Air Force Station Port Elizabeth

Air Force Station Port Elizabeth
IATA: PLZ – ICAO: FAPE
Summary
Operator	South African Air Force
Location	Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Elevation AMSL	226 ft / 67 m
Coordinates	33°59′24″S 25°36′37″E / 33.99000°S 25.61028°ECoordinates: 33°59′24″S 25°36′37″E / 33.99000°S 25.61028°E
Website	www.af.mil.za
Map
Air Force Station Port Elizabeth Location in the Eastern Cape Province
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 08/26 1,980 6,496 Asphalt 17/35 1,677 5,501 Asphalt 10/28 1,160 3,805 Grass

Air Force Station Port Elizabeth is a South African Air Force facility situated on the north-eastern side of the Port Elizabeth Airport main runway. It was downgraded from an Air Force Base in the early 1990s.^[1]

It is home to C Flight of 15 Squadron which currently operates four BK 117 helicopters. Their primary role is maritime and landward search and rescue. Conversion to AgustaWestland AW109 helicopters has been postponed due to delays in developing emergency flotation equipment for the type, thus precluding its use in a maritime environment.^[2]

Units hosted

• C Flight of 15 Squadron
• 108 Squadron - Territorial Reserve squadron operating various civil light aircraft in the utility transport role.^[3]

See also

• Port Elizabeth branch of the SAAF Museum - another SAAF facility located at the airport

References

1. "Air Force Station Port Elizabeth". Saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
2. "Retirement of SAAF BK117 may be further delayed". Saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
3. "108 Squadron". Saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 2012-06-18.