Derby Airport (Western Australia)
Airport in Derby, Western Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 (7.3 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 17°22′19″S 123°39′45″E | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
  YDBY Location in Western Australia | |||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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| Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[1] | |||||||||||||||
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".[citation needed] 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 to be used as a base for flying boat services carried air mail from London to Australia via Egypt and Ceylon (Sri Lanka).[4]
See also
- Curtin Airport, nearby military base which hosted commercial passenger flights to Derby
- List of airports in Western Australia
- Aviation transport in Australia
