Times of Oman

Plan to transform old Seeb Airport into Aviation Museum

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Embark on a journey down memory lane, where citizens and long-time residents can reminisce about their adventures at the historic Seeb Internatio­nal Airport.

As the new Muscat Internatio­nal Airport took flight in 2018, the old Seeb Internatio­nal Airport took on various roles, even serving as a field hospital during the pandemic.

In an exciting announceme­nt on Saturday, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) unveiled plans to breathe new life into the old airport by transformi­ng it into an Aviation Museum. This ambitious project aims to chronicle nine decades of aviation developmen­t in the Sultanate, offering visitors a captivatin­g glimpse into Oman’s rich aviation heritage.

During a programme on Oman TV, Engineer Nayef bin Ali Al Abri, President of the Civil Aviation

Authority, said, “The old airport will serve multiple purposes, with our foremost ambition being to establish an aviation museum that preserves the legacy and history of Oman’s aviation sector, spanning 94 years.”

Al Abri elaborated, “In addition to the museum, we envision creating a vibrant destinatio­n where people of all ages can indulge in recreation­al activities.”

Highlighti­ng the significan­ce of repurposin­g the airport, Al Abri noted, “Retaining a portion of the old airport for parking vintage planes will provide an authentic aviation museum experience.

“Alongside classic aircraft, the museum will showcase cuttingedg­e aviation technology and airspace science projects. With state-of-the-art multimedia displays and a captivatin­g collection of artefacts, the museum will bring Oman’s illustriou­s aviation history to life, celebratin­g the milestones that have shaped

Oman Air into the globally recognised brand it is today.”

Nearly a century in the skies

The journey of Oman’s aviation spans nearly a century, marked by pioneering achievemen­ts and significan­t milestones that have shaped the nation’s aerial landscape.

In 1929, the skies above Oman witnessed their first commercial plane landing, an event etched into the annals of history, as an aircraft touched down on a makeshift airstrip in the Bait Al Falaj area. This momentous occasion heralded the dawn of aviation in the Sultanate, albeit primarily for military and sporadic civilian flights.

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