On the Service side alone there were, at one point, eleven different types based on the airfield, ranging from Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneers to Argosies and Hawker Hunters to Avro Shackletons, with Helicopters thrown in for good measure. The nearby Army Light Aircraft Squadron used Austers and Beavers, visiting R.N. carriers adding their own quota, and there was a steady flow of Bristol Britannias, DeHavilland Comets and V-Bombers (Victor, Valiant, Vulcan) in transit.

Civil aircraft operations included more than fifteen airlines, charter companies and private operators flying more than twenty types of aircraft from the trusty DC3's of Aden Airways to the Boeing 707's of Air India. And the airport became a popular place for trials of new types which meant visits from a Trident and a Vickers VC 10.

Inside Control Tower circa 1960

All this meant that in an average month the Control staff would handle some 5,000 movements by fifty or more different types of aircraft. A mixed bag indeed for any airport — but in addition to the airfield itself Air Traffic Control operated a Control Zone which extended for 40 miles around the airfield in which positive separation of aircraft flying on I.F.R. Flight Plans had to be maintained. Which all added up to a busy, varied and very interesting job for everybody in the section.

Khormaksar Control Tower in 1963


Aden Airways main offices in 1964


Aden Civil Airport 1964

RAF Air Movements RAF Khormaksar

RAF Tactical Wing, RAF Khormaksar
 

RAF Dispersal Area