‘It was very difficult at the time,’ says Pelleboer against RTV Drenthe. ‘There has been a long battle between all kinds of municipalities around Groningen because they all wanted the airport. It is thanks to the then alderman Bähler-Boerma that it eventually became Eelde. She offered a location and was supported in this by sports pilot Haijo Hindriks and the then mayor of Groningen Legro, ‘Pelleboer explains.
The opening was quite a happening at the time. Aircraft were still very special at the time. ‘There was a complete air show, including foreign aircraft. At the time, 23,000 people attended ‘, says Pelleboer. Sports pilot Haijo Hindriks, who is seen as one of the drivers of the airport, was killed less than a month and a half after the opening with his plane. There is a memorial stone at the entrance of the departure hall at Groningen Airport Eelde.
‘In the early days it was actually a large lawn. In the winter it was very wet and there was very little to fly. There are pictures of skating at the airport in the winter, ‘says Pelleboer.
An important event in the history of Groningen Airport Eelde is the arrival of the National Aviation School in 1954. Gert van Lingen is assistant air traffic controller at Eelde. His father went to work at the National Aviation School in 1956. ‘I am afflicted with the aviation virus. In elementary school, the teacher said, you can’t make money looking out the window. But that happened after all, ‘says Van Lingen with a laugh. ‘The arrival of the National Aviation School has had an enormous impact on Eelde. It generated a lot of work. At the time, 150 people were employed. Entire families came to live in Eelde from Gilze-Rijen, where the school used to be. A special residential area and a Catholic church have been built. ‘
Ultimately, a job extension was discussed for thirty years
With the arrival of the Rijksvaartluchtschool, paved runways were also constructed and there was no longer any need to fly on grass. A decision back then could have prevented years of discussion about extending the runway. ‘The government offered to build a track of 2,400 meters. But probably because of Northern modesty, 1,800 meters were said to be sufficient. Ultimately, a job extension was discussed for thirty years. If it had been decided otherwise at the time, a lot of bickering would have been avoided. Due to the shorter runway, the airport also lost a lot of income. A longer track also saves fuel and there is less noise, ‘says Van Lingen. The runway was not extended until 2013, so that larger aircraft can also land at Eelde.
Under pressure
The future of Groningen Airport Eelde is the subject of much debate. ‘That is timeless,’ says Van Lingen. ‘That is a great pity, because this field has enormous added value for aviation. There is a lot of space. Medical flights can be carried out, and the trauma helicopter is there. ‘
According to Pelleboer, the airport was already under pressure when it was founded in the 1930s. ‘KLM wanted connections between Schiphol and Eelde and then on to Hamburg. But in winter, the grassland was often so wet that it was impossible. Even then there were noises: what is the airport’s raison d’être if it is closed for half the year. ‘
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