De Kooy Naval Air Station - 23th of April 2021 the Netherlands

De Kooy Naval Air Station

Immediately south of Den Helder is De Kooy Maritime Air Base. The airbase is part of the Defense Helicopter Command and the home base for the NH90s, the maritime combat helicopters of Defense.

De Kooy was founded in 1918. Den Helder already had an airbase for seaplanes in the Mok Bay on Texel, but a location was also needed for aircraft landing on the ground. The Navy's fighters, fighter-bombers and scouts were stationed at De Kooy. As well as training for the Naval Air Service. In the 1940s, the occupying forces used the air camp. It was bombed so badly by the Allies that it was closed in 1944. In the late 1940s, De Kooy was rebuilt. In 1960 it got a concrete runway. From the 1980s the airfield is shared with civilian users.

De Kooy also has a civil function: Den Helder Airport uses the same runway, air traffic control and other airfield facilities. Offshore helicopters that supply the oil platforms in the North Sea, for example, often use De Kooy. It is therefore one of the busiest military airfields in the Netherlands. With all the activities on De Kooy, the airfield is also important for the local economy. The air force flies the maritime version of the NH90 helicopter from De Kooy. The NH90s are used as a boarding helicopter on naval ships and support the Coast Guard.

“colour_crests”

April 23, 2021, Canadian Armed Forces CH-148 Cyclone training at the NAS De Kooy (DHR/EHKD) Call sign: CanForce 0805.

The CH-148 Cyclone is one of the most capable maritime helicopters in the world. It is Canada’s main ship-borne maritime helicopter, and it provides air support to the Royal Canadian Navy. The Cyclone can be used for surface and sub-surface surveillance, search and rescue missions, tactical transport and more. It can operate during the day or night and in most weather conditions to support missions in Canada and around the world.