LGSR Santorini Airport & Island

Santorini (officially Thira) is a Greek island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200km from the Greek mainland. It belongs to the Cyclades group of islands, being the southernmost member of it. It covers an area of ~ 73 km². The island was previously named Kalliste (which means the prettiest) or Strogili (meaning circular), due to its relevant initial shape, resembling a circle.

Santorini was the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history, which occurred approximately 3.600 years ago. The eruption created a large caldera in the middle of the circle, surrounded by volcanic ash deposits and the sea. The island created in the middle is named Nea Kameni. The remaining parts of the Strogili island compose today’s landmass, which consists of the separated islands of Thira, Therasia, Palaia Kameni, Aspronisi, and Christiana.

The Airport

Santorini airport (IATA:JTR, ICAO:LGSR) is located on the southeastern side of the island, close to Kamari village. It is both a Civilian and Military airport; the military activity is very little. The airport first opened in 1972.

It has a main asphalt runway (15/33) which is 7,208 feet (2,197 m) in length and (only) 30m in width. The parallel taxiway was built and marked to runway specifications, but is now marked and lighted as a taxiway. The airport can accommodate medium-sized jets like the Boeing 757, Boeing 737, and Airbus A320 series as well as smaller aircraft such as ATR 42/72, Dash 8, Avro RJ, and Fokker 70/100 on an apron that is connected to the taxiway with three intersections.

The terminal and apron were renovated and redesigned, respectively, in 2021, increasing the aircraft and passenger capacity of the airport. It can simultaneously serve up to nine airliners at respective parking positions.

• IATA/ICAO: JTR/LGSR
• Runway 15/33: 7.208ft (2.197m)
• Elevation: 127ft
• Coordinates: 36°24′03″N 025°28′42″E
• Parking positions (airliners): 9 (1-9)
• Parking positions (GA): 13 (G1, G2, S1, S2, S3, 9A, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7, R9)

The Scenery

This Scenery covers the entire island of Santorini, including, of course, the airport.

Mesh Terrain

The unique mesh terrain of the whole area (Santorini, Therasia, Palia Kameni, Nea Kameni, Aspronisi, Christiana) is represented in 3m/pixel resolution, significantly enhancing the immersion of the scene.

Vegetation

All the trees of the island have been deleted. New ones have been placed to represent more accurately the intensity and type of real-life vegetation.

Buildings – Large Villages

All the default buildings in all villages of the island have been deleted and replaced with custom ones, close to the Cycladic shape and color, including (and significantly enhancing) the four large villages built at the edge of Caldera (Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, and Oia).

Ports

The following ports of Santorini have been replaced with custom ones in the scenery: Ammoudi port in very great detail, Armeni port, Fira port, Athinios port (the main port of Santorini) in very great detail, Vlichada port, and two small ports on the volcano island (Nea Kameni).

Points of Interest

The following well-known points of interest are present in the scenery: Oia Windmills, Fira Metropolitan Church of Ypapanti, Akrotiri Lighthouse, St John’s church, and the respective hill in the eastern area of the airport.

Animations and AI Vessel Traffic

A large ferry is departing and arriving at Athinios port, while two smaller animated boats travel the route from Fira to Volcano Island’s respective ports and back. The real-life cable car that connects Fira port with Fira Village is also present and animated in the scenery. Finally, small boats move all around the island (AI Traffic).