Penghu Airport

Penghu Airport (IATA: MZG, ICAO: RCQC), formerly Magong Airport (Chinese: 澎湖機場; pinyin: Pénghú Jīchǎng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Phênn-ôo Ki-tiû), is a domestic airport in Huxi, Penghu County, Taiwan. Handling 2,380,265 passengers in 2017, it is the fifth-busiest airport in Taiwan. The ROC Air Force's Magong Air Base is also located here.

Penghu Airport Magong Air Force Base 澎湖機場 馬公空軍基地 Pénghú Jīchǎng
IATA: MZG ICAO: RCQC
Summary
Airport type	Public / Military
Owner	Republic of China Air Force
Operator	Civil Aeronautics Administration
Serves	Magong
Location	Huxi Township, Penghu County, Taiwan
Opened	1 August 1977; 48 years ago (1977-08-01)
Built	1957; 68 years ago (1957)
Coordinates	23°34′00″N 119°37′48″E
Website	www.mkport.gov.tw/English/Main/index.aspx
Map
MZG/RCQC Location of airport in Penghu County Show map of Penghu County MZG/RCQC Location of airport in Taiwan Show map of Taiwan
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 02/20 3,000 9,843 Concrete

In 1974, an F-5A/B Freedom Fighter of the Republic of China Air Force was at Makung Air Base

History

Penghu Airport opened in 1957 with a focus on military personnel and cargo transportation. The construction of the new terminal began in 1966 and was subordinate to Kaohsiung Airport. The airport was officially established as a Type C airport and began operations on 1 August 1977.

In August 2004, the second phase of a new terminal was completed, which included the waiting room and terminal building.^[1] In June 2015, a new instrument landing system at the airport was inaugurated which was expected to improve safety, reducing the visibility requirement for the runway from 1,600 to 1,200 metres.^[2]

On 30 July 2018, the Civil Aviation Administration announced that Magong Airport would be renamed to Penghu Airport on 9 August 2018.^[3]

On 22 September 2020, President Tsai Ing-wen visited Penghu Magong Air Force base and praised the "heroic performance" of the pilots and crews who had intercepted and driven away Chinese (PRC) aircraft over the weekend.^[4]

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
Aero K	Cheongju[5]
Daily Air	Qimei
Mandarin Airlines	Kaohsiung, Taichung, Taipei–Songshan
Uni Air	Chiayi, Kaohsiung, Kinmen, Taichung, Tainan, Taipei–Songshan

Statistics

Busiest routes from Penghu in 2018^{[6][needs update]}

Rank	City	Passengers
1	Taipei–Songshan	1,036,535
2	Kaohsiung	838,439
3	Taichung	435,211
4	Tainan	148,407
5	Chiayi	39,441

Accidents

• On 5 June 1972, C-130E 62-1805, c/n 3759, of the 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron, loaned to the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing, USAF – crashed in sea near Makung, Pescadores Islands, after suffering landing gear explosion while in traffic pattern. Pilot retracted landing gear while brake assembly was overheated. Denied sufficient cooling air after retraction into well, the port aft wheel assembly exploded damaging wheel well bulkhead, rupturing several hydraulic lines, the fluid from which was then ignited by the hot components resulting in loss of control of the aircraft.^[7]

• On 16 February 1986, China Airlines Flight 2265 crashed during a go-around killing all 13 on board, the aircraft was also involved in China Airlines Flight 831 which was hijacked on 9 March 1978.^[8]

• On 23 July 2014, TransAsia Airways Flight 222 crashed during a second attempt landing during bad weather. The flight originated from Kaohsiung International Airport. The ATR 72-500 was carrying 58 passengers. 11 survived the initial crash, but one succumbed to their injuries during the following days. On the ground, 5 were injured and two homes caught fire due to the crash.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Civil Aviation Administration (Taiwan)
• Transportation in Taiwan
• List of airports in Taiwan