RMAF Labuan Air Base

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 Labuan, Sabah in East Malaysia. It is colocated with the Labuan Airport.

RMAF Labuan

TUDM Labuan
RMAF Labuan with CAC Sabre in 1965
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerRoyal Malaysian Air Force, Ministry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Malaysian Air Force
LocationLabuan, Sabah, Malaysia
Time zoneMST (UTC+08:00)
Elevation AMSL101 ft / 31 m
Coordinates05°18′06″N 115°14′54″E
Map
RMAF Labuan
Location in East Malaysia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
14/32 2,745 9,006 Asphalt
Sources: AIP Malaysia[1]

History
BAE Hawk 208 that stationed at RMAF Labuan.

RMAF Labuan starts from the deployment of one detachment to the Royal Air Force, under the command of Group Captain S.J. Rawling. After the formation of Malaysia in 16 September 1963, some personnel have been deployed to this airbase under the Air Force Borneo. At the early time, RMAF Labuan owned some of the Twin Pioneer for logistic and patrol role. Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation in 1963 arouse the demand for this airbase to be upgrade as main airbase for Malaysia. From 1965, RMAF Labuan have seen a significant upgrade by the form of main administration branch, the expansion of existing detachment, the formation of new squadron and the commissioned of new aircraft. In 1966, RMAF Labuan received its first batch of DHC-4 Caribou to strengthen the No 8 Skn that already operates Twin Pioneer transport aircraft. The No 5 Skn that formed in Kuala Lumpur also have been moved to the RMAF Labuan with their Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopter to provide rotorcraft element. Inauguration of the RMAF Labuan take place in 1968 by defence minister at that time.[2] Nowadays, RMAF Labuan became an important airbase for RMAF for the direct access to the South China Sea and to protect Borneo's East Malaysia. RMAF Labuan now the base of the BAE Hawk 108 and BAE Hawk 208.[3]

See also

References
  1. WBKL - LABUAN 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".
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