Air Force Base Durban Explained

AFB Durban
Nativename:Air Force Base Durban
Iata:DUR
Icao:FADN
Type:Military
Operator:South African Air Force
Location:Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Elevation-F:33
Elevation-M:10
Coordinates:-29.9686°N 30.9478°W
Pushpin Map:Durban
Pushpin Label:FADN
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the Durban metropolitan area
Website:www.af.mil.za
asca.co.za
R1-Number:06/24
R1-Length-F:8005
R1-Length-M:2440
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Footnotes:Co-located with Durban International Airport

AFB Durban [1] is an airbase of the South African Air Force, located in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The runway is shared with the (now defunct) Durban International Airport (since September 1956). The airbase is at the northern end of the runway.[2]

Status following closure of Durban International Airport

no replacement site has been provided for 15 Squadron, which is still based at the airport. As a helicopter unit it does not require a large airfield with runways.

Aviation

It is home to 15 Squadron which currently operates Atlas Oryx and BK 117 helicopters. Their primary role is maritime and landward search and rescue. Two flights of Oryx are based in Durban and C Flight, consisting of four BK 117s is detached to Port Elizabeth. C Flight's conversion to AgustaWestland AW109 helicopters has been postponed due to delays in developing emergency flotation equipment for the type, thus precluding its use in a maritime environment.[3]

Units hosted

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: usurped. Airport information for FADN. https://web.archive.org/web/20190305143444/http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?airport=FADN. 2019-03-05. World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.
  2. Web site: The South African Air Force. Wingrin. Dean. www.saairforce.co.za. 2018-08-24.
  3. Web site: Retirement of SAAF BK117 may be further delayed . Saairforce.co.za . 2012-06-18.