Paya Lebar Air Base

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Paya Lebar Air Base (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. The air base goes by the motto of "Strength Through Readiness".

[edit] History

It was a hub for Malayan Airways at this time (the other being Kuala Lumpur), and the airline had its first flight outside Southeast 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 fluorescent yellow livery. Its primary hub became Paya Lebar, and services began to reach out further into North Asia.

From 1979 to 1980, British Airways, in conjunction with Singapore Airlines, began supersonic Concorde services from London's Heathrow Airport, to Paya Lebar Singapore.

Malaysia-Singapore Airlines was dissolved in 1972; Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines was formed - keeping all the above 707s; and Singapore Airlines 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 1981. Paya Lebar then closed to civil traffic, and Changi took over Paya Lebar's IATA code of SIN.

[edit] Conversion to Military use

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.

[edit] Paya Lebar Air Base

The air base currently houses aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules and the upgraded AMRAAM capable F-5S/T Tiger IIs. Also, the Republic of Singapore Air Force hosts its open house at Paya Lebar Air Base bi-annually.

The Flying squadrons are:

• 122 Squadron: operates the C-130 Hercules,
• 141 Squadron: operates the F-5S/T Tiger-IIs (disbanded in Nov 2005),
• 144 Squadron: operates the F-5S/T Tiger-IIs,
• 149 Squadron: operates the F-5S/T Tiger-IIs.

The Support Squadrons are:

• Air Logistics Squadron (ALS)
• Field Defence Squadron (FDS)
• Flying Support Squadron
• Airfield Maintenance Squadron (AMS)

[edit] Photo Gallery

RSAF C-130H Short field landing at PLAB.

An AGM-65 Maverick armed Northrop F-5S Tiger-II.

[edit] Note

• Occasionally, Paya Lebar Air Base plays host to commercial/VIP aircraft as well. Air Force One has landed at the Air Base during President George W. Bush's two visits to Singapore in October 2003 and November 2006.
• Air Force Two carrying Vice President Dick Cheney also made a brief refueling stop at the Air Base en route from Australia in 2007.

[edit] Air Force Museum

The RSAF maintains the Air Force Museum, which is open to the public and showcases the air force's history and capabilities. The museum is located along Airport Road beside Paya Lebar Air Base, near Eunos MRT Station.

[edit] References

1. ^ Airport information for WSAP at World Aero Data. Source: DAFIF.
2. ^ Airport information for QPG at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF.

[edit] External links

• RSAF web page on Paya Lebar Air Base
• Current weather for WSAP at NOAA/NWS
• Accident history for QPG at Aviation Safety Network

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