Page 17 - Royal Jordanian Air Force Book
P. 17
WHERE WE ARE NOW AIR BASES
KING ABDULLAH I
AIR BASE (KAAB)
THE ORIGINS, THE LEADERSHIP
The first base established in Jordan, The King TWIN-ENGINED
Abdullah I Air Base (KAAB), which houses the DOVE
RJAF's Headquarters, is situated in East Amman’s
Marka area.
It was RAF's Amman base from 1922 until 1948.
The Arab Legion Air Force, the ancestor of the
RJAF, then shared the facilities until 1957 when
the RAF handed it over to the Jordanians.
His Majesty the late King Abdullah I presented
the first flying wings to Jordanian pilots in 1951
at this Base.
KAAB was the first RJAF's Air Base and home to
the first two operational fighter squadrons.
In 1952, new runways and facilities were A squadron of MI-26, the largest helicopter in the
built and expanded in order to operate day world, joined the Wing in 2018, but was also relocated
fighter/ground attack squadrons. On January 19, to the same Base later in that year.
1954 King Hussein formally inaugurated the new
runway with a circuit in his twin-engined Dove. The Prince Faisal Technical College, the Police
Helicopter Wing and the Gliding Club are also based
KAAB was also the main international airport there.
until 1982 with the runway extended in the early
70s to accommodate larger aircraft. A civilian airport, two air academies and two facilities
run by the Air Force – Jordan Aeronautical-Systems
KAAB is home to the Air Lift Wing, which was Company (JAC), which provides MRO services to C-130s
established in 1971 and until recently, the Wing and other aircraft, and Jordan International Air Cargo
comprised 5 squadrons: 3rd, 7th, 8th, 14th and (JIAC), share the facilities.
15th, in addition to the Royal Squadron, before a
series of disengagement decisions were taken to
relocate the 8th, 14th and 15th to King Abdullah
II Base in Ghabawi to the east of Amman.
The base is also where the Jordan Air Ambulance
Center is located to serve Jordanians and
residents by providing air medical evacuation
of the critically injured and ill from peripheral
and remote hospitals to centers of excellence in
Amman, where more advanced medical service
can be obtained.
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