Airport type Public 08/26 1,043 3,422 Bitumen | Elevation AMSL 39 ft / 12 m 1,043 3,422 | |
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Port Pirie Airport (IATA: PPI, ICAO: YPIR) is an airport that is located 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) south of Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia. The airport is owned by the Port Pirie Regional Council.
History
The airfield was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) station and home to No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School (No. 2 BAGS) during World War II. No. 2 BAGS provided bombing and gunnery training for pilots, air observers and air gunners. No. 2 Operational Training Unit was formed at Port Pirie on 6 April 1942, and operated initially with Wirraways and Fairey Battles at the aerodrome until it moved to Mildura, Victoria in May 1942. No. 2 BAGS was renamed No. 3 Air Observers School in December 1943. After World War II, the station housed No. 5 Central Recovery Depot where aircraft and parts were stored until disposal. The station closed in early 1947, with the aerodrome reverting to civilian use thereafter. A Bellman hangar is still standing at the airport and is in good condition, it remains in use by light aircraft based at the airport.