RAAF Base Amberley

RAAF Base Amberley
Ipswich, Queensland in Australia
A RAAF C-17 Globemaster III taking off from RAAF Base Amberley, with KC-30 and F/A-18F aircraft in the background
RAAF Base Amberley YAMB is located in Queensland
RAAF Base Amberley YAMB
RAAF Base Amberley
YAMB
Location in Queensland
Coordinates27°38′26″S 152°42′43″E / 27.64056°S 152.71194°E / -27.64056; 152.71194
TypeMilitary airbase
Area1,600 hectares (4,000 acres)
Site information
OwnerDepartment of Defence
Operator Royal Australian Air Force
Site history
BuiltJune 1940 (1940-06)
In useJune 1940 (1940-06) – present
Garrison information
Occupants
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO: YAMB, WMO: 94568
Elevation28 metres (91 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
04/22 1,523 metres (4,997 ft) concrete/asphalt
15/33 3,047 metres (9,997 ft) concrete/asphalt
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[1]

RAAF Base Amberley (ICAO: YAMB) is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military airbase located 8 km (5.0 mi) southwest of Ipswich, Queensland in Australia and 50 km (31 mi) southwest of Brisbane CBD. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron (operating the F/A-18F Super Hornet), No. 6 Squadron (operating the EA-18G Growler), No. 33 Squadron (operating the Airbus KC-30A), No. 35 Squadron (operating the C-27J Spartan) and No. 36 Squadron (operating the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III). Amberley is also home to Army units making up the 9th Force Support Battalion (9 FSB). Located on 1,600 hectares (4,000 acres), RAAF Amberley is the largest operational base in the RAAF, employing over 5,000 uniformed and civilian personnel.[2] There are a variety of other formations on the base such as training colleges and maintenance areas. Amberley's largest squadron in terms of personnel is No. 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron RAAF (ECSS) providing both garrison and deployed combat support. Amberley was one of only two airfields in Australia (the other being Darwin International Airport) that were listed as a Transoceanic Abort (TOA) landing site for the Space Shuttle.[3][4] Amberley is currently undergoing a A$64 million dollar re-development program. The RAAF has plans to have Amberley operating as its "superbase" with flights of F/A-18F Super Hornets, KC-30A, C-17 Globemaster and the C-27J Spartan.

  1. ^ YAMB – Amberley (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 13 June 2024, Aeronautical Chart
  2. ^ "RAAF Base Amberley" (PDF). Department of Defence. Australian Government. 1 October 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  3. ^ "RAAF Base Amberley - AAFCANS: Army & Air Force Canteen Service". Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  4. ^ "RAAF Base Amberley". Airforce Technology. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.