Air Force Base Durban

AFB Durban (ICAO: FADN)[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]

AFB Durban

Air Force Base Durban
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OperatorSouth African Air Force
LocationDurban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Elevation AMSL33 ft / 10 m
Coordinates29°58′07″S 030°56′52″E
Websitewww.af.mil.za
asca.co.za
Map
FADN
Location in the Durban metropolitan area
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
06/24 8,005 2,440 Asphalt

Status following closure of Durban International Airport

As of August 2016 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
  • 15 Squadron- Helicopters
  • 508 Squadron
  • 105 Squadron - Citizen Force liaison and crime prevention patrol squadron. Reserve squadron operating various civil light aircraft by mostly civilian pilots.

See also

References
  1. Airport information for FADN at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.
  2. Wingrin, Dean. "The South African Air Force". www.saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  3. "Retirement of SAAF BK117 may be further delayed". Saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
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