Derby Airport (Australia)
Derby Airport (IATA: DRB, ICAO: YDBY) is located 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) southeast[1] of Derby, Western Australia.
Derby Airport | |||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Shire of Derby/West Kimberley | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Derby, Western Australia | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 24 ft / 7 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 17°22′12″S 123°39′38″E | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
  YDBY Location in Western Australia | |||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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History
The site of Derby airport was first set aside for aviation uses in 1922.[2] The airfield played a key role in the search for Charles Kingsford Smith's Southern Cross following a forced landing in the Kimberley region during 1929 in an incident that would become known as the "Coffee Royal Affair". Aviation pioneer Norman Brearley, used aircraft of his West Australian Airways in the initial search effort flying outwards from Derby.[3]
In 1938 it was proposed that Derby be used as a base for flying boat services carrying air mail from London to Australia via Egypt and Ceylon (Sri Lanka).[4]
A Transwest Airlines aircraft refuels at Derby Airport in 1979
See also
- Curtin Airport, nearby military base which hosted commercial passenger flights to Derby
- List of airports in Western Australia
References
- YDBY – Derby (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 05 Nov 2020, Aeronautical Chart
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- http://www.janesoceania.com/australia_historical_truestories/index.htm
- "Derby May Be New Bose For Flying Boat Service". 30 October 1938. p. 1 – via Trove.
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