Oakey Army Aviation Centre

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(OAKEY AIRPORT)

Oakey Army Aviation Centre (IATA: OKY, ICAO: YBOK) is situated approximately 3 km from the town centre of Oakey in Queensland, Australia. It provides a training establishment for the Australian Army Aviation Corps, and also hosts a Singapore Armed Forces Helicopter Squadron.

[edit] History

The base has a long history dating back to World War II when it was established by the Royal Australian Air Force as a training facility. It was later used as a maintenance and aviation surplus facility after the war, with many surplus aircraft being stored prior to destruction or sale.

The Army assumed responsibility for the base in the 1970s and developed the facility as a significant Army Aviation training base, as well as the base of several Land Command operational units. During the period up to the early 1990s, aircraft types operating from the base included Bell OH-58 Kiowa, Bell UH-1 Iroquois, Sikorsky S-70 Blackhawk, Pilatus Porter, and GAF Nomad.

During 2002 a decision was made to close RAAF Base Fairbairn in Canberra, and with a desire amongst sections of the ADF to co-locate all Army Helicopter training, the Australian Defence Force Helicopter School (ADFHS) was relocated to Oakey at the start of 2003. From 2004, the focus of the Army Aviation Centre has been gradually moving away from Land Command operational units to a further concentration on Training Command units and the creation of a centre of excellence in training.

In 2007, Boeing Australia Limited was announced successful tenderer for the Army Aviation Training and Training Support (AATTS) contract and commenced providing non-tactical flying and technical training to the Australian Army Aviation Corps.

Australian Defence Force (ADF) Units currently based at Oakey include -

• 173 Surveillance Squadron (Land Command under 16 Bde [Avn])
• School of Army Aviation (SAA)
• Army Helicopter School (AHS)
• Instructor Training Wing (ITW)
• Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) School
• RAEME Aircraft Maintenance School (RAMS)
• 44WG Air Traffic Control (detachment)
• 1MP Military Police (detachment, including dogs)

The base facilities include accommodation for students attending courses and single members working on the base. Other facilities include tennis courts, squash courts, basketball and netball court, football ovals, heated 25m indoor swimming pool, equipped gymnasium, defence banking & credit union branches (no ATM), and a kiosk, as well as messing facilities.

[edit] Museum of Australian Army Flying

The Museum of Australian Army Flying reopened in September 2005 in new buildings on land adjacent to the airport, after a grant was provided by the Australian Government. Distinguished guests included national and local dignitaries, including well known aviation identity Dick Smith. The purpose built facility includes many historical aircraft tracing the history of the Aviation Corps in the Australian Army and back to the Army Flying Corps from World War I. Featured types in the collection of aircraft include Bell 47, Bell Kiowa, GAF Nomad, Pilatus Porter, & Cessna 150. The museum also maintains a significant collection of artifacts dating from the inception of the Army Flying Corps and WW1 to present day.

[edit] Airlines, Facilities and Destinations

[edit] Domestic

• Macair Airlines (Brisbane, St. George).

Whilst the airfield is military controlled and regulated, a small civil terminal has been maintained on the airfield for many years. The current terminal structure was built at the same time as the new buildings for the Army Flying Museum refurbishment in 2005, and shares the access road to this facility.

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