Paya Lebar Airbase
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| Paya Lebar Airbase 巴耶利峇空军基地 Pangkalan Udara Paya Lebar |
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|---|---|---|---|
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| IATA: QPG - ICAO: WSAP | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military | ||
| Operator | Republic of Singapore Air Force | ||
| Serves | Singapore | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 65 ft (20 m) | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 02/20 | 12,474 | 3,802 | Bituminus |
Paya Lebar Airbase (Simplified Chinese: 巴耶利峇空军基地; Malay: Pangkalan Udara Paya Lebar) (IATA: QPG, ICAO: WSAP) was built as a civilian airport, known as Singapore International Airport, in 1955.
It was a hub for Malayan Airways at this time (the other being Kuala Lumpur); and the airline had its first flight outside South East Asia in 1958, using a DC-4 leased from Qantas, flying to Hong Kong. Turboprops were introduced over the next few years; and the name was changed to Malaysian Airways.
In 1966, the company focused more on Singapore, buying Boeing 707s, headquartering itself in that country, and renaming itself Malaysia-Singapore Airlines - with a notable florescent yellow livery. It's primary hub became Paya Lebar; and services began to reach out further into north Asia. Malaysia-Singapore Airlines was dissolved in 1972; Singapore Airlines was formed - keeping all the above 707s; and remained at Paya Lebar. But passenger numbers rose from 1.7 million to 4 million between 1970 and 1975. The airport was constrained by housing estates; and although some work was done to keep it operational in the meantime, construction began on the present Singapore International Airport at Changi in 1975; opening in mid 1981. Paya Lebar then closed to civil traffic, and Changi took over Paya Lebar's IATA code of SIN.
Paya Lebar began to be gradually converted into a military air force base from 1967 onwards. During that year, an Air Movement Centre was constructed to handle passengers and cargo arriving on Republic of Singapore Air Force flights, Ministry of Defence charter flights and foreign military aircraft. It became a complete military airbase in 1981 when Singapore Changi Airport was opened. It currently houses aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules and the upgraded AMRAAM capable F-5S/T (Tiger IIs). The 122nd, 141st, 144th and 149th Squadrons are also housed at Paya Lebar AFB. Singapore hosts its Republic of Singapore Air Force open house at Paya Lebar Air Base bi-annually.
Ocassionally Paya Lebar Air Base plays host to commerical/VIP aircraft as well. Air Force One has landed at the Air Base during President Bush's two visits to Singapore in 2002 and 2006.
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| RSAF Airbases |
| Changi Airbase (East) - Changi Airbase (West) |
| Paya Lebar Airbase - Sembawang Airbase - Tengah Airbase |
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