Air Force Station Port Elizabeth Explained

Air Force Station Port Elizabeth
Iata:PLZ
Icao:FAPE
Operator:South African Air Force
Location:Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Elevation-F:226
Elevation-M:67
Coordinates:-33.99°N 25.6103°W
Pushpin Map:Eastern Cape
Pushpin Label:AFS Port Elizabeth
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the Eastern Cape Province
Website:www.af.mil.za
Metric-Rwy:Yes
R1-Number:08/26
R1-Length-F:6,496
R1-Length-M:1,980
R1-Surface:Asphalt
R2-Number:17/35
R2-Length-F:5,501
R2-Length-M:1,677
R2-Surface:Asphalt
R3-Number:10/28
R3-Length-F:3,805
R3-Length-M:1,160
R3-Surface:Grass

Air Force Station Port Elizabeth is a South African Air Force facility situated on the north-eastern side of the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport main runway. It was downgraded from an Air Force Base in the early 1990s.[1]

It is home to C Flight of 15 Squadron which currently operates four BK 117 helicopters. Their primary role is maritime and landward search and rescue. 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.[2]

Units hosted

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Air Force Station Port Elizabeth . Saairforce.co.za . 2012-06-18.
  2. Web site: Retirement of SAAF BK117 may be further delayed . Saairforce.co.za . 2012-06-18.
  3. Web site: 108 Squadron . Saairforce.co.za . 2012-06-18.