Airport in Derby, Western Australia
Derby Airport (IATA: DRB, ICAO: YDBY) is located 5 nautical miles (9.3Â km; 5.8Â mi) southeast[1] of Derby, Western Australia.
The site of Derby airport was first set aside for aviation uses in 1922.[2] The airfield played a key role in the search for Charles Kingsford Smith‘s Southern Cross following a forced landing in the Kimberley region during 1929 in an incident that would become known as the “Coffee Royal Affair”.[citation needed] Aviation pioneer Norman Brearley used aircraft of his West Australian Airways in the initial search effort flying outwards from Derby.[3]
In 1938, it was proposed that Derby to be used as a base for flying boat services carried air mail from London to Australia via Egypt and Ceylon (Sri Lanka).[4]
