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DCN · medium airport

RAAF Base Curtin

Derby, Australia

Clear sky
Airports
DCNmedium airport

RAAF Base Curtin

Derby, Australia
Explore Derby city guide Navigate to this airport
2
Routes out
1
Destinations
YCIN
ICAO
300 ft
Elevation
TravelerPulse profile

Remote RAAF base serving Australia's northwest frontier.

Opened
1943
Location
Derby, Australia
RAAF Base Curtin is a Royal Australian Air Force facility located approximately 40 kilometres south of Derby in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Originally constructed during World War II, the base has served various military purposes over the decades and retains strategic significance for Australia's northern air defence. The base is designated with IATA code DCN and ICAO code YCIN, reflecting its dual role as both a military installation and a registered aerodrome. It has been used for surveillance operations, training exercises, and as a bare base that can be rapidly activated during times of heightened defence need. Civilian use of the aerodrome is limited, and the facility is primarily oriented toward Australian Defence Force operations. Its remote location in the Kimberley makes it an important asset for monitoring Australia's northern approaches.
Getting to & from
The base is located approximately 40 kilometres south of Derby, with access primarily by road via the Great Northern Highway.
Notable facts
  • ›Originally constructed during World War II in the early 1940s.
  • ›Located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, near Derby.
  • ›Functions primarily as an RAAF bare base capable of rapid activation.
  • ›Has been used for border surveillance and maritime patrol operations.
  • ›Civilian access and scheduled airline services are not regularly available.
Wikipedia
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
Remote military gateway standing watch over the rugged Kimberley wilderness

RAAF Base Curtin is a Royal Australian Air Force facility located near Derby in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Originally constructed during World War II, the base has served strategic defence purposes and occasionally supports civilian and emergency operations in this remote region. Its location in one of Australia's most isolated landscapes underscores its role as a critical asset for northern defence and disaster response.

Terminals
  • Military Operations Area — Primary facility supporting RAAF operations with no regular public terminal infrastructure.
Ground Transport
  • Private vehicle or pre-arranged military transport only
  • Taxi services from Derby township (limited availability)
  • Car rental available in Derby town centre
Nearby Hotels
  • Kimberley Entrance Caravan Park, Derby
  • Derby Boab Inn
  • Spinifex Hotel Derby
Dining

There are no public dining facilities at RAAF Base Curtin. Visitors and personnel typically rely on the base mess or travel into Derby town centre, approximately 40 kilometres away, where a small selection of pub meals and casual dining options are available.

Traveller Tips
  • Access to RAAF Base Curtin is strictly controlled — ensure proper authorisation before travel.
  • Derby is a small town; stock up on supplies as services are limited compared to larger cities.
  • The Kimberley region experiences extreme wet season conditions from November to April — check road and flight conditions carefully.
  • Fuel and provisions should be secured in Derby before heading to more remote locations in the region.
Official website

AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.

Route map (1 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Routes

DCN → PERNZ · 320 100
DCN → PERVA · 320 100
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RAAF Base Curtin
Encyclopaedia

RAAF Base Curtin, also sometimes RAAF Curtin is a joint use Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military air base and civil airport located 19 nautical miles southeast of the town of Derby, Western Australia. As it is one of the RAAF's three bare bases, no RAAF units are permanently based at Curtin and it is maintained by a small caretaker staff during peacetime.

Read full article on Wikipedia