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Albrook Air Force Station | |
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Part of Air Combat Command | |
Located near Balboa, Panama | |
Coordinates | 08°58′33.24″N079°33′19.91″W / 8.9759000°N 79.5555306°W |
Type | Military Air Force Station |
Site information | |
Controlled by | United States Air Force |
Site history | |
Built | 1928 |
In use | 1932-1997 |
Albrook Air Force Station is a former United States Air Force facility in Panama. It was closed on 30 September 1997 as a result of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties which specified that United States military facilities in the former Panama Canal Zone be closed and the facilities be turned over to the Panamanian government. It was located on the east side of the Panama Canal just south of Fort Clayton and north of the township of Balboa, Panama. Beginning in January 1999, the air field initiated civilian air service as Albrook "Marcos A. Gelabert" International Airport.
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In September 1997, the base was turned over to Panama. It was then refurbished with an operations / control tower constructed; also a passenger terminal (near Building 446, the hangar that previously housed the former Air Force Post Office). In January 1999, the domestic/commercial Albrook "Marcos A. Gelabert" International Airport was relocated to Albrook from Punta Paitilla (across Panama City). Airport is under Panama's Civil Aeronautics Authority (Autoridad de Aeronáutica Civil —previously named Civil Aviation Directorate).
A number of shops, markets, mall and government agencies (Panamanian Red Cross, International Maritime University of Panama) operate out of some of the old buildings and hangars, and most of the officers quarters are now private homes.
The Civil Aviation Authority has its headquarters in Building 805. [6]
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Albrook "Marcos A. Gelabert" International Airport is a public airport located 1.5 kilometres west of the center of Panama City, in the Panamá Province of Panama. It is on the site of the former Albrook Air Force Station. Previously, the airport was located in the area of Paitilla Punta Paitilla, operating approximately 70 years until January 1999, when the airport moved operations to Albrook. The name was changed to honor the Panamanian aviator Marcos A. Gelabert, whose contributions to Panamanian aviation included founding Panama's first airline and first school for training pilots.
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This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency