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In 1953 the airport had
a total of three runways in use,
08/26 (main runway), 15/33 and
23.
The Sheikh
Othman Road crossed the main
08/26 runway near the
original control tower and was
manned by a crossing guard
who would lower the boom
gates to stop traffic upon
hearing a bell signal
activated from the control
tower.
There is a story that a
camel and cart heading
northwards approached the
boom gate with its driver
asleep on the cart, as often
happened on a long journey.
The crossing guard thought
he'd have some fun and
turned the camel around,
without waking the driver,
to head back from where it
came. The driver must have
been quite disoriented when
he finally awoke, and the
camel relieved at such a
short trip.
Although long since
decommissioned, the old
Sheikh Othman Road and the
original runways were still
evident from the air in the
late 60's and can still be
distinguished from recent
satellite images.
Terminal
complex in 1955
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The old 15/33
and 23 runways
clearly seen in
this picture
The
original control
tower was
demolished in
the late fifties
to
make way for the
new, sealed
and extended 08/26 runway
which was about
50-100 metres
south and
parallel to the
original runway.
A new control
tower was built
which can be
viewed here.
Khormaksar
Control Tower in
1953
Khormaksar
Control Tower in
1955
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