Rabat - Souissi

ICAO Code	/
Last Validated
City	Rabat
Position	33°59'14"N 006°49'50"W
Runway(s)	06/24H
Elevation	253 ft

General

The Gendarmerie Royale has a sizeable fleet of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. They are based at various airfields around the country. In the embassy quarter of Rabat they have a small helicopter base, south of the old Rabat airport and near the Rabat Hilton hotel.

Getting There

Finding this small airfield can prove rather difficult. However, if you find either the Charí J.F. Kennedy or the Rabat Hilton, it is fairly easy from that. With your back against the Hilton, take the first right on the large roundabout. When the road goes underneath another road you should keep to the right and stay up. Take a right turn and you are on JFK. It is now one of the first roads to the right, in the corner there are signposts to the Finnish embassy. Immediately after you enter this road you will see the grey metal gate doors of the airfield.

Alternatively, coming from Sale airport, follow the signposts to Rabat. Keep left and before entering the city you will have to turn left and go uphill past the American embassy. At the next crossroads go straight, slightly to the left and you should now be on JFK as well.

Lastly, when approaching from the south there is a chance that you will approach the city on JFK also. In that case, take the first left after the embassy of Senegal.

Around the Airport

1East side ramp view

Take the last road to the right before the gate. You have the wall of the airfield to your left. When you look over it, you will be able to view the content of three of the hangars usually holding S-70, SA330 and Alouette 2 helicopters.

2North east side ramp view

Make a left at the end of this road, a left and you are heading towards the wall again. You can see the tower, and if there is a Puma/Cougar outside the rotorblades will be clearly visible. Try to gain some height (on your car or otherwise). You can now look into some of the hangars and on the ramp.

3North west side ramp view

A bit further down this road just past the large tree there is a small hole in the wall and the ground is a bit higher as well. This allows you to look into the AS350 hangar and onto the ramps as well as into the maintenance hangar which is situated more to your right. Bewar of the locals, many embassies are located around the field and the suburb is patrolled every now and then. Luckily, you only need a couple of minutes.