tall buildings. The flying club offices are nearby and there always seemed to be someone on hand. The walk to the train station at Lilestrom is a good mile and a bit of a trek with bags, but there are bus stops nearby and all busses seem to go to the train station. Taxis are prompt, but expect £15 for a 1 mile ride.

The train to Oslo S (Central) takes about 15 min for £6 and amazingly is virtually all underground.

References:
Kjeller Homepage
AIP Norway
Oslo Flying Club

[M609]

A quick call back to Oslo approach confirmed that it is often unnattended and to make traffic calls.

Small world

I was the ATCO at Oslo APP.