Rand Airport

Before World War II

In 1917, Major Allister Miller landed on Germiston Golf Course and thought the area close by would be suitable as an airfield due to its location near to Johannesburg, the landmark of Victoria Lake and the well-drained land.^[1]: 1034 But it would take until February 1929, for the three interested parties to agree for 160 hectares (400 acres) of land to be set aside for what was called the Germiston Public Aerodrome.^[1]: 1034 The three parties were the Germiston Town Council, Elandsfontein Estate Company and the Rand Refinery.^[1]: 1034 Later that year, the Germiston Town Council gained full control and further plans were developed for the aerodrome when Imperial Airways was thinking of adding South Africa to their flight schedules.^[1]: 1035 After the involvement of the South African government, they were able to convince the airline that Johannesburg, with its mining and industry, should be their base rather than Cape Town, with Rand Refinery seeking to export its refined gold by air.^[1]: 1035

Imperial Airways received a £400 000 (equivalent to £32,300,000 in 2023) subsidy from both the South African and UK governments over five years.^[1]: 1036 In November 1929, the Germiston Town Council bought a further 280 ha (700 acres) of land for £14 000, after permission was given by the Mining Commissioner, as the land was owned by the Simmer and Jack mine with the understanding that the land could be reacquired as a mining area.^[1]: 1035 In order to proceed with the development, the Johannesburg and Germiston Town Councils formed a joint committee on 14 November 1930 and £85 000 (equivalent to £6,855,000 in 2023) was set aside for infrastructure.^[1]: 1036 This would consist of a large and small hangar, administrative buildings, a workshop, floodlights and cottages.^[1]: 1036

The airport was officially opened on 21 December 1931^[2] by the Governor-General Earl of Clarendon and owned jointly by the Germiston and Johannesburg Town Councils.^[1]: 1036 In 1932, Captain Roy Makepeace became its manager.^[1]: 1036 It became the headquarters of South African Airways (SAA) when the airline's head office was moved from Durban to Rand Airport on 1 July 1935.^[3] By 1938, the development costs had reached £200 000 (equivalent to £16,100,000 in 2023) and losses of £20 000 (equivalent to £1,613,000 in 2023), a cost the Germiston Town Council could no longer afford and so sold its share to the Johannesburg City Council for £106,498, with 84 hectares (207 acres) of land not used resold to the former and land provided for a future highway to connect to the Heidelberg road.^[1]: 1036 The final transfer took place in 1944.^[1]: 1036

In early 1939, the Union Defence Force took control of Rand Airport and by May 1940, all commercial flights ended.^[1]: 1037 The training schools based there trained pilots for the war effort and the facilities were extended with fifteen additional hangars built.^[1]: 1037 By 1944, a limited number of internal commercial flights resumed from the airport.^[1]: 1037

After World War II

SAA moved its headquarters to Palmietfontein Airport in 1948 because of runway length constraints. Nevertheless, Rand Airport grew quickly after World War II ended because of the influx of former air force pilots. In 1975, with 133 135 recorded aircraft movements, Rand Airport was the busiest airport in the southern hemisphere.^[4]

The ownership of the airport originally consisted of 23 private shareholders and there has been very little change. Most of the re-sales have been taken up by existing owners under new company names so there has been a small increase to the current 25 owners, plus the Mayondi BEE consortium and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council.^[2]

Rand Airport today

Today, the airport hosts air charter operators, flying schools and a number of aircraft maintenance organisations, as well other aviation-related enterprises.^[5] Charter operator Phoebus Apollo Aviation has its headquarters at Rand; the airport is also home to the Flying Lions Aerobatic Team.

South African Airways donated a Boeing 747-200 and a Boeing 747SP to the South African Airways Museum Society which are on display at the airport. The museum also owns a Boeing 737-200, two DC-4s, a DC-3, Vickers Viking, Lockheed Lodestar, Lockheed L1649 Starliner, DH Dove and numerous other exhibits. The airport also hosts an annual air show.^[6]

The airport recently saw extensive industrial development, including new business parks and modern industrial units. These facilities cater to logistics, manufacturing, and other commercial activities, contributing to the region's economic growth. The strategic location and upgraded infrastructure make it a prime site for industrial expansion.