RAAF Base Pearce

RAAF Base Pearce
IATA: none – ICAO: YPEA
Summary
Airport type		Military
Operator		RAAF
Elevation AMSL		149 ft / 49 m
Coordinates		31°40′06″S 116°00′54″E / 31.66833°S 116.015°E / -31.66833; 116.015Coordinates: 31°40′06″S 116°00′54″E / 31.66833°S 116.015°E / -31.66833; 116.015
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
12/30	5,548	1,691	Asphalt
18L/36R	8,002	2,439	Asphalt
18R/36L	5,712	1,741	Concrete

RAAF Base Pearce (ICAO: YPEA) is the main RAAF base in Western Australia. The base is located in Bullsbrook, north of Perth. It is used for training by the Royal Australian Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force. The current base commander of RAAF Base Pearce is AIRCDRE Ian Petkoff who has been there since 2005.

It is the busiest RAAF base in the country in terms of total aircraft moves, including civil moves at the Joint User bases. Although its primary role is pilot training, it remains the only permanent Air Force base on the west coast, and thus has a significant logistics role.

RAAF Gingin is a small airfield located near Pearce which is also used for flying training. The airfield is owned by the Air Force and is managed by RAAF Base Pearce. A rotation of Air Traffic Controllers travel from Pearce each day to provide services, when requested by the flying units.

Lineup of PC-9 aircraft from No 2 FTS at RAAF Pearce.

History

RAAF Base Pearce was officially granted 'station' status on February 6, 1939. It was named in honour of Sir George Pearce, a long-standing Senator from Western Australia. Pearce was elected to the inaugural Senate in 1901 and remained a Senator for Western Australia until 1938. He was Minister for Defence in four separate ministries including the period 1910 to 1913 when the Royal Australian Air Force was formed.

The base opened with two resident squadrons, 14 Squadron and 25 Squadron.

No. 5 Initial Training School

No. 5 Initial Training School was formed at RAAF Pearce as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme during World War II. Recruits commenced their military service at the Initial Training School, learning fundamentals such as mathematics, navigation and aerodynamics.

Airshows

The 2005 Defence Force Air Show, held at Pearce on 19–20 November, marked the first visit to Perth of the USAF B-1B Lancer bomber.

Units

Republic of Singapore Air Force's Flying Training School (130 Squadron) at RAAF Base Pearce.

Unit name	FEG	Aircraft
No. 44 Wing Detachment Pearce	Surveillance and Response Group
No. 25 "City of Perth" Squadron	Combat Support Group
No. 79 Squadron RAAF	Air Combat Group	BAE-Hawk 127
No. 278 Squadron Detachment Pearce	Air Combat Group
No. 1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Pearce	Combat Support Group
No. 2 Flying Training School	Training Command	PC-9
Combat Support Unit - Pearce	Training Command

• Republic of Singapore Air Force 130 Squadron

Other uses

RAAF Pearce is used as an alternate aerodrome for NASA Space Shuttles.^{[citation needed]} It is also used by the Australian Air Force Cadets as a headquarters and on promotional courses, as well as serving as HQ for 701 SQN(AAFC). An airliner mock-up has been built on base to serve as an anti-hijacking training aid for the Australian Special Air Service's Counter-Terrorism squadron, also known as Tactical Assault Group (West). It is used to practise airliner entry and hostage rescue drills.

References

• Defence Forces web site
• Flight Sim Aviation