Pathum Wan, TH 🇹🇭 Closed Airport
ICAO
TH-0048
IATA
-
Elevation
- ft
Region
TH-10
Local Time
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 13.73851° N, 100.537562° E
Continent: AS
Type: Closed Airport
Sa Pathum Airfield (TH-0048) in Pathum Wan, Thailand, is not a currently operational commercial airport and therefore, there are no recent traveler reviews or experiences available. Historical records indicate that Sa Pathum Airfield was Thailand's first airport, established in 1911, but it was closed in 1914 due to unsuitable conditions, including its flood-prone location and close proximity to the city center. Its aviation operations were subsequently transferred to Don Mueang Airport. The site is now associated with the Royal Bangkok Sports Club.
As such, the criteria for "overall traveler sentiment and satisfaction," "terminal facilities, amenities, and cleanliness," "security wait times and customs/immigration experience," "transportation connections and parking," and "notable strengths or common complaints" cannot be applied to Sa Pathum Airfield in a contemporary context.
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Approximately 1914. The airfield's role as the primary aviation center ceased with the establishment and opening of Don Mueang Airport. While some minor activity may have persisted for a short period, all significant military and national operations had relocated by the mid-1910s.
Obsolescence and relocation. The airfield, which was a multi-purpose sports ground at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, was too small and unsuitable for the growing needs of the Royal Siamese Flying Corps. A larger, dedicated, and more permanent military airbase was established at Don Mueang in 1914, making Sa Pathum Airfield redundant for any serious aviation purposes.
The site is currently the Royal Bangkok Sports Club (RBSC), a prestigious private members-only club. The area that once served as the runway is now a horse racing track and an 18-hole golf course. There is no remaining infrastructure or indication of its past as an airfield, and the land is used exclusively for sports and recreation for club members. The ICAO code TH-0048 is a historical or unofficial designation and is not in active use.
Sa Pathum Airfield holds immense historical significance as the birthplace of aviation in Thailand. It was the site of the first-ever flight demonstration in Siam (now Thailand) on February 2, 1911, by Belgian aviator Charles Van Den Born. Following this demonstration, it served as the first operational base for the Royal Siamese Flying Corps (the precursor to the Royal Thai Air Force) upon its formation. The airfield handled early military flight training and experimental flights, effectively serving as the country's sole airfield for a brief but pivotal period before operations were transferred to the newly established Don Mueang Airport.
Zero. There are absolutely no plans or prospects for reopening Sa Pathum Airfield. The site is located in the heart of Bangkok's central business district, one of the most densely populated and commercially valuable areas in the city, surrounded by skyscrapers, luxury hotels (e.g., Anantara Siam), and major shopping centers (e.g., Siam Paragon, CentralWorld). Re-establishing an airport at this location is logistically impossible, economically unfeasible, and would violate all modern aviation safety regulations regarding obstacle clearance and noise abatement.