ACQUISITION

RAF station transferred to Admiralty control.

OPENED

COMMISSIONED

15 May 1941

PAID OFF

28 February 1946 to Care & Maintenance

CLOSED

04 June 1946 - Returned to RAF

FUNCTION

Aircraft Repair Yard

ADDRESS

R.N. Aircraft Repair Yard,

Fayid,

Egypt

LOCALITY

The airfield is situated 151/2 miles S. of Ismailia, immediately W. of the Ismailia - Suez road, and1/4 mile W. of Fayid railway station on the Port Said - Ismailia - Suez line.

It lies 11/4 miles W. of Fayid "Station" (Suez Canal Co.) on the W. shore of Great Biter Lake (El Ambag), in the southern portion of the Suez Canal.

Suez lies 26 miles SE. by S. and Port Said 56 miles N.

LANDMARKS

 Great Biter lake and the Suez Canal.

The Ismailia - Suez road and railway, passing adjacent E.. of the airfield.

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

Access by road to Suez, distant 34 miles (R), to Ismailia distant 20 miles (R), and thence to Po

Access by rail, from Fayid station to Suez, Ismailia, Port Said and Cairo.

The air yard is served by a rail siding.
 

CONTROL

Control building on the E. side of landing area, inside perimeter track, W. of Bellman hangars.

ELEVATION

50' above M.S.L.

RUNWAYS /LANDING AREA

Four, Tarmac, all-weather:

00/18 QDM. 359°/179° .... 2000 X 50 yds.

04/22 QDM. 044°/224° .... 1200 X 50  yds.

09/27 QDM. 089°/269° .... 2500 X 05  yds.

13/31 QDM. 133°/313° .... 1200 X 05  yds.

TRACKS

A 50' perimeter track connects the runways and gives access to the hangars and and workshop areas.

30' tracks lead off to he widely dispersed A/C pens to the W. of the landing area.

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation:
 

Hills to S., SW., and SE., with Gebel Shabrawit, (752') distant21/2 miles S. and a hill, (692') distant33/4 miles SSE.

Circuit:

Lower slopes, rising sharply to 250' of hills, distant 2700 yds.

Approach:

Two W/T masts. 70' on eastern side of the airfield.

Water tower, 70' with obstruction light, 1199 yds. ESE.. of "27" end of runway 09/27.

Note: there are four 240' masts at a wireless transmitting station  lying about 1200 yds. ESE. of the "22" end of runway 04/22. These masts are clear of the approach fans of the runways.

APPROACH

Recommended sector of approach, mean QDM. 094/270.

WIND INDICATOR

Windsock on NE. side of landing area.

Illuminated wind "T" at night.

HOMING - VISUAL

By day:

By night:

None

Landmark beacon "FD"

HOMING--RADIO

D/F:

Beacon:

VH/F

None

APPROACH - VISUAL

By day:  

By night:  

None
Electric flare-path on runway 00/18; emergeny flare-pats on other three runways.

Obstruction lights on W/T masts and water tower.

APPROACH - RADIO

None

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

W/T and R/T:

VH/F:

Transmitters and receivers (airfield) constant watch (Worldguard) by sector control.

GROUND RADAR

None 

ACCOMMODATION

Living Quarters in two camps, on the E. and SE. sides of the airfield, respectively.

Capacity:

ARMOURIES

To accommodate 12 squadrons (when stocked and equipped)

COMPASS BASE

One, diameter 80'.

DISPERSAL

19 hardstandings and 27 A/C pens dispersed around the landing area, connected to runways by 30; taxi-tracks.

HANGARS

Three (R.A.F. for Fighter O.T.U.) on E. side of airfield.

Five (Storage) in Repair Yard.

MEDICAL

Sick Bay on E. side of airfield, close W. of boundary road.

METEOROLOGICAL

Air Ministry provide facilities from Ismailia.

Prevailing wins W. (light) all seasons. Rainy season December - February, with strong winds. General weather conditions good; occasional early morning mists.

FUEL AND OIL

TEST BASE

No A/C radar base.

TEST BUTT

M.G. range and test butt available.

WORKSHOPS

R.N. Aircraft Repair Yard on SE. side of the airfield; major inspections, overhauls and repairs. [While on Care & Maintenance the Yard is used for A/C storage only].

VISITORS

Visiting A/C park at entrance to Repair Yard from airfield.

R.A.F. visiting park S. of control building.

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

Use of several R.A.F. ranges in the area.

Information taken from CB 4368 B. Admiralty Handbook of Naval Air Stations Aug. 45