Jan Mayensfield Jan Mayensfield is an aerodrome serving Olonkinbyen in Jan Mayen , Norway . Operated by the Norwegian Armed Forces , it serves the island ' s only population at the combined military and meteorological station . It has a dirt runway numbered 06 – 24 . The airfield was built in connection with the LORAN - C transmitter at Olonkinbyen and was completed in 1960 . Jan Mayensfield is served eight times per year by Lockheed C - 130 Hercules aircraft of the 335 Squadron from Bodø Main Air Station , which provide supplies and change crew at the outpost . The nearby Beerenberg volcano can cause a Kármán wind , which creates difficult landing conditions . History . North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) and the Norwegian Armed Forces started construction of a military communications outpost at Olonkinbyen in 1958 . At first a LORAN - A transmitter was built , followed by a LORAN - C transmitter in 1960 . In August , it was announced that the island would receive an airfield to allow continual operation of the transmitter . Originally , the aerodrome consisted of a section of the island ' s dirt road . This was chosen to reduce the bureaucracy of construction . The first aircraft to land was a Consolidated PBY Catalina of the Royal Norwegian Air Force on 17 September 1960 . The first civilian aircraft was a Douglas DC - 4 operated by Braathens SAFE , which landed with some journalists on board on 29 October 1961 . Other early aircraft operating to Jan Mayen were the Grumman HU - 16 Albatross and the Douglas DC - 6 . The head officer of the Norwegian military ' s communications division was later criticized by Chief of Defence Bjarne Øen , who concluded : " Gentlemen , I will not have any construction of airports on Norwegian soil by the Communications Division without the plans being presented to the Central Command . " In 1970 , a sudden eruption in Beerenberg forced the immediate evacuation of the station . A Hercules was dispatched to the island and successfully landed on the strip . Thereafter the Hercules became the regular military aircraft at Jan Mayen . Aircraft gradually took over more of the transport to the island , and from 1973 all supplies except diesel and special freight was transported by ship . From 1975 the 333 Squadron would occasionally drop mail and supplies using the P - 3 Orion as a supplement to the landings of the Hercules . Facilities . Jan Mayensfield ' s single regular service is the Royal Norwegian Air Force ' s Lockheed C - 130 Hercules , which operate to the island eight times per year . The aircraft are part of the 335 Squadron , based at Gardermoen Air Station , although the flights from Jan Mayen operate from Bodø Main Air Station . The runway is not open for commercial traffic , although it can be used for research and search and rescue operations . The dirt runway is being aligned 06 – 24 . Jan Mayensfield has variable weather conditions , a lot of fog and often has a Kármán wind . The Kármán wind is created in the wake of the Beerenberg volcano , resulting in regular vortex streets and lee - waves . This can cause sudden change to the wind direction on the island . Accidents and incidents . In 1991 , a C - 130 Hercules aircraft from the Royal Norwegian Air Force almost crashed after take off due to Karman wind suddenly shifting .