RAAF Base Pearce
| RAAF Base Pearce | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Characteristics | |
| ICAO code | YPEA |
| Coordinates | |
| Height above MSL | 49 m (161 ft ) |
| Transport links | |
| Distance from the city center | 35 km northeast of Perth |
| Basic data | |
| opening | 1939 |
| operator | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Runways | |
| 12/30 | 1691 m × 45 m asphalt |
| 18L / 36R | 2439 m × 45 m asphalt |
| 18R / 36L | 1741 m × 30 m concrete |
RAAF Base Pearce ( ICAO : YPEA ) is a military airfield of the Royal Australian Air Force 35 km northeast of Perth in the state of Western Australia . It is the main training airfield for both the RAAF and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).
It is the base with most of the flight movements across the country, which includes civilian movements. In addition to the main role of pilot training, Pearce, as the only permanent base on the west coast, has an important function for logistical tasks. Pearce is also administratively subordinate to the RAAF Gingin runway, which is also used for training, 40 km further north.
The base was named after the politician Sir George Foster Pearce .
history
Construction of the airfield began in 1936 near Bullsbrook . As a Pearce Air Force Station , the facility opened on February 6, 1939 and became the home base of the 14th Squadron and the 25th Squadron . The types used were the Hawker Demon and Avro Anson .
During World War II , the station became home to the 5th Initial Training School under the Empire Air Training Scheme , where recruits acquired basic knowledge of math, navigation and aerodynamics.
Between 1946 and 1954, the 11th Squadron, equipped with modified Avro Lincoln 694 bombers, was at the site, whose task was patrol flights over the Indian Ocean. The base has had its current name since June 1, 1952, and at the end of the 1950s the 2nd Flying Training School , which is still located in Pearce today (until the end of 1968, the 1st Applied Flying Training School ) was moved to the base.
Between 1987 and 2019, the 2nd AGV used the Pilatus PC-9 / A for advanced training . Its successor, the Pilatus PC-21 , was initially stationed at RAAF Base East Sale .
From 1998 to 2008, RSAF's 130th squadron initially used Aermacchi S 211 for training , which was also replaced by PC-21 in 2008.
In the spring of 2014, the base was a search center for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 .
Todays use
At the moment (2020) the following airborne units are stationed at RAAF Base Pearce:
- The RAAF has been using the Hawk 127 of the 79th Squadron for combat training here since 1998 .
- The No. 2 Flying Training School has been using the Pilatus PC-21 since 2019 .
- The training of the RSAF pilots is the responsibility of the 130th Squadron , equipped with PC-21s since 2008.
There are also some regular non-flying units and a reserve unit with the 25th (City of Perth) Squadron .
