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Aviation History
1951
1951 - 0002.PDF
FLIGHT, 4 January 1951 LABUAN AIRPORT New Passenger Buildings at a Service-cum-Civil Base in North Borneo The control tower forms part of the main airport-building, in which passenger-reception and customs are also housed. FROM the time it was ceded to Great Britain in 1846,by the Sultan of Brunei, the island of Labuan, NorthBorneo, has been noted for its excellent harbour facilities. In accord with present-day requirements, the same progressive outlook is now evident in the provision of Labuan's new airport facilities, on the buildings of which over 300,000 Malayan dollars have recently been spent. The new buildings were opened for use in the middle of last month. They include modern passenger-handling and Customs rooms, and the control tower forms the central portion of the main airport-building. Covered gangways lead to the sleeping accommodation, which is divided into a number of single and double rooms, all tastefully and comfortably furnished. Part of the airfield was built by the Japanese during their occupation of the island in 1942. After liberation of the island by the Australian 9th Division in 1945, Japanese prisoners of war were put to work and there is now a run- way of 2,000 yards, capable of taking aircraft up to the weight of Hastings and Skymasters. The runway surface is of crushed coral and it has been found necessary to flood it periodically with sea water, otherwise the whole area disintegrates; fresh water will not serve the same purpose. A glance at a map shows that Labuan is the by-passbetween Singapore and Japan if Saigon (Indo-China) and Hong Kong should be out of commission. Its strategicvalue is very high. At present the airfield handles between 80 and 100 air movements a month. Qantas, K.L.M., Cathay Pacific and Malayan Airways all use the airport and Garuda Indonesian expect soon to try a proving flight. Nearby are facilities for handling and refuelling up to four flying boats. The Royal Air Force is a joint user of Labuan in that the airport houses a radio navigation station, at present commanded by F/O. G. Meyrick. A sergeant and 15 air- men complete this happy detach- ment. As amusements the men have football—not played in bare feet, as by the Labuans—a cinema show twice a week, and a model- aircraft club, while the A.O.C. has lent the station a sailing boat. F;O. G. Meyrick, whi commands the R.A.F. radio navigation unit in Labuan. lllusrraltd with " Flight" Photographs The spacious layout of the " new buildings is empha- •' sized when seen from the air. An open-sided but roofed corridor leads from the airport building to the * passengers' accommoda- •> tion in the rear. "I
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