RMAF Labuan Air Base

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RMAF Labuan

TUDM Labuan
Labuan Air Base, CAC Sabre (AWM MAL-65-0108-10).JPG
RMAF Labuan with CAC Sabre in 1965
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
Owner Royal Malaysian Air Force, Ministry of Defence
Operator Royal Malaysian Air Force
Location Labuan, Malaysia
Time zone MST (UTC+08:00)
Elevation  AMSL 101 ft / 31 m
Coordinates 05°18′06″N115°14′54″E / 5.30167°N 115.24833°E / 5.30167; 115.24833
Map
East Malaysia location map.svg
Airplane silhouette.svg
RMAF Labuan
Location in East Malaysia
RMAF Labuan Air Base
Runways
Direction LengthSurface
mft
14/322,7459,006Asphalt
Sources: AIP Malaysia [1]

RMAF Labuan (Malay : TUDM Labuan) is an air force base operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (Malay : Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia). It is located in the Federal Territory of Labuan in East Malaysia. It is collocated with the Labuan Airport.

Contents

History

BAE Hawk 208 that was stationed at RMAF Labuan BAE Hawk 208 edited 2.jpg
BAE Hawk 208 that was stationed at RMAF Labuan

RMAF Labuan started with the deployment of one detachment of the Royal Air Force, under the command of Group Captain S.J. Rawling. After the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963, some personnel were deployed to this airbase under the Air Force Borneo. At that early time, RMAF Labuan owned some Twin Pioneer aircraft for logistic and patrol role. The Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation in 1963 aroused the demand for this airbase to be upgraded as a main airbase for Malaysia. From 1965, RMAF Labuan saw a significant upgrade with the formation of the main administration branch, the expansion of the existing detachment, the formation of a new squadron and the commissioning of new aircraft. In 1966, RMAF Labuan received its first batch of DHC-4 Caribou to strengthen the No 8 Squadron that already operated Twin Pioneer transport aircraft. The No 5 Squadron that formed in Kuala Lumpur also moved to the RMAF Labuan with their Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopters to provide a rotorcraft element. RMAF Labuan was inaugurated by the defence minister at the time, in 1968. [2] Nowadays, RMAF Labuan is an important airbase for the RMAF as it grants direct access to the South China Sea and protects Borneo's East Malaysia. RMAF Labuan is now the base of the RMAF's BAE Hawk 108 and BAE Hawk 208. [3]

Squadron assigned

Main squadron

DivisionSquadronsAircraft assignedNotes
2nd DivisionNo. 5 Squadron Eurocopter EC-725
2nd DivisionNo. 6 Squadron BAE Hawk 108/BAE Hawk 208
2nd DivisionNo. 14 Squadron Lockheed C-130H Hercules

See also

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References

  1. WBKL - LABUAN Archived 2013-12-30 at the Wayback Machine at Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia
  2. "Portal Rasmi Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia TUDM - Labuan". www.airforce.mil.my.
  3. "Hawks Flying High - Malaysian Defence".