Sumburgh is the main, but underused airport for Shetland. In the late 70s and early 80s it enjoyed major development because of the needs of the oil industry. Every day HS748 and Vickers Viscount flights brought staff for construction and oil exploration to the islands and the airport transferred them to helicopters for onward flight to the exploration and production platforms. It provided unique problems for such an operation as can be appreciated from the accompanying images and video.
The entrance to the old terminal building in 1978. Later replaced by the Wilsness Terminal.Inside the terminal building.
With rising ground air traffic passes quite low overhead when landing on runway 15.After the airport closed at night, it was put to use as a community facility. Here’s the Dunrossness Boys’ Brigade display.
There was the CAA’s small staff housing estate at Thistle Court and Ninian Drive in the village of Toab on the west coast of the narrow peninsular.
