Cooma–Polo Flat Airport

Cooma–Polo Flat Airport
IATA: none ICAO: YPFT
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Cooma Polo Flat Holdings Pty Ltd
Serves	Cooma, New South Wales
Location	Polo Flat, New South Wales
Elevation AMSL	2,701 ft / 823 m
Coordinates	36°13′48″S 149°09′00″E / 36.23000°S 149.15000°E / -36.23000; 149.15000
Map
YPFT Location in New South Wales
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 12/30 663 2,175 Grass 18/36 663 2,175 Asphalt
Sources: AIP[1]

Cooma–Polo Flat Airport (ICAO: YPFT) is an unlicensed airfield located in Polo Flat, an industrial area of Cooma, New South Wales, Australia. The airfield is used primarily for recreational flying. Polo Flat is at a lower elevation than the nearby Cooma–Snowy Mountains Airport and is less prone to closure during bad weather and fog.^[2]

Polo Flat airfield was established by 1921, when the aviation pioneer Charles Kingsford Smith arrived at the landing ground on a barnstorming visit to the region.^[3] In the 1950s and 60s, the airfield was further developed to service the Snowy Mountains Scheme and the original hangars and terminal building are still in use today.^[4]

In 1998, the 57 ha (140 acres) site was sold by the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority for private use. In 2001, the facilities were adapted by the new owners to provide facilities for training pilots with disabilities through the "Wheelies with Wings" charity organisation.^[4] In 2003 a flying school, Snowy Aviation Academy, was established at the site.^[5]

Polo Flat airport is currently closed to fixed wing aircraft.

• On 20 May 1976, a Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter aircraft, registration VH-SMB owned by the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority struck a radio tower and crashed on approach to Polo Flat, killing all four on board.^[6]

• List of airports in New South Wales