Airport type Public 11/29 1,736 Address Derby WA 6728, Australia | Elevation AMSL 24 ft / 7 m 1,736 5,696 Code DRB | |
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Operator Shire of Derby/West Kimberley Location Derby, Western Australia | ||
Derby Airport (IATA: DRB, ICAO: YDBY) is located 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) southeast of Derby, Western Australia.
History
The site of Derby airport was first set aside for aviation uses in 1922. 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.
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).
References
Derby Airport (Australia) Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA