PAF Base Korangi Creek
Encyclopedia
The PAF Base Korangi Creek is a Pakistani Air Force base
located in Korangi
, Karachi. The PAF Base Korangi Creek is a State-of-the-art facility involved in the development of the Unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) for the Pakistan Defence Forces.
in 1923. Located in a beach
area of Karachi, the primary role of the facility was to provide the embarkation and disembarkation facilities to the RAF
and other British personnel arriving by civil or military amphibious aircraft, and also to handle receipts and dispatch of cargo on these aircraft.
In 1942, the RAF leased an area of 1007 acres (4.1 km²) from the provincial government
and the station premises were then properly secured with a perimeter fence. Korangi Creek also served as a logistic base for the aircraft repair depot at Drigh Road through the supply depot there. Aircraft engines and spare parts that were brought to Korangi Creek by amphibious aircraft were eventually transferred to Drigh Road to be made use of. Much of the equipment serviced by the repair depot was channeled through Korangi to Bombay to support RAF units all over India. After independence, the station continued to be commanded and manned by RAF personnel till 1949.
station commander was Wing Commander
A.K. Malik. At this stage, it was decided to make Korangi a technical training base for officers and airmen of the PAF. In April 1951, the first technical school was established at this station, and was named the School of Aeronautics (SOA). The school was inaugurated by the prime minister
Liaquat Ali Khan
. The SOA soon established its reputation as a successful training program in the PAF and abroad, and a large number of foreign countries started sending their air technicians to the base for basic training. In 1963, the School of Electronics (SOE) was moved from PAF Station Malir to Korangi Creek to become the sister institution of the SOA.
. Pakistan's Integrated Defence Systems (IDS) and the military scientists from College of Aeronautical Engineering
and Pakistan Navy Engineering College
have been engaged in the research and development of UAVs and aerospace related technologies.
Air Force Base
An Air Force Base is a military airbase of any of a number of air forces, such as the United States Air Force or South African Air Force ....
located in Korangi
Korangi
Korangi is one of the neighborhoods of Landhi Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.Korangi Town is a town in the eastern parts of Karachi, Pakistan, south of the Malir River...
, Karachi. The PAF Base Korangi Creek is a State-of-the-art facility involved in the development of the Unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
(UAV) for the Pakistan Defence Forces.
Royal Air Force
The facility was established by the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in 1923. Located in a beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
area of Karachi, the primary role of the facility was to provide the embarkation and disembarkation facilities to the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and other British personnel arriving by civil or military amphibious aircraft, and also to handle receipts and dispatch of cargo on these aircraft.
In 1942, the RAF leased an area of 1007 acres (4.1 km²) from the provincial government
Government of Sindh
Government of Sindh is based in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. سندھ is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and is home to the Sindhis, Muhajirs, Pashtuns and a whole array of other ethnic and linguistic groups. Neighbouring regions are Balochistan to the west and north, Punjab in the north and...
and the station premises were then properly secured with a perimeter fence. Korangi Creek also served as a logistic base for the aircraft repair depot at Drigh Road through the supply depot there. Aircraft engines and spare parts that were brought to Korangi Creek by amphibious aircraft were eventually transferred to Drigh Road to be made use of. Much of the equipment serviced by the repair depot was channeled through Korangi to Bombay to support RAF units all over India. After independence, the station continued to be commanded and manned by RAF personnel till 1949.
Pakistan Air Force
In December 1949, the first RPAFPakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
station commander was Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
A.K. Malik. At this stage, it was decided to make Korangi a technical training base for officers and airmen of the PAF. In April 1951, the first technical school was established at this station, and was named the School of Aeronautics (SOA). The school was inaugurated by the prime minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
Liaquat Ali Khan
Liaquat Ali Khan
For other people with the same or similar name, see Liaqat Ali Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan was a Pakistani statesman who became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Defence minister and Commonwealth, Kashmir Affairs...
. The SOA soon established its reputation as a successful training program in the PAF and abroad, and a large number of foreign countries started sending their air technicians to the base for basic training. In 1963, the School of Electronics (SOE) was moved from PAF Station Malir to Korangi Creek to become the sister institution of the SOA.
Other
The base is implicitly used for the development of the Unmanned aerial vehicleUnmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
. Pakistan's Integrated Defence Systems (IDS) and the military scientists from College of Aeronautical Engineering
College of Aeronautical Engineering
The College of Aeronautical Engineering is located at the Pakistan Air Force Academy, Risalpur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and is affiliated with the National University of Sciences and Technology ....
and Pakistan Navy Engineering College
Pakistan Navy Engineering College
Pakistan Navy Engineering College is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It is one of the constituent colleges of the National University of Sciences and Technology. It is administered by the Pakistan Navy and the campus is referred to as PNS Jauhar...
have been engaged in the research and development of UAVs and aerospace related technologies.