Camden Airstrip
Camden Base is a small airstrip in Couva, Trinidad. Crop dusting aircraft use this airstrip; drag racing also takes place on the airstrip. The Camden (Field) Auxiliary Air Base was established in 1942 as an emergency airstrip. It included one paved 3,000 ft (910 m) x 75 ft (46 m) runway with extensive taxiways and dispersed camouflaged parking bays for USAAC, USN and RN. It was defended by US Army infantry and AAA units.[1]
Camden Base | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Serves | Couva | ||||||||||
| Location | Couva, Trinidad and Tobago | ||||||||||
| Time zone | AST (UTC-4:00) | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 10.426361°N 61.445672°W | ||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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On May 24, 2011, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, at the one-year anniversary celebratory rally marking the election of her coalition government to power, announced that the airstrip would be upgraded to a domestic airport to serve the Trinidad-Tobago airbridge.[2] If successful, the airport would be upgraded to a full-scale international airport.
If upgraded, the airport will be the third international airport on the islands after Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and the A.N.R. Robinson International Airport in Tobago.[3]
History
Camden Auxiliary Air Base | |
|---|---|
| Part of Sixth Air Force | |
| Couva, Trinidad and Tobago | |
  Camden AAB | |
| Coordinates | 10.426361°N 61.445672°W |
| Type | Military Auxiliary Airfield |
| Site information | |
| Owner | United States of America |
| Controlled by | United States Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1942 |
| Built by | US Army Air Force |
| In use | 1942-1949 |
The airstrip was built in 1942 by the United States. The area was used due to its flat lands and obstructionless approach paths. After World War 2, the airstrip was handed over to the government of Trinidad and Tobago.[1]
The airport was unused until the late 1960s, when it started being used for cropdusting. It became unused in 2003 after the closure of the sugar industry.[1]
In 2013, Trinidad and Tobago's Civil Aviation Authority conducted a feasibility study on the suitability of Camden as a general aviation airport. The strip was found to be attractive as an airport, and a six-phase development was recommended using a public/private partnership. The goal of the upgrade was to facilitate inter-island travel.[1]
Throughout 2014, Trinidad and Tobago rescinded and reinstated the project to upgrade the airport on two occasions for unknown reasons. Since then, the airport has come under the control of the Air Guard.[1]
Operations
Aerial World Service Ltd https://web.archive.org/web/20161124102334/https://aerialworldservicesltd.com/ is a flight school at the airport that offers training from private pilot all the way through to commercial pilot certification on technically advanced aircraft. They also offer private flights.
National Helicopter Services Limited NHSL is also present at the airport.
University of Trinidad and Tobago UTT operates an aviation campus at the airport.
References
- "Camden airstrip, a wasted asset - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday". newsday.co.tt. 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
- "Trinidad Express Newspapers: | Airport for Central". Trinidadexpress.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
- Agile Telecom Ltd. and Xidemia (2007-12-14). "Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday". newsday.co.tt. Retrieved 2015-09-24.