China Bay Airport

China Bay Airport (சீனக்குடா விமான நிலையம், චීන වරාය ගුවන්තොටුපළ) is an air force base and domestic airport in China Bay in eastern Sri Lanka. Located approximately 7 km south west of the city of Trincomalee, the airport is also known as Trincomalee Airport and SLAF China Bay. Originally built by the British during colonial times, it was taken over by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

History
During the 1920s the British built an air base in China Bay in eastern Ceylon. The Royal Air Force established a base at China Bay in March 1942 with Hurricane, Spitfire and Catalina aircraft. A number of RAF squadrons (17, 159, 205, 240, 258, 261, 273, 321, 357, 648) and other units were stationed at the airfield during and immediately after the war. The base was bombed by the Japanese on 9 April 1942 during World War II. The airfield played a role in the Allied attempt to retake Malaya with B29 bombers using the airfield.

After independence, the British maintained two military bases in Ceylon, the air force base in Katunayake and the naval base in Trincomalee, and camps at Diyatalawa. The naval base in Trincomalee included the air base in China Bay. The base was opened to civilian flights in 1952. All British military bases in the country were taken over by the Ceylonese government in November 1957. RAF China Bay became RCyAF China Bay. It became SLAF Base China Bay in May 1972. The base was turned into the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy in March 1976. The academy was made an air force base in January 1987 due to the civil war.

Airlines and destinations
Passenger

Cargo

Lodger squadrons

 * No. 01 Flying Training Wing
 * No. 06 Air Defence Radar Squadron
 * No. 112 Surveillance Squadron

Air Force Academy
The base houses the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy. Established in 1976, the academy is where the Sri Lanka Air Force conducts its initial officer training. Currently there are three lodger formations carrying out training:
 * Combat Training School
 * Junior Command & Staff College
 * Non-Commissioned Officers Management School