Paya Lebar Air Base

History

The airport was constructed between 1952 and 1955, officially opening on 20 August 1955 with a ceremony led by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Alan Lennox-Boyd, 1st Viscount Boyd of Merton. The project cost approximately $37 million and was designed by J. J. Bryan, a public works engineer with prior experience in airport construction across Asia. Serving as Singapore’s main international gateway at the time, it replaced the older Kallang Airport and quickly became an important regional aviation hub.

Eventually, in 1958, a few military hangars were converted into a spacious civil air terminal. Banking, postal and cable services, money exchange, shops and restaurants were introduced.

During its early years, the airport served as one of two main hubs for Malayan Airways. In 1958, the airline conducted its first service outside Southeast Asia using a DC-4 leased from Qantas, flying to Hong Kong. Over the next few years, the airline introduced turboprop aircraft and rebranded as Malaysian Airways. In 1962, a joint RAF and Singapore civil Air Traffic Control service was established to provide military cover for air defence. British Eagle’s Britannia aircraft supported British military logistics, while the introduction of the de Havilland Comet 4C and later the Vickers VC10 aircraft significantly reduced travel time.

By 1966, the airline had shifted its focus to Singapore, acquiring Boeing 707s and adopting the name Malaysia-Singapore Airlines, operating with a distinctive fluorescent yellow livery. In the same year, the airport handled 770,562 passengers and by 1968 had a capacity of 3 and a half million passengers. Paya Lebar became its primary hub, with routes expanding into North Asia. Malaysia-Singapore Airlines was dissolved in 1972, splitting into Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines, the latter retaining the 707 fleet and continuing operations at Paya Lebar. From 1979 to 1980, British Airways, in collaboration with Singapore Airlines, operated supersonic Concorde flights from London's Heathrow Airport to Paya Lebar. However, as the airport became increasingly constrained by surrounding housing estates, a new airport was commissioned. A new arrivals building and cargo terminal was built in 1977, the arrivals building costing S$3.5 million. Construction of Changi Airport began in 1975 and was completed in 1981, at which point civil operations ceased at Paya Lebar and the IATA airport code SIN and ICAO airport code WSSS were officially transferred to Changi.

Conversion to military use

The airport began its transition into a military facility in late 1967 with the construction of an Air Movement Centre to support the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), the Ministry of Defence charter flights and foreign military aircraft. Key structures such as the terminal building, hangar and control tower were retained but restricted from public access. The transformation was completed in 1981 when all civilian operations moved to Changi, after which the site was fully converted into a military airbase and officially renamed Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB).

Paya Lebar Air Base

The air base currently houses aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules and two squadrons of F-15SG Strike Eagles.

The flying squadrons are:

• 122 Squadron with 10 C-130 Hercules,
• 142 Squadron with 15 F-15SG Strike Eagles,
• 149 Squadron with at least 24 F-15SG Strike Eagles

The support squadrons are:

• Air Logistics Squadron (ALS)
• Airfield Maintenance Squadron (AMS)
• Field Defence Squadron (FDS)
• Flying Support Squadron (FSS)

Former squadrons based here are:

• 141 Squadron with F-5S/T, RF-5S
• 144 Squadron with F-5S/T

Use by the United States Air Force

Under Singapore's authorisation, Paya Lebar Air Base is utilised by several units of the United States Air Force and United States Navy, including elements of the United States Marine Corps Aviation. It serves as a strategic refuelling and staging post for transiting aircraft, particularly within the Indo-Pacific region. Since 31 October 1991, the 497th Combat Training Squadron has been permanently based at Paya Lebar, conducting regular flight operations in coordination with the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

The airbase also frequently receives VIP aircraft operated by the United States government. Air Force One has landed at the base during several official visits by American presidents, including George W. Bush in October 2003 and November 2006, and by Barack Obama on 14 November 2009 for the APEC Singapore 2009 Summit. In 2007, Air Force Two carrying U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney made a refuelling stop and underwent minor repairs at the base while en route from Australia.

In more recent years, the base continued to be a key transit point for high-profile visits involving the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump arrived aboard the Air Force One's Boeing VC-25A on 10 June 2018 to attend the 2018 North Korea–United States summit, while North Korean leader Kim Jong Un landed separately at Changi on an Air China's Boeing 747-400. Early media reports speculated that Kim would land at PLAB in an Air Koryo's Ilyushin Il-62. On 22 August 2021, Air Force Two carrying Vice President Kamala Harris also landed at Paya Lebar for an official visit to Singapore. The airbase regularly accommodates aircraft such as the Boeing E-4B during visits by the United States Secretary of Defense, and the Boeing C-32 used by the United States Secretary of State and Vice President.

Decommissioning

Paya Lebar is expected to be decommissioned from 2030, with expansion works currently underway at Tengah Air Base and Changi Air Base during the 2020s to accommodate the relocation of RSAF assets. Following its closure, height restrictions in the Central Area will be relaxed, and Paya Lebar will be redeveloped into a new town comprising housing, offices, factories and green spaces. Heritage elements such as the former runway and buildings may be preserved as part of parks and museums within the new development.

Former Airlines

Airlines that flew to what is now Paya Lebar Air Base as of 1968:

• Air India
• Malaysia–Singapore Airlines
• BOAC
• Air Ceylon
• Qantas
• Cathay Pacific
• Thai International
• Garuda Indonesian Airways
• Pan American Airways
• Japan Airlines
• Philippine Airlines
• Swissair
• Filipinas Orient Airways
• Tasman Empire Airways Limited
• CAAC
• Scandinavian Airlines System

Statistics

These statistics are sourced from two books.

Photo gallery

File:Flags outside Singapore International Airport, photographed February 1969 × July 1971.jpg|Flags outside Singapore International Airport, photographed February 1969 × July 1971. File:Malaysia-Singapore Airlines Boeing 737.jpg|Malaysia-Singapore Airlines Boeing 737-100 File:SAS airliner at Singapore International Airport, photographed February 1969 × July 1971.jpg|SAS Caravelle at Singapore International Airport, photographed February 1969 × July 1971. File:Giraffe S 3D radar.jpg|1988, a GIRAFFE S 3D radar on display at Paya Lebar Air Base. File:Maverick armed RSAF F-5S.jpg|An AGM-65 Maverick armed Northrop F-5S Tiger-II.

Legacy

Being Singapore's first major international airport, the old passenger terminal building and control tower still stands, though they now house air force units and are off-limits to the public. Nevertheless, much of the interior still remains intact and is almost completely preserved from the time it was first built. The road which used to lead to the old passenger terminal is also still known as Airport Road.

Air Force Museum

The RSAF maintains the Air Force Museum, which is open to the public and showcases the air force's history and capabilities. The museum is located at 400 Airport Road, Singapore 534234 beside the airbase. It went through an upgrade and update of the exhibits in 2015.

References

References

1. "Airport information for WSAP".
2. {{GCM. QPG
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5. (21 August 1955). "The Door to Singapore". The Straits Times.
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20. joanchew. (2021-08-22). "US Vice-President Kamala Harris arrives in Singapore".
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22. (18 July 2017). "5 things to know about the expansion of Tengah Air Base". The Straits Times.
23. (18 July 2017). "A different Paya Lebar, with air base gone".
24. (6 June 2022). "Fancy a jog down the runway? Plans for Paya Lebar Air Base may see runway kept as part of new town {{!}} The Straits Times".
25. Daven Wu. (6 May 2009). "Paya Lebar Airport, Singapore". [[IPC Media]]'s [[Wallpaper (magazine).