RAAF Woomera Airfield

RAAF Woomera Airfield (IATA: UMR, ICAO: YPWR) is an operational Royal Australian Air Force airfield located 4 km north of the Woomera Defence Village, in South Australia. Operational management of the airfield (and its satellite airfield "Evetts Field") is under the command and control of Headquarters, RAAF Woomera Test Range (which is located approximately 450 km south-east of Woomera, at RAAF Base Edinburgh near Adelaide). The airfield is an integral part of the aerospace test and evaluation role the RAAF Woomera Test Range provides for Australia. There are full time operational staff at Woomera supporting airfield operations, but access to the field is controlled through HQ WTR in Adelaide.

Normally, civilian aircraft are not given permission to use the airfield unless such use is related to Defence activities at Woomera. Full airfield details and points of contact are contained in the En-Route Supplement Australia (ERSA).

RAAF Woomera is able to operate all current types of aircraft used by the ADF, including C-17 Globemasters and all fast-jet types. The airfield can be fitted with an arrestor cable system when required to bring it to normal RAAF operating standards for FA-18 Hornet operations.

The airfield is also well able to handle larger aircraft types such as the C-5 Galaxy and Boeing 747. Large aircraft movements occur often at Woomera in support of ADF test and evaluation activities on the Range.

Historical

The centre line of the airfield was surveyed by Len Beadell in early 1947.^[1] The first aircraft (two DC-3s) to use the field, landed at Woomera on 4 July 1947.^[2]

References

External links

• Blast from the Past - New article on the Woomera Test Range from the Adelaide Adertiser 25 July 2009